Hello, I am Jordan White a junior at Auburn University. In the upcoming fall semester I will become the editor of my schools online publication. Any advice from other editors is very appreciated!
Hi Jordan! Congratulations — stepping into an editor role is an exciting challenge.
A few pieces of advice I’d offer:
- Set a strong editorial vision early. Know the tone, audience, and mission of your publication, and communicate it clearly to your writers.
- Build a collaborative culture. Writers do their best work when they feel supported and trusted. Offer feedback that’s specific, kind, and actionable.
- Stay organized. Keep a running editorial calendar and a simple system for tracking assignments, deadlines, and publication dates. It’ll save you so much stress.
- Prioritize quality over quantity. It’s better to have fewer, excellent pieces than a flood of rushed or uneven content.
- Be willing to jump in. Sometimes you’ll have to edit late at night, write missing pieces yourself, or make last-minute layout changes — it comes with the job.
- Enjoy it! This role will stretch you in ways that will prepare you for any career path you take after college.
Courtesy of ChatGPT, which I highly recommend to you as an educational resource. 