Similarly, not having a dedicated space to practice in can hinder your assent to pro status. I do a fair amount of video editing on the road and when I do, there's hardly a time I haven't subconsciously reached for something -- perhaps a USB cable, or blank DVD -- and realized that I wasn't in my editing suite, but in a hotel room. So I think your editing space is pretty important. Just like editing itself, it doesn't have to be fancy -- but if you have all the basics well in hand --that can free you -- put you "in the zone" where it's more likely that good things will happen.

Next month: Part 2 - How to edit with superior results; tips, tricks, and things to avoid.

Contributing Editor Bill Davis writes, shoots, edits, and does voiceover work for a variety of corporate and industrial clients.

When you're "in the editing zone," it's easy to look up and realize that you've been sitting at the screen for hours. So a task chair with proper back and arm support, an edit surface with the keyboard and monitor at the proper height and other ergonomic considerations can remove a lot of the misery along the road from hobbyist to pro.

Another great "pro" tip is to put the things you use most, closest at hand. My software manuals, for example, once were stored right on my edit desk because I used them every day. Now that I've been with my software for a few years I've moved them to another location. Because today, I seldom need to look stuff up. So don't be afraid to do a regular audit of your editing space with an eye to how you can re-arrange things to suit how you edit today.

Becoming a Professional Video Editor - Part 2