CIEP Member: Dayita Nereyeth
Why did you choose an editorial career, and how did you get into it?
I fell into editing while freelancing after college and trying to make ends meet. I had always had an affinity for language and writing, so I followed this line of work without thinking too much about it. I wouldn’t say I chose it, necessarily; it just sort of happened.
What training have you done to get your editorial career up and running?
Two copyediting courses with the CIEP, lots of on-the-job training, and plenty of online and offline CPD.
What work are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the PhD/master’s dissertations that I have edited. The authors put in years of work, and I get to read their reports before the general public – it’s exciting!
What do you do if you're struggling on a job?
Usually I take a short break and return to it after that. If that doesn’t work, I try to divide the job into smaller chunks that I can tackle one at a time so that it seems less daunting.
What does being a member of the CIEP mean to you?
The CIEP has been a great support and resource since I joined in 2019. Other members, most of whom I’ve connected with virtually, have been friendly and encouraging. Although it’s an expensive membership (especially considering the foreign currency exchange rates), I think it’s well worth it for the incredible community.
Which editorial tasks do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy cleaning up references, checking for hyphenation/spelling consistency, and document formatting – once I get these out of the way, I can focus on the main text.
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Do you have any editorial pet hates?
Probably too many to list here. But I will say that I’m less rigid about rules now than I was at the start of my editorial career.
What has most surprised you about your editorial career?
That I’ve enjoyed it. I never pictured myself as an editor.
What's the best career advice you've received?
I can’t think of anything specific to editing, but I was given some advice a few years ago that affects how I approach most things: I work for 40 minutes and take 20 minutes off to rest. This 40–20 method has improved my stamina and efficiency, and the quality of my work.
What advice do you have for people starting out on an editorial career?
Keep track of your projects (words edited, type of work, hours taken, pay rate, client, etc.). Record-keeping is invaluable in this field.
Do you ever stop editing?
Yes, but I don’t ever stop seeing the many typos around me.
Finally, tell us one thing about you not related to editing
I am a contemporary dancer – I split my time between performance/choreography and editing. I am one of the four members of 206 Dance Collective.
I am most proud of the PhD/master’s dissertations that I have edited. The authors put in years of work, and I get to read their reports before the general public – it’s exciting!
