CIEP Member: Debbie Emmitt
Why did you choose an editorial career, and how did you get into it?
I entered editing via a rather circuitous route. I studied French and Portuguese at university, then worked in the world of web for a number of years – creating, editing and managing web content for various large organisations.
After having my two children, I returned to web work part-time and began looking for something I could do from home. Editing was the perfect fit due to my love of language and books, not to mention my innate urge to correct errors and inconsistencies (who said ‘perfectionist’?!).
I set up my freelance editing business in 2018 and since 2020 have been a full-time editor and proofreader.
What training have you done to get your editorial career up and running?
I’ve completed CIEP’s Copyediting 1, 2 and 3 courses and Louise Harnby’s Switching to Fiction course.
What work are you most proud of?
I feel honoured to have worked on some fantastic projects, and it’s difficult to pick just one!
A non-fiction book about the troubled history of Nigeria and how it has affected the modern-day country was a particular highlight, as the author (self-published) was nervous about commissioning an editor for the first time and the subject matter was sensitive. I was able to allay his fears by treating his work with care and respect, and he left a shining review that has pride of place on my website!
Another project that stands out was proofreading a new edition of The War of the Worlds for Hermitage Editions, a small fine press that specialises in high-quality limited editions. The work involved checking the new pages against the first edition for consistency and layout. It was such an interesting project and demanded unwavering concentration.
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What do you do if you're struggling on a job?
It depends on the nature of the problem. If I’m having trouble concentrating, I take a break and stretch my legs. Once I’m back at my desk with a fresh cup of tea, I usually feel refreshed.
If a project turns out to be more involved than I initially thought, I communicate this as early as possible to the client so they are aware the deadline may need to be extended. This is rare, though, as I’ve learned (the hard way!) to ask for a sample upfront to gauge the complexity of the task before I send a quote and timescale.
What does being a member of the CIEP mean to you?
The CIEP is a fantastic organisation. I’ve met many fellow editors through it, which gives me a sense of not working alone; the training and levels of membership show potential clients they can trust me with their work; and the resources the CIEP provides to members are nuggets of gold.
In our unregulated industry, it is crucial to have an organisation like the CIEP to set standards and best practice. I’m proud to have worked up to Professional status.
Which editorial tasks do you enjoy the most and why?
I enjoy line editing as I can bring my creative side to the work and pass on the knowledge I’ve gleaned from writing my own novel.
I also have a bit of an obsession with spreadsheets, so I love documenting data about every project I work on (word count, time taken, type of client etc) for analysis.
The CIEP is a fantastic organisation. I’ve met many fellow editors through it, which gives me a sense of not working alone; the training and levels of membership show potential clients they can trust me with their work; and the resources the CIEP provides to members are nuggets of gold.
