A career as an editor is often a solo adventure, especially if you’re a freelancer. So, we thought one way to better connect with fellow editors was to ask them to submit their responses to a set of questions based on the Five Ws: who, what, where, when, and why. Read on for some thought-provoking, enlightening tidbits from those of us who choose to work with words to earn our keep.
Please tell us a little about yourself, the kind of work you do (and where you live), and how long you’ve been an editor.
I live in beautiful outport Newfoundland, right beside the ocean. I freelance for several publishing companies around the world, and I offer writing and editing retreats here, in Newfoundland, in the summer. I’ve been editing for almost 20 years, but I’ve been dedicated to running my own business, Write to the End, for the past 10 years.
Who: If you could edit one famous author, living or dead, who would it be?
Oh, that’s an easy one for me: Dorothy Parker! I remember reading her when I was a teenager and thinking she was absolutely brilliant. Also, as a poet myself, I’d love to witness her creative process in motion. If I could survive her caustic wit, I’m sure I would learn so much.
What: What is the one thing that has helped you the most in your career as an editor?
I don’t think I can choose just one thing. As a former high school English teacher, I have to say being widely read is important. The more you read, the better you write and edit. It’s also important to be open to criticism, continue your professional development, and find opportunities to network. Finally, patience is key. I always wanted to edit fiction, but it took a long time to get here; even now, I still edit and write for some of my corporate clients.
Where: If you could work anywhere in the world as an editor, where would that be?
I’m thrilled to be spending a month this spring writing at Château de Cerisay in Assé-le-Boisne, France, as writer-in-residence! The flexibility to work anywhere is definitely one of the perks of this career.
When: Was there ever a time in your life when you seriously questioned your career choice?
Not seriously, no. Of course, there have been lean times, such as when I first started building my business and then during COVID-19, when I saw a decrease in the number of personal clients looking for editing, but there has never been anything to make me think I’m in the wrong field or that I should leave it.
Why: Why did you choose to become an editor? Or, should we ask: Why did editing choose you?
I’m going with honesty is the best policy for this one! When I was in Grade 9, I enjoyed peer editing essays and fiction. I was very good at it. By Grade 12, I was writing essays for other students, and I took the greatest pleasure in maintaining their writing style and ensuring “their” work was juuust better than their usual to receive a higher grade without raising suspicion.
Of course, as a professional now, I don’t condone this – or any – form of plagiarism, but it’s how I knew I could do something with the skills I had . . . and this was before I even knew that editing was a career option.
And, of course, we just had to ask the inevitable how: How would you sum up your motto?
Keep learning, keep reading, keep pushing yourself to be able to provide the highest quality of service to your clients.
Cassandra Filice lives in Newfoundland with her husky, Captain, and her two cats, Cuppycake and Betty Boop. When she’s not working, she can be found hiking with Captain, hosting dinner parties, or completing her second volume of poetry. Her work has been published in several magazines, and A Life of Apples, her debut collection, will be published in 2025.
This article was copy edited by Katherine Morton (MBA, BA), a certified copy editor with global clients.
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