Editors Katherine Moore and Alex Crawley on the Seasons of Their Careers
Don’t forget, the Northwest Editors Guild’s Red Pencil Conference is May 6! In line with the theme of “Seasons of an Editing Career,” I spoke with Katherine Moore and Alex Crawley, students at the University of Washington’s Certificate in Editing program, about their thoughts on where they are in their professional journeys, what kind of resources they wish were available to them, and what’s the best part about where they are in their careers right now.
Whether you’re a seasoned editor or just starting out, Red Pencil has something to offer. There’s still time to sign up for virtual, in-person, or hybrid options through our registration page here. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the editing industry! But hurry! Registration closes for good at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, April 30.
Kristin: Where do you feel you’re at in your editing career right now?
Katherine: I'm at the very beginning of my editing career; as in, it hasn't really started. As of yet, I don't have any professional editing experience.
Photo of person with painted fingernails working on a laptop outside on a blanket with books and a pen nearby, by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.
Alex: I would say I am an intermediate editor? But professionally, as a freelancer, I'm nearly brand new.
Kristin: Can you give us a few more details about those stages?
Katherine: I am taking the Certificate in Editing program at the UW to make a change and learn a new craft. I used to work in film and video production, but for personal and health reasons, I stopped working. I can't continue with the fast pace anymore, as well as the heavy and erratic workload now that I have a child and after a diagnosis of MS.
My desire to work in editing is about transferring skills from continuity/script supervising to editing, taking control of my workload, doing something with books and storytelling, and creating opportunities in my personal life again.
Alex: Intermediate editing, to me, means that I am confident in the product I offer, but that I expect there are lots of tricks of the trade that I have yet to learn, as far as systematizing my approach, streamlining my editorial letters, and creating helpful templates. I also work primarily in academic and genre fiction editing, and would like to expand my skill set into other areas.
And being a brand-new freelancer is pretty self-explanatory, I think? I spent the last year finding my first clients, getting a sense for contracts and payments, and making sure this is what I really wanted to be doing with my time. Since it is—I love editing—my next step is to set up an LLC and find more clients.
Kristin: What resources do you wish you’d had earlier in your career, or do you hope to have at your next steps?
Katherine: I hope that I leave the editing program at the UW with resources and connections so that I feel prepared to find work in copyediting. The focus of the next quarter of the program is networking strategies for obtaining editing work, and we are to work on a practicum project with an author to gain experience with a “real” manuscript. I hope that I feel more confident in my skills after the program and after I gain feedback from an outside source. I also hope I can tap into resources like the EFA and the Guild so I can gain knowledge from workshops and those with more experience.
I am considering taking the Specialization in Developmental Editing program in the fall right after this course.
Alex: I have been remarkably lucky to have made generous and knowledgeable contacts, even in these early stages as a freelance hopeful. I've been directed to useful classes, excellent listservs, and support networks.
That said, I wish I had known that editing was even an option for me. In my PhD program, there was very little room for imagining a future beyond the tenure track, and I think there's still something of a stigma about how editors can't also be writers or, more brazenly—that editors are failed writers. I would love to see more conversation about hybrid careers, as I am both a writer and an editor, and intend to remain so.
Kristin: What do you think is the worst or hardest part of being in the “season” you’re in?
Katherine: The hardest part is not knowing what's around the corner, not knowing if this big plan of mine is the right one. I've not worked in a while, and I have been relying on SSDI for my income. So I'm unsure whether I can work solely as a freelancer and survive, or whether I should just edit on the side to supplement what I have and keep my medical benefits. I have been hesitant to do any work at all for a long time because I have little confidence in myself (although I was very confident in my previous career in film).
Alex: I mean, certainly part of the challenge in this stage is finding clients and engaging confidently with the clients I have. But also, it's difficult to figure out what's unique about me as an editor, and to work on building that brand when entrepreneurship doesn't naturally come to me.
Kristin: What would make your career easier right now?
Katherine: I would love to speak to someone who has been in my shoes, who has started all over like I'm trying to, and for my worth and potential to be seen.
There are few mentorship and internship opportunities out there in many creative fields (especially those that lead to paid positions or legitimate leads), but that's how I started in film production. It would be good to find people out there who are in mentor-type roles and willing to give advice.
Alex: I would love a class about, like, "Congrats! You have an LLC! Here's what to do next so you don't ruin this."
Kristin: What’s the best part of your current career stage?
Katherine: The best part is that I'm excited; starting anything new is exciting, and just learning at UW has been invigorating and challenging. I've been able to meet wonderful people in my program who inspire and encourage me, something I haven't had or experienced for a long time, and it is just great. I'm trying to absorb and make the most of every moment.
Alex: The best part of my current career stage is that everything I do right now is a little bit scary. Productively scary. And so I get to finish every day feeling like I grew a little bit as an editor, as a writer, and as a person.
We’d love to hear what season you’re at in your editing career. Join in on the Red Pencil discussions by using the hashtag #EdsGuild2023 on social media.
E. Alex Crawley (they/them) is a developmental editor and writing coach specializing in speculative fiction and interdisciplinary humanities texts. They are a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop in Seattle and earned their PhD in modern British history and science and technology studies (STS) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. You can find them online working with writers actively seeking publication, often for the first time, at Lodestar Editing & Coaching (www.lodestareac.com).
Katherine Moore is a Future Graduate of the University of Washington's Certificate in Editing (University Scholarship Recipient). Currently in my final quarter of the program, which focuses on Applied Editing skills and a Practicum Project. My practicum is of a developmental and structural edit of a manuscript by YA author Katya de Becerra. Formerly worked as script supervisor/continuity on feature films, video projects, commercials, etc. Bachelor of Arts in Film & Video Production, Media Studies from Evergreen State College, WA. First year of college at University of West London (primary and secondary schooling in Hong Kong and England). Strong technical and creative background in film, video production, and photography; I have committed about 15 years doing photography for a local cat rescue (my specialty is cat photography!). I've also trained as veterinary tech/assistant. Active within the book community as an early reader and book reviewer, and as a volunteer at my son's school. Steward of a Little Free Library.
