Upon telling others "I am an editor for...", there tends to be a variety of reactions. Some nod their head and say, "Awesome!" without actually knowing the exact roles an editor holds. Others wonder how much work and time I put into the role of an editor.
Whatever the reaction, I am proud to call myself an editor.
When taking on the job, I was not exactly sure what I would be doing. I knew I would, as the job title itself says, edit the staff's articles each week. However, there is a lot more that goes into it. The staff turns to me with any questions or concerns they have, which means I need to be there for them any hour of the day. And, as many people know, journalists and writers tend to have skewed hours. Sometimes it can be a headache and a little bit frustrating, yet there are many rewarding things that come out of it, too.
1. With editing comes reading. With reading comes understanding.
Reading the different viewpoints of each of the writer's on a variety of topics is eye-opening in a few ways. Sometimes, I read articles that I would not have otherwise read if I was not forced to. What I mean by this is, when I scroll through my Facebook feed, I usually click on links on articles discussing empowering women, relationships and love, and sports. I do not read much up on politics and worldly events although I know I should. Being an editor, I have to do this. I have to read my talented and opinionated writers discuss topics they enjoy. In doing so, I come to learn and understand a variety of viewpoints, even if they are different from mine.
2. Meeting new people.
This comes with any club or any position on or off campus. I have met and talked to people from different classes that I would not have met if we did not have the common interest in writing.
3. Learning how to be a leader.
I had my fair share of leadership roles in group projects and on sports teams, yet something about being an editor is different. Sometimes it feels like I am being pulled in five different directions, all the while everyone is trying to accomplish the same goal. I have learned how to multitask and juggle many obligations while trying to get all of the writers to meet deadlines. A deep breath and a second to think is all it takes to solve the problems at hand.
4. Communication.
Obviously, us writers know how to communicate a topic. However, communication with the entire staff and fellow editors is a little bit different. This is where the leadership development comes into play too. Everything must be communicated. I am sure sometimes the writers roll their eyes when another notification pops up on their phone from me, but it is necessary. Deadlines, topic proposals and post-publication sharing must be clearly communicated throughout the staff.
5. Watching the success of writers.
I love when writers begin to gain a lot of shares on their writings. I know how excited I get when I get quite a few shares, or even one nice comment on one of my pieces, and I love that they can experience that same excitement.
6. Seeing growth in each writer's ideas and fundamentals.
How does one become a better writer? They write. And write. And write. The weekly deadlines may be stressful at times, but I notice how it helps writers practice their fundamentals and perfect their pieces. The weekly deadline becomes even more stressful when writer's block comes into play. Some of the writers on the staff have endless ideas (God only knows how). And, some of them tend to do the cliche until a good one pops into their head. Either way, I can see the growth and the confidence in each writer grow week to week, and that is the most rewarding of all.
