You will need the proper educational background. A college degree in English, communications, media studies or some other literary and journalistic field is helpful. A degree in a discipline such as art, history, politics, botany, biology, or computers is useful if you want to edit humanities or science books. Book editors should have a strong background in literature and a broad base of knowledge.
Editing a student publication when you are in college can give you experience and a line on your resume when you are starting your career as a book editor. Working at a student newspaper or magazine can also sharpen your skills. Internships, whether paid or unpaid, at publishing companies give you experience critical to establishing your career.
Good grammar and spelling skills are obviously necessary for a book editor, whose duties include proofreading and tidying up manuscripts. A book editor must be able to write well so she can convey her ideas and justify editing changes to colleagues and authors.
A book editor must be able to keep projects on schedule. Managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines is critical to his job.
Book editors need to work with authors to edit and complete manuscripts on deadline. Often, book editors represent the publisher or authors at trade fairs, writers' conferences and other events intended to promote the publishing company's books and brand. Being responsible, punctual and careful with what you say is crucial to success as a book editor. Having a sense of respectful humor helps.
A passion for words is critical for book editors. It is not enough for a book editor to merely proofread manuscripts for grammatical and spelling flaws, or to check facts. Those in a literary profession must be interested in books for what they have to impart to contemporary society and future generations.