CIEP Member: Lisa de Caux
Why did you choose an editorial career, and how did you get into it?
I’m a career changer and spent many years as a chartered accountant before retraining to become an editor and proofreader. These days I get more chance to embrace my degree in English Lit!
What training have you done to get your editorial career up and running?
I started with the Publishing Training Centre (PTC) Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning (now called Essential Proofreading). I’m a big believer in continuous professional development and have taken all sorts of training courses. The CIEP conference is important for me every year.
What work are you most proud of?
I’m very proud of the style guide for Intellectual Perspective Press. I worked on it with Debs Jenkins, the powerhouse behind the press, and its job is to maintain consistency while respecting the author’s voice. I keep a close eye on version control and revise it after I’ve worked with the team and each cohort of authors.
I also copyedited John Espirian’s Content DNA. I’m so proud of that. I met John when he was running a session at the CIEP (then the SfEP) conference in 2018, and his impact on my business has been pivotal.
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Do you have any editorial pet hates?
The wiggly blue lines that appear in Word documents. I often disagree with Word Editor’s grammar tips!
What has most surprised you about your editorial career?
How much I enjoy myself!
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
Tell everyone what you do! My first job came when I took my daughter to her friend’s birthday party and chatted to another child’s parent.
What advice do you have for people starting out on an editorial career?
Be willing to talk to other people about what you do – you never know where your first job will come from.
Do you ever stop editing?
Yes, I’m quite happy to read a book for nothing but pleasure!
Finally, tell us one thing about you not related to editing
I have a gold medal in fencing (Scottish Universities’ Championships).
Be willing to talk to other people about what you do – you never know where your first job will come from.
