Dear Graduate

I frequently receive emails from college students asking about the best route to a career in editing. Here's my advice: 

1. University: My alma mater the University of Oklahoma has an award-winning Journalism school and the University of Iowa has excellent writing programs, but most state universities are adequately equipped to teach you the goods. 

2. Major: Select a major that has to do with writing and story--Journalism, Professional Writing, or English (Creative Writing) are your best bets. (Note: If you're interested in doubling, Business and Communications are also highly valuable degrees and would come in very handy post graduation.) 

3. Extra Credit: Wherever you go, be active when you get there--hunt down (or create!) writing groups, writing centers, book clubs, newspaper and magazine writing opportunities, etc. Do anything and everything you can to garner experience and learn about different types of writing. 

4. Internships: By your junior year, you should begin hunting these down on the 'Net and through your professors and career resources department.


5. “Read! Read! Read! When you find something that thrills you, take it apart paragraph by paragraph, line by line, word by word, to see what made it so wonderful. Then use those tricks the next time you write.” W.P. Kinsella