How to Break into Freelance Editing

Ideas and Resources for Beginning Your Editing Career

Aug 13, 2009

Breaking into freelance editing means taking any position to gain experience, working your way up, creating a niche, and understanding potential employers.

Freelance editing is an exciting career that is growing rapidly in popularity because of the Internet and the number of written media out there. It is now a day where anybody can write and publish, but it is also a day where instant messaging, emailing, and spell checking have spoiled writers rotten. Who can clean up their work a bit? Editors of course!

Understand What Editing Entails

There are several types of editing out there, so before sending your résumé to any employer, you might want to check out the types of editing positions available and what types of positions are appropriate for beginning editors. A few great ways to learn more about editing include:

One of the most valuable ways to learn about editing is through other editors, not only because they can help you understand the job better, but also because they can tell you how they got started and refer you to potential employers and websites. They may even be able to provide you with unwanted projects they receive.

Work for Free to Gain Experience

Although most people flinch at the thought of working without pay, volunteering for a publisher or newspaper will benefit you in more ways than you can imagine. The experience alone makes you more employable when applying for a paid position, but the contacts you make are perhaps the most valuable thing an editor can gain from volunteering.

If volunteering for a company sounds too intimidating or time-consuming, consider something on a smaller scale like editing and proofreading academic papers or work-related documents for friends and peers.

Keep in mind that volunteer work need not be unpaid. Trade your editing service for another service or item you might need: your friend cuts your hair, you edit her paper. After working for a company or friends, paid positions might come your way. Word of mouth can be the best form of advertising, so never underestimate the power of volunteer work.

Take an Entry-Level Position. Take Any Position.

Sure, entry-level reporting and fact-checking aren't ideal for an editor, but most editors begin at the bottom and work their way up. If you are considering editing, you've probably already written and edited some. Being surrounded by editors will help you learn the duties of the position. Keep in mind that you can take a position in an unrelated field that entails proofreading or editing responsibilities.

Find a Unique Take on Something

If you want to launch into freelancing immediately, figure out a unique area you can focus on: something you specialize in or can provide a unique view on. A unique view or a wealth of knowledge can replace lack of experience in editing.

Research and Understand Potential Employers

Many companies hire editors, and even more companies hire people to edit while performing other duties. Common editing employers include:

No matter how you begin your editing career, remember to gain experience through any means, even if it isn't your first choice. Once you have experience or a niche in the editing world, apply for several positions at different types of companies.

Think smaller in size if you don't want to begin at a company doing unrelated tasks. Editing a novel is great, but it's difficult to score a gig at a publishing company without previous experience. Search for individual authors who might need an editor instead. Take things one step at a time, and soon you'll be giving editing projects away to other beginning editors.