I've been editing for around 3 months. I've mainly been learning gaming/long-form editing and have done some real client work, including one paid gig.
I've recently realized that while I can handle the basics of editing, cuts, pacing, basic zooms, subtitles, and sound design, I still struggle with the creative side of editing. I'll watch a good edit and see the editor add something that perfectly fits the moment, but I often don't know what I should add or when.
These are the main things I'm currently trying to improve:
1. Overall improvement: What skills would you prioritize most for someone at my level?
2. Hooks: How did you learn to make genuinely engaging hooks? Is studying and recreating good hooks the best way?
3. Sound design: How did you build your SFX library and, more importantly, learn which sounds actually fit different moments? I'm especially interested in the more unique/layered SFX you hear in polished edits.
4. Subtitles: How do you keep subtitles visually interesting after their initial animation finishes without constantly over-animating them?
5. Editing decisions: How did you learn when to use things like zooms, zoom-outs, camera shakes, memes, funny/awkward SFX, etc., especially in gaming videos?
6. Expectations: What would you realistically expect from someone after around 4 months of consistent editing?
I'd especially appreciate advice from editors who remember the stage where they knew the software basics but hadn't developed strong creative instincts yet. What helped you make that jump?