Editor: James Tehrani Company: Sphera # of years in editing: 25 years
Tell us a little about yourself, including how you got started as an editor?
In high school I decided I loved journalism, so it made sense to attend the University of Missouri. My advanced editing teacher, the great Don Ranly, really got me excited about being an editor.
What is your area of focus and why did you select this niche?
Currently I am editing—and writing—about software and technology. The niche sort of selected me when an opportunity opened up.
Walk us through a typical workday. How do you manage your time?
It’s challenging. I wear two hats as an editor and as a writer. It really comes down to keeping a calendar and following the best you can knowing that things come up all the time that become bigger priorities.
What is your favorite thing about being an editor?
I took a lot of poetry classes in college, so I love being able to make the words “sing” in my head. I also love collaborating because that’s what good writing is all about.
What is your biggest challenge and how do you work through this?
The biggest problem is probably balancing speed vs. quality. It takes time to find that balance but you can have the best of both worlds if you tackle content as a team.
What are you currently working on?
A bunch of different things, including our monthly newsletter.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their career as an editor?
Keep learning and develop a “Spidey sense” when something doesn’t sound right. The more facts you have in your head, the more likely you are to catch that big error before you go to press.