Liz Greene

1. What does your average day at work look like?

As the managing editor for Nautilus, I have to wear a lot of different hats. I usually start the day by checking my email. From there, my work can look very different depending on what tasks need to be done. I often edit upcoming stories and articles to make sure they are ready to be published, but I also help out with art research. I mainly focus on fact-checking stories that may be more problematic. Nautilus is fully remote, so we also hold online meetings twice a week to discuss tasks that need to be finished for the current week and pitch ideas for future issues. 

2. You used to freelance for a couple of years. Are there any personality traits that make someone well-suited to being an editor or a freelancer? Can you be an introvert?

It is very possible for introverts to become editors–I’m one myself. I used to be a reporter, but I hated conducting interviews because of my introverted nature. As an editor, I’m much more comfortable since I can communicate mainly via emails. As for personality traits, it’s a good thing for editors to have too much attention to detail, and even having the ability to be a little mean is helpful. You have to know when a draft is good enough to publish. Editors who know how to give constructive criticism will produce a better draft than those who only write comments like “bad” next to a weak paragraph. Freelancing was very difficult for me, however, because I wasn’t motivated or disciplined enough. It can be tough to stand out when you aren’t well known in the industry, but now that I have connections, freelancing is less daunting. Rejections aren’t always about the pitch itself, but sometimes the company may have published something similar. If you’re organized and have enough drive, freelancing could be the right fit for you. 

3. What skill did you have to work on the most?

When I was a reporter, I was really bad at interviewing at first. I sometimes forgot to ask certain questions because I got swept away in the conversation or I would find it difficult to interview someone about something horrible they experienced. In my current role as a managing editor, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the entire list of things that I have to do. In those cases, I pick anything on the list and just do it, and then it becomes more manageable. It would be a lie to say that editors don’t procrastinate at all, but the way I process my tasks makes doing them easier.

4. You were also a copy editor and a production editor in the past. What are some of the differences between being a copy editor, a production editor, and a managing editor? 

They’re all actually very similar to each other. For the most part, job titles are completely meaningless and can change depending on the company. Some places have a distinct copy editor, but others just have one editor who juggles multiple jobs. In my experience, being a managing editor comes with a higher position and more freedom to write. The managing editor is in charge of planning, the production editor is in charge of making sure everything is where it belongs, and the copyeditor is in charge of line editing.

5. What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a similar career as a beginner?

If you want to go into copy editing, I would suggest getting familiar with AP style, learning the style guide of the publication, and researching copy editing books. In general, though, I would recommend making connections when you can and keeping your resume up to date. When you interview with a company, make sure to advocate for yourself, especially if you’re a woman. This is not meant to be discouraging at all—you should absolutely pursue a career in journalism or publishing if you want to, but it’s important to be prepared. Employers will take whatever you give them, so don’t be afraid to ask for fair pay. A job offer is exactly that—an offer, so don’t let them take advantage of you.