Writer to copy editor
A writer already meets 39% of what the copy editor role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
58.4/ 100
1 How much of what a copy editor is expected to do is already part of a writer’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 copy editor role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A copy editor role treats 6 of its required skills as things a writer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply grammar and spelling rules
- consult with editor
- copyright legislation
- grammar
- spelling
- writing techniques
What stands in the way is 7 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 9 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A copy editor role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a writer background worth leading with.
- already held consult with editor 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
- already held consult information sources information skills
All 9 carried skills, including the 6 the copy editor role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 19 missing skills fall into 8 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 suggest revision of manuscripts required
- still to learn follow a brief required
- still to learn track changes in text editing required
- optional, not held adapt to artists' creative demands optional
- optional, not held rewrite articles optional
- optional, not held rewrite manuscripts optional
- optional, not held write headlines optional
- still to learn use dictionaries required
- optional, not held read manuscripts optional
- optional, not held review unpublished articles optional
- still to learn digital journalism required
- optional, not held editorial standards optional
- still to learn typography required
- still to learn follow work schedule required
- optional, not held follow ethical code of conduct of journalists optional
- optional, not held follow newspaper house style optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a copy editor role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 digital journalism study this
- 02 suggest revision of manuscripts practise this
- 03 follow a brief 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 9 skills that carry over
- already held apply grammar and spelling rules skill
- already held consult with editor skill
- already held copyright legislation knowledge
- already held grammar knowledge
- already held spelling knowledge
- already held writing techniques knowledge
- already held consult information sources skill
- already held literature knowledge
- already held proofread text skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held desktop publishing optional
- optional, not held office software optional
- optional, not held apply desktop publishing techniques optional
12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held adapt to artists' creative demands optional
- optional, not held follow ethical code of conduct of journalists optional
- optional, not held follow newspaper house style optional
- optional, not held read manuscripts optional
- optional, not held review unpublished articles optional
- optional, not held rewrite articles optional
- optional, not held rewrite manuscripts optional
- optional, not held write headlines optional
- optional, not held apply desktop publishing techniques optional
- optional, not held desktop publishing optional
- optional, not held editorial standards optional
- optional, not held office software optional
23 held skills the copy editor role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role attend book fairs skill
- not needed by the target role critically reflect on artistic production processes skill
- not needed by the target role critique other writers skill
- not needed by the target role develop an artistic framework skill
- not needed by the target role develop creative ideas skill
- not needed by the target role evaluate writings in response to feedback skill
- not needed by the target role liaise with book publishers skill
- not needed by the target role linguistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage writing administration skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate artistic productions skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate publishing rights skill
- not needed by the target role perform background research on writing subject skill
- not needed by the target role promote one's writings skill
- not needed by the target role publishing industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role publishing market knowledge
- not needed by the target role respect publication formats skill
- not needed by the target role select subject matter skill
- not needed by the target role teach writing skill
- not needed by the target role types of literature genres knowledge
- not needed by the target role use specific writing techniques skill
- not needed by the target role write dialogues skill
- not needed by the target role write storylines skill
- not needed by the target role write to a deadline skill
5 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 digital journalism required
- still to learn typography required
- optional, not held desktop publishing optional
- optional, not held editorial standards optional
- optional, not held office software optional
Common questions about this move
Can a writer become a copy editor?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A writer already covers 39% of what a copy editor is expected to do: 9 skills carry over, 6 of which the copy editor role treats as required.
What skills does a writer need to become a copy editor?
7 required skills are missing, plus 12 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is digital journalism.
How hard is the move from writer to copy editor?
Its learning distance is 58.4 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.