Ever wanted to be an editor, but didn’t know how to get the job? Someone wrote to Neil Gaiman to ask, and Neil related the question to Patrick Nielsen Hayden, one of the single coolest and most intelligent people on the blogosphere, much less in science fiction (if you’re not reading Making Light, you’re totally missing out. On a whole lot, for that matter).
His advice is sound, I think. Patrick is an exceptional example of breaking in, I think; he and his wife, Teresa, were co-nominated for the 1984 Hugo for their zine, Izzard. I point this out to note that while Patrick might be right that you don’t need a degree to become an editor, well, getting nommed for a Hugo is probably a good workaround.
Having been an editor myself, I recommend a degree, for the simple reason that pretty much everyone gets one nowadays (is that classist?). Doesn’t matter from where, but some study of both English literature and business/economics would probably be awesome (if I had it to do over again, that’s what I’d concentrate on. With a third major in theology).
Interning is a great idea. I had an intern once. Good guy. Helped me write my application to USC.
But breaking in as an editorial assistant is a best bet.
But finally, Patrick notes that there’s never enough time to do all the reading you need to; as a former editor myself, I’ll corroborate that and further that by noting that reading comprises maybe half the job, tops. If you want to be an editor, don’t presume it’s all reading all day; there’s author correspondence, author copies, lay-out . . . a dozen other things that need to be done.
