ABOUT
A volunteer editor at TYWI helps young authors refine and perfect their in-progress novels, short stories, and writing pieces. Volunteers are the lifeblood of The Young Writers Initiative. Without volunteer help, we would not be able to provide young authors and writers with an accessible avenue to improve their work and writing.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE AN EDITOR
Every beautiful writer is also a masterful editor. Often, it is difficult to find mistakes and edit your own writing, but as a writer, you must have a keen eye for perfection. Editing other people’s work is a wonderful way to train yourself, and if you want to go into English or the editing business, this is a great way for you to gain experience.
Editors also receive "compensation" in the form of volunteer points. Once you amass enough, you will be able to get many exclusive services, merchandise, and future offers for free or at a discount! This is our way to give back to you.
Editors also receive "compensation" in the form of volunteer points. Once you amass enough, you will be able to get many exclusive services, merchandise, and future offers for free or at a discount! This is our way to give back to you.
TYPES OF EDITORS
When you fill out your application, make sure to select a type of editor you would prefer to be. You can always change this after speaking with our Editing Directors.
GENERAL EDITORS:
Copy Editor
A copy editor looks at multiple factors from grammar and formatting to audience perception and organization. This is your nearly all-encompassing editor experience that every author should go through before deciding to publish their work.
Developmental Editor
A developmental editor is a professional beta reader. If you have a short story which you would developmentally edit, you would look into the development of the plot, characters, and overall story line in great depth. They will also help with the constructing portions and planning of your story, guiding you in the right direction so you can succeed.
Advanced Editor
This is the sole type of editing that will be a paid service because of its immense workload. Pricing varies on the piece of work, word count, depth, and level of detail. Advanced Editors should be proficient in both copy and developmental editing. Put simply, they are the well-rounded editor.
"Any Position"
When you apply under this option you are applying to become either a Copy Editor or a Developmental Editor. Throughout the Editing Boot Camp Program your skills will be assessed by our Editing Director Internal. Based on your personal strengths, they will assign you a position. This is the perfect option for those that are unsure which editor their personal editing style will fit!
SPECIALTY EDITORS:
Poetry Editor
If you are a skilled poet with a knack for refining poems without shaving off impact or voice, we urge you to be a poetry editor. Though this may not seem vital, it is for many poets. You must have an understanding of poetic devices, figurative language, skillful diction, poetic voice, and other conventions.
Blurb/Book Proposal/Query Editor
If you are good at writing proposals, blurbs, and queries, consider applying to be an Outreach Editor that helps a writer after their work is polished and ready to be published. You need to have a keen eye for big picture details, concise yet interesting wording, and experience in the field.
"Any Specialty Position"
Those that apply under this option will be considered and assessed for either position above (Poetry Editor or Blurb/Book Proposal/Query Editor). You will be assessed during boot camp with a few short pieces that will test your skills. Our Editing Director Internal will determine which position best suits your style at the end of the boot camp!
GENERAL EDITORS:
Copy Editor
A copy editor looks at multiple factors from grammar and formatting to audience perception and organization. This is your nearly all-encompassing editor experience that every author should go through before deciding to publish their work.
- Word repetition and wordiness
- Word choice
- Incorrect sentence construction
- Consistency of spelling, hyphenation, names, and facts (is your main character a blonde in one chapter and a redhead in another?)
- Grammar and spelling
- Hyphenation
- Punctuation
- Minor fact checking via Google
- Proper handling of dialogue and dialogue tags
- Overused adverbs and adjectives
- Typos
Developmental Editor
A developmental editor is a professional beta reader. If you have a short story which you would developmentally edit, you would look into the development of the plot, characters, and overall story line in great depth. They will also help with the constructing portions and planning of your story, guiding you in the right direction so you can succeed.
- Plot
- Character motivation
- Pacing
- Dramatic tension and conflict
- Characterization
- Narrative tone and language
- Overall structure
- Theme
- Setting and “world building”
- Dialogue
- Showing vs. telling
- Point of view, including head hopping
Advanced Editor
This is the sole type of editing that will be a paid service because of its immense workload. Pricing varies on the piece of work, word count, depth, and level of detail. Advanced Editors should be proficient in both copy and developmental editing. Put simply, they are the well-rounded editor.
- Extensive point-of-view issues such as “head hopping” and tense
- Pronounced difficulties with showing vs. telling
- Significant structural issues at the sentence, paragraph, and dialogue levels
- Frequent lengthy, uninterrupted dialogue
- Pervasive problems with flow and pacing
- Substantial difficulties applying basic grammar rules to writing
- Weak writing, including ineffective sentence and paragraph transitions and endings
"Any Position"
When you apply under this option you are applying to become either a Copy Editor or a Developmental Editor. Throughout the Editing Boot Camp Program your skills will be assessed by our Editing Director Internal. Based on your personal strengths, they will assign you a position. This is the perfect option for those that are unsure which editor their personal editing style will fit!
SPECIALTY EDITORS:
Poetry Editor
If you are a skilled poet with a knack for refining poems without shaving off impact or voice, we urge you to be a poetry editor. Though this may not seem vital, it is for many poets. You must have an understanding of poetic devices, figurative language, skillful diction, poetic voice, and other conventions.
Blurb/Book Proposal/Query Editor
If you are good at writing proposals, blurbs, and queries, consider applying to be an Outreach Editor that helps a writer after their work is polished and ready to be published. You need to have a keen eye for big picture details, concise yet interesting wording, and experience in the field.
"Any Specialty Position"
Those that apply under this option will be considered and assessed for either position above (Poetry Editor or Blurb/Book Proposal/Query Editor). You will be assessed during boot camp with a few short pieces that will test your skills. Our Editing Director Internal will determine which position best suits your style at the end of the boot camp!
SOME THINGS TO KNOW
Editing isn't a simple job, but it's a gratifying one. TYWI is lenient with our volunteer policies, and understand that you have many things going on in your lives. That being said, please clarify how much time you have and how much you can commit in your application so we pair you to the right book.
If you don't think you are ready for the intensive world of editing, we would like to refer you to our beta reading volunteer spots. We always need more beta readers.
An editing position is not full time. You will be assigned to a piece and client that fits your profile. Once you complete that task, you're back to free time. We have no desire to work you tirelessly.
If you don't think you can commit to this position, please refrain from applying.
If you don't think you are ready for the intensive world of editing, we would like to refer you to our beta reading volunteer spots. We always need more beta readers.
An editing position is not full time. You will be assigned to a piece and client that fits your profile. Once you complete that task, you're back to free time. We have no desire to work you tirelessly.
If you don't think you can commit to this position, please refrain from applying.
HOW TO APPLY
Click on the button below to be re-directed to a form.
In that form, you will be asked to submit some information (your name, email, etc.), edit 2 short excerpts of a piece, and answer a few questions about why you want to be an editor. Please be careful about spelling and grammatical errors. This should be done in one sitting.
In that form, you will be asked to submit some information (your name, email, etc.), edit 2 short excerpts of a piece, and answer a few questions about why you want to be an editor. Please be careful about spelling and grammatical errors. This should be done in one sitting.
