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Book editor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Viola Ardeni
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical book editor skills. We ranked the top skills for book editors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.9% of book editor resumes contained fiction as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a book editor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 book editor skills for your resume and career

1. Fiction

Here's how book editors use fiction:
  • Edited and proof-read stories in three anthologies of children's fiction.
  • Executed line-by-line editing for a fiction novel Delivered regular feedback and coaching to move project forward Facilitated remote meetings via Skype

2. Copyedit

Copyedit is the process of checking written materials before publishing, aiming to identify any discrepancies, mistakes, and other technical errors. Copyediting also involves correcting materials, revising them as necessary to produce high-quality content.

Here's how book editors use copyedit:
  • Read and copyedit manuscripts for publication
  • Contribute hundreds of personally-created articles and visual support to appropriate sites, proofread and copyedit for all local editors.

3. Literature

Here's how book editors use literature:
  • Created and refined an omnibus review column dedicated solely to hard crime literature.
  • Designed Various Literature using a Variety of Document Design Techniques.

4. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how book editors use adobe photoshop:
  • Converted black and white images into grayscale images with use of Adobe PhotoShop 5.5.
  • Skilled in Windows, Excel, Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft PowerPoint, HTML and QuarkXpress.

5. Production Schedules

The project plan of a film or a documentary that highlights how a production budget will be spent over a given period until its completion is called a production schedule. The scheduling process starts with writing and analyzing the script, which is then broken down to determine and allocate the budget for each scene. The production schedule also includes several elements of the film including; cast actors, special effects, wardrobe, special equipment, stunts, extras, silent bits, production equipment, and many others.

Here's how book editors use production schedules:
  • Provided guidance to contributing authors on articles to be published and ensured adherence to publishing requirements and production schedules.
  • Managed copy flow among editors, writers and reviewers; maintained and distributed editorial production schedules.

6. Non-Fiction

Here's how book editors use non-fiction:
  • Reduced typos by fact-checking and cross-referencing data for non-fiction books.
  • Edited more than 25 books for other writers, including novels, non-fiction histories, children's books and teaching materials.

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7. Content Development

Content development refers to how users receive knowledgeable fillings obtained through extensive research, editing, and manipulations of the content to suit their needs.

Here's how book editors use content development:
  • Managed relationships with publishers: o Partnering on content development.
  • Mentored upcoming writers in Content development.

8. Adobe Indesign

Here's how book editors use adobe indesign:
  • Read literary entries submitted for publication, making recommendations for publication to primary editors, experience designing page layout using Adobe InDesign
  • Spearheaded effort to move to an Adobe InDesign-based pagination system; coordinated redesign of publications.

9. Typesetting

Here's how book editors use typesetting:
  • Work closely with outside typesetting houses and printers to ensure consistency and correct submission of electronic files.

10. Substantive Editing

Here's how book editors use substantive editing:
  • Hand-edited the 300-page manuscript of a young adult novel Substantive editing for sentence structure and clarity, copy editing and basic proofreading
  • Performed substantive editing, including reading and critically reviewing manuscripts.

11. Art Directors

Here's how book editors use art directors:
  • Conceptualized with art directors on collateral projects including paper doll kits, stationery sets, and pop-up greeting cards.
  • Manage communications between editors, art directors, and other staff members during hectic press deadlines while remaining calm and focused.

12. Audio Books

Here's how book editors use audio books:
  • Helped produce the largest volume of audio books in Utah.
  • Edited and narrated audio books for the "Reading for the Blind" program.

13. Book Reviews

Here's how book editors use book reviews:
  • Write, assign and edit book reviews that run in the Chronicle and in newspapers across the country.
  • Manage the Book Reviews section of the website, including submissions, editing, layout, and organization

14. Book Projects

Here's how book editors use book projects:
  • Managed multiple book projects including coordinating peer review process for book manuscripts by topic experts and series editors.
  • List of book projects, and sample books, available upon request.

15. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how book editors use graphic design:
  • Worked alongside graphic designer, editor and publisher to establish effective communication and maintain consistency throughout all departments.
  • Created/managed several local community publications, oversaw advertising sales, provided graphic design and Website support, and upheld service standards.
top-skills

What skills help Book Editors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What book editor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Viola Ardeni

Assistant Professor & Italian Language Area Head, California State University - Sacramento

The editing of texts produced by others, above all. Being good editors will be crucial. In addition, to the ability to summarize in short, easy bit very large and complex amounts of information, possibly coming from different linguistic sources. Diplomacy seems also increasingly useful, however you interpret it and wherever you stand politically. Because of the world's areas where Romance languages are mainly used, the political issues associated with those areas, and the lack of institutional support for studies in Romance languages, literatures, and linguistics in the United States, the ability of being diplomatic in navigating people, committees, donors, stakeholders, speakers, etc. is and will be important.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about book editor

List of book editor skills to add to your resume

Book editor skills

The most important skills for a book editor resume and required skills for a book editor to have include:

  • Fiction
  • Copyedit
  • Literature
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Production Schedules
  • Non-Fiction
  • Content Development
  • Adobe Indesign
  • Typesetting
  • Substantive Editing
  • Art Directors
  • Audio Books
  • Book Reviews
  • Book Projects
  • Graphic Design
  • Photo Shoots
  • Editor-In-Chief
  • Biographies
  • Market Research
  • Editorials
  • Book Content
  • Copywriting
  • House Style
  • Promotional Materials
  • PDF
  • HTML
  • Publication Process
  • Editorial Services
  • Pro Tools

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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