Book editor to writer
A book editor already meets 38% of what the writer role asks for. The move turns on 10 required skills not yet in the profile.
63.5/ 100
1 How much of what a writer is expected to do is already part of a book editor’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the writer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A writer role treats 8 of its required skills as things a book editor already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply grammar and spelling rules
- consult information sources
- copyright legislation
- grammar
- literature
- publishing market
What stands in the way is 10 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 10 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A writer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a book editor background worth leading with.
- already held publishing market business, administration and law
- already held attend book fairs communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held literature arts and humanities
- already held writing techniques arts and humanities
- already held spelling arts and humanities
- already held proofread text communication, collaboration and creativity
All 10 carried skills, including the 8 the writer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 22 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn critically reflect on artistic production processes required
- still to learn develop an artistic framework required
- still to learn use specific writing techniques required
- still to learn write dialogues required
- still to learn write storylines required
- still to learn develop creative ideas required
- still to learn select subject matter required
- optional, not held critique other writers optional
- optional, not held evaluate writings in response to feedback optional
- optional, not held liaise with book publishers optional
- optional, not held negotiate artistic productions optional
- optional, not held negotiate publishing rights optional
- optional, not held promote one's writings optional
- optional, not held teach writing optional
- optional, not held consult with editor optional
- optional, not held respect publication formats optional
- still to learn types of literature genres required
- optional, not held linguistics optional
- still to learn perform background research on writing subject required
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- still to learn publishing industry required
- optional, not held write to a deadline optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a writer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 critically reflect on artistic production processes practise this
- 02 develop an artistic framework practise this
- 03 perform background research on writing subject practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 10 skills that carry over
- already held apply grammar and spelling rules skill
- already held consult information sources skill
- already held copyright legislation knowledge
- already held grammar knowledge
- already held literature knowledge
- already held publishing market knowledge
- already held spelling knowledge
- already held writing techniques knowledge
- already held attend book fairs skill
- already held proofread text skill
12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held critique other writers optional
- optional, not held evaluate writings in response to feedback optional
- optional, not held liaise with book publishers optional
- optional, not held manage writing administration optional
- optional, not held negotiate artistic productions optional
- optional, not held negotiate publishing rights optional
- optional, not held promote one's writings optional
- optional, not held teach writing optional
- optional, not held write to a deadline optional
- optional, not held consult with editor optional
- optional, not held linguistics optional
- optional, not held respect publication formats optional
22 held skills the writer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse texts to be illustrated skill
- not needed by the target role apply desktop publishing techniques skill
- not needed by the target role assess financial viability skill
- not needed by the target role check correctness of information skill
- not needed by the target role conserve new media skill
- not needed by the target role desktop publishing knowledge
- not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
- not needed by the target role establish collaborative relations skill
- not needed by the target role implement marketing strategies skill
- not needed by the target role interpret illustration needs skill
- not needed by the target role manage budgets skill
- not needed by the target role manage contracts skill
- not needed by the target role network within the writing industry skill
- not needed by the target role perform market research skill
- not needed by the target role provide support to authors skill
- not needed by the target role read manuscripts skill
- not needed by the target role rewrite manuscripts skill
- not needed by the target role select illustration styles skill
- not needed by the target role select manuscripts skill
- not needed by the target role show diplomacy skill
- not needed by the target role suggest revision of manuscripts skill
- not needed by the target role use word processing software skill
3 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn publishing industry required
- still to learn types of literature genres required
- optional, not held linguistics optional
Other moves recorded from book editor
- book publisher 55% covered · moderate
- proofreader 48% covered · moderate
- copy editor 46% covered · moderate
- speechwriter 40% covered · substantial
- fact checker 40% covered · moderate
- lexicographer 34% covered · substantial
- magazine editor 32% covered · substantial
- publishing rights manager 31% covered · substantial
Common questions about this move
Can a book editor become a writer?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A book editor already covers 38% of what a writer is expected to do: 10 skills carry over, 8 of which the writer role treats as required.
What skills does a book editor need to become a writer?
10 required skills are missing, plus 12 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is critically reflect on artistic production processes.
How hard is the move from book editor to writer?
Its learning distance is 63.5 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.