As a proofreader and copyeditor I see works from all walks of life: academic essays, scientific journals, blogs, training presentations, websites, and – of course – books, both fiction and non-fiction. The variety is one of the things I love most about my job (that, and the flexible hours).
I’ve often wondered if being an avid reader in a variety of genres is of any help or benefit. I mean, if I’m only looking for things that need fixing, how does reading lots of books help?
Generally, I don’t think you need an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter to proof or edit a document; after all, it’s all about finding those errors, typos or inconsistencies that slipped by the author. We simply want everything to look as good as it can before it’s released into the wild, and we have a wide variety of dictionaries and other tools to help. I don’t need to have worked for a Fortune 500 company to check the chapter headings and footnotes in their book are correct, or to have intricate knowledge of the criminal justice system to check an essay on that subject.
On the other hand, I definitely think there are times when it can add value in the editing process. If I’m well-versed in a few genres I know what tropes and clichés to look out for. I know what makes a story in that genre memorable and engaging, what makes a character believable. When it comes to sci-fi, I know the difference between androids, robots and cybernetic organisms. Between lasers and phasers. Between Jedi and Sith (OK, I’m probably being a bit too geeky now!).
The point is, if I were a sci-fi writer looking for someone to edit my first novel I’d probably feel more comfortable if I knew the editor was a sci-fi fan. Or a horror fan, crime fan, fantasy fan, etc. One of the first projects I worked on as a freelancer was a memoir, and I found that my having read lots of biographies was a big help when it came to structuring the book and helping shape the way the author told her story. I still believe I would have done a solid job on the book without that history of reading behind me, but the author felt comfortable working with me because I had a good amount of knowledge on the genre. Who knows, that background may even have landed me the job!
But what do you think? Does it pay to specialise in one or two genres, or is it best to be a Jack of all trades? Let me know in the comments!
The Polished Page 