Are Tech Editors Know-It-Alls?
Craft makers are, by nature, continuous learners. I rarely ever choose to knit or crochet an item that does not teach me something new. I want to grow as I make. Learning is exhilarating. Tech editors of fiber crafts put that trait to good use.
Experience is a great teacher. Many of us learn by doing. And if we know how to perform certain techniques from having done them ourselves, it means we also know how to edit a pattern that offers those techniques. If we know the different yarn weights, needles, and hooks sizes then we understand them in patterns. If we know grading, we can edit an extensively graded pattern. Does that mean tech editors must be experts with vast experience in every technique used in a pattern before they can tech edit that pattern?
Not at all. For example, short rows are very common. However, there are multiple ways of performing short rows such as wrap and turn, shadow wrap, Japanese, German, and yarn over. There are more. What about expertise in Tunisian or corner-to-corner crochet?
Not every tech editor has to be an expert at every technique used in the fiber making field. I am certainly not. This gives tech editors the freedom and ability to choose their editing focus—to specialize in certain areas they already know well or to continue learning about the techniques they want to edit. I, personally, do a little of each.
Continued education is vital for tech editors. My favorite tools for learning are books and the internet. I lean toward books because they support my learning style. Plus, having been published, they have met industry standards and have been, themselves, edited by professionals. Of course, self-published books don’t always meet the criteria of commercially published books. However, they can also offer valuable information. So, we need to learn the trusted publishers and experts in the field of knitting and crochet. Go with the pros. Internet learning is a rapidly expanding field. It can be more difficult to sort the authoritative sources from the less qualified ones. Again, I advise sticking with the known names in the field. For visual learners, internet videos can be a convenient and important resource.
So far, we have been discussing continued education related to the specifics of crafting techniques. However, tech editors must also deal with business technology. This area is much more difficult for me to maneuver. Pattern writing utilizes software and electronic media. We mostly interface with designers electronically via email or communications media like Zoom. Numerous software programs exist for both editing and tending to business matters. Tech editors might also negotiate the electronic pathways of scheduling software, file sharing, spreadsheets, chart and schematic creation, ad infinitum. Otherwise, we must choose manual options. Additionally, we need marketing skills on social media, social networking, and content sharing.
Each tech editor will need to decide how much of a know-it-all they should become. When I began crafting, learning new concepts and techniques became an enjoyable way of life. I continue to this day because knowing it all is just not possible. And I am entertained by the journey. Learning a new technique in knitting is exciting and fulfilling for me. But there are still techniques I don’t feel comfortable with. Brioche—I’m talking about you.
So that means, except for brioche, I can edit any other knit or crochet pattern with ease, right? Well, not exactly. Many techniques exist that I have never actually worked. For example, there are a blue million types of sock heels. I know lots of them. But I still come across heels that I am not familiar with. The trick is in learning how to learn. Since I am extremely familiar with most sock heels, I can research an unfamiliar one and be able to apply that information to my existing knowledge base. As for the continuous expansion and growth of technology needed to work in this field, that is more of a never-ending journey. Not a journey I embark on quite as enthusiastically as I do to learning a new crochet stitch, but necessary nonetheless.
Most tech editors have their favorite go-to sources for researching information. And after more than 50 years, I am still in discovery mode. That is part of what makes this tech editing life rich and exciting. Instead of listing my favorite resources, I would just say that, if you want to tech edit, no matter how much you already know, you will need to continue your education. We are not Know-It-Alls. Instead, we strive to be Know-A-Lots.
To quote country singer John Michael Montgomery’s song, “Life’s a dance you learn as you go.” So is tech editing. Enjoy the dance.