What Is a Remote Editor and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A remote editor’s job is to improve written communication for their employer. Unlike in-house editors, remote editors work from home or another location outside the office. Remote editors work on all types of written formats, such as books, articles, websites, corporate publications, training manuals, legal documents, and scientific papers. The specific tasks of an editor include correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors; fact-checking; and rewriting unclear sentences. Background knowledge in the subject matter of the materials is essential for an editor to be able to take what was written and make it clear, organized, and appropriate for the target audience.

There are no formal educational requirements to become a remote editor; the primary qualification is the ability to write well. Common degrees for remote editors are English, communications, or journalism, though some editors have backgrounds in a variety of areas, including science, law, business, media studies, or politics. To improve your writing skills, write for your school’s publications while earning your degree. Intern, volunteer, or acquire an entry-level position at area newspapers, publishers, or online journals to learn from veteran editors. Practice editing different kinds of writing to build a substantial portfolio. For those who wish to edit publications in a specific industry, study the subject matter to gain background knowledge to make you more competitive in the job market.

The most common degrees held by remote editors are communication, English, or journalism. Each of these degree programs prepares a student for a position in editing. But the primary skill required for aspiring remote editors is to write well, so excellent writers may major in any subject that interests them as long as they cultivate their writing skills in their studies. Other majors may also serve them well for specialized editing. For example, a math major may become a textbook editor at a publishing house. No matter what major an aspiring editor chooses, the most important thing they can do is to practice writing well and often.