English Department

Professional writing needs editing too. Editors do not only exist for creative endeavors, and editing for those who may not have a background in writing can provide its own set of challenges.

Matt Schumake is a Senior Content Specialist at UL Standards & Engagement, where he works on anything from copyediting an email to editing research reports for various technologies. As a Senior Content Specialist, he mainly focuses on ensuring that content is ready to be sent to shareholders.

Working with engineers and data scientists to communicate effectively with an audience that may not understand the topic as well is tricky business. It's people like Schumake who help bridge the divide between author and audience.

“I will make suggestions on the tone, style, and format of the document – making sure the information flows in a logical and cohesive manner, that points are fully explained in a way the audience would understand, and that any unnecessary wording or redundancies are eliminated,” Schumake explains.

The teamwork aspect between an author and their editor is a key part of the editing process for Matt Schumake. He works with writers every step of the way, even before the writing process begins.

Before the piece is even written, Schumake will have already talked with the author to determine the audience, what the audience is supposed to do with the information, an outline, and a timeline for each step in the production and review process. “Establishing these things in the beginning makes the entire process flow smoothly and cuts down on a lot of disagreement that would otherwise come up.”

When asked what are the most important skills for an editor to have, Schumake responded with patience, a close attention to detail, and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

“Writing is very personal for a lot of people, so it’s important to keep that in mind when suggesting changes. Let the writer know what they’re doing that works, and what they should do more of. Once you do that, it’s a lot easier to suggest removing or revising any content.” Schumake believes that working toward a common goal is what bridges the gap between author and editor. Getting both on the same page is the key to success.

With the further development of AI, there has been debate about its effectiveness and how it will impact the job market for aspiring editors. Schumake doesn’t believe it is taking over completely yet. “AI sometimes presents incorrect information very confidently, so I think it’s important to have a human editor checking anything that it generates.”

So even with the development of AI, we are not at the point where editors are becoming obsolete according to Schumake.

Schumake urges aspiring editors to make use of opportunities presented to them to make connections in the editing field. Schools allow access to internships and career fairs, which are two invaluable resources for networking. “There isn’t a business out there that doesn’t need an effective communicator.”

 

 

Jordan Wetter is a junior English major at EIU with a concentration in professional writing. They want to be a literary editor when they graduate.