A month and a half into my three-month internship, I can safely say that the opportunity has lived up to my expectations and more.
Prior to this internship I had some editing experience, as well as a background in translation studies. During my translation courses, editing was expected of us; we were not only translators but editors of our own work. With such a high focus on accuracy and communication, I came to understand the fundamental impact that editing has on clarity and flow. A tricky sentence is like a puzzle. There’s nothing better than finding an elegant solution after puzzling over something.
Familiarity with these fields gave me a clear idea of what I wanted to pursue, namely the editing of academic articles and official reports. Having edited reports abroad, I knew I wanted to continue this kind of work, but closer to home and to my family in Scotland. I saw the advert for this internship on the Publishing Scotland website and, the more I read, the more I felt it matched what I was looking for.
The interview process was straightforward, although a little nerve-racking. There was a short editing and grammar test, as well as the interview questions. Quite soon after my interview I received a phone call to say I had been successful. There was a lot to prepare – moving halfway across Scotland for one! Ever since that phone call, the staff at Prepress Projects have been endlessly helpful. I was assigned a ‘location buddy’ to help me with questions about the area and was even invited to a company lunch before the start of my internship, which allowed me to feel more comfortable and get to know my new colleagues.
On my first day I got stuck into some induction and training information. I was gradually given more, and more difficult, tasks over the following weeks. After each task my work is checked and corrected, allowing me to reflect and improve. As I had hoped, I am able to engage with a variety of text topics and types. The topics of documents I have worked on include climate change, the environment, medical research, artificial intelligence, diversity and inclusion, and Scottish history. Beyond the interesting topics, it is a privilege to contribute to work for influential clients, such as UNICEF, even to a small degree.
One thing I didn’t realise when applying was the range of skills I would be able to pick up and improve. In addition to copy-editing, proofreading, revising, styling documents, checking layouts, doing research, and even writing can fall under the job description. With so many new things to get to grips with, I often receive valuable feedback from colleagues with many years of experience, both in person and by email. As someone eager to learn more about publishing, it is exciting to be involved in many different stages of the process and see how these kinds of documents come to be. Another key benefit to the internship so far has been the tech skills I have learned. I am now able to use Adobe Acrobat mark-up tools and understand advanced Word features, both useful for any future path in this field.
I would certainly recommend this internship to any aspiring copy-editor. I feel strongly that my contribution is valued and the changes I propose considered. Even in just over a month, my understanding of publishing services has deepened immensely, giving me the kind of insight that can only be gained through practice.