IPEd member Dr Julia Miller shares her editing story, her biggest challenges and the transition to freelance editing.
I’ve always had an interest in words. My MA research thesis was about English loanwords in modern European Portuguese. (There are lots, particularly in the fields of sport, computing and music.) My PhD research studied the inclusion of idioms in English learners’ dictionaries, and I was involved with the world of lexicography for a long time through conferences and publications. The production of dictionaries ties in well with my interest in editing and proofreading, and I love the many uses that we can make of a good dictionary.
A few years ago I gained the Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults. I also have a degree in French and Spanish, and NAATI qualifications in Portuguese. I’d therefore be very interested in editing textbooks for learners of these languages. I’ve recently started writing novels, so fiction editing is also on my radar.
I developed my skills in academic editing over my 20 years as an academic skills advisor and lecturer. As an advisor, I did not edit students’ work (though other lecturers thought I did!), but I gained a deep understanding of the issues involved in producing coherent and cohesive academic writing. I then began actually editing when I had PhD students of my own who were about to submit their theses, and when I wrote and co-wrote academic journal articles. Now that I’m retired, I’m enjoying freelance academic editing.
I’m building my skills as an editor by preparing for the IPEd accreditation exam. I’m finding there is a lot to learn for the Knowledge section of the exam in particular. That’s my biggest challenge right now.
My other challenge, and one which discourages me greatly, is the increasing number of students using AI to produce their assignments. I was an academic integrity officer in my university department for two years before I retired, and I was very disheartened by the growing number of suspected breaches in academic integrity. I’d like to join the IPEd Special Interest Group on Academic Editing and discuss this issue with other editors.
I hope that joining IPEd will give me opportunities to discuss editing work with more experienced colleagues, and I’m keen to meet other members, in South Australia and beyond. Retirement is a new world for me, and I’m looking forward to freelance work to boost my income and keep my brain occupied when I’m not exercising it with fiction writing.