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Becoming a Freelance Editor

Freelancer Tips

“I want to be an editor. What should I do? Where should I start?” 

I get a variation of this message a lot. These folks are specifically asking about freelance editing (as opposed to working as an editor for a publisher), and a while ago, I drafted a template response that included my insights, tips, and resources.

Now, I’d like to share that and expand on it.

Before We Get Started

Freelancing is a wonderful but tough endeavor, and I applaud anyone who has decided to take a chance on themselves and their skills. 

That said, you do need skills. 

Editing is not an entry-level career. It’s not something you do “because I want to” or because “my friends always had me read their papers in school.” Those are wonderful reasons to want to become an editor, but you first need to train for the job. 

Why is that important? Because there are nuances, rules, etc. to each type of editing, to genres, to delivering informed feedback, to the many, many style guides out there, and so on.

There’s no right path to acquire these skills. 

You may gain knowledge through on-the-job training with a publisher (or even an agency). You may get a degree or take special courses and certifications tailored to the genres and types of editing you’re interested in.

If you’re not sure where to start, evaluate what you do know and what you want to know. 

What You Bring to the Table

Before you can know what you need to learn, you need to know what you already bring with you. If you’re considering a career in editing, ask yourself the following:

  • What’s your editing/writing background? 
  • What’s your educational background?
  • What courses have you taken or what on-the-job experience did you gain?
  • What experience do you have with grammar, fact-checking, and proofreading?
  • What do you know about style guides (if you want to copy edit)?
  • What experience do you have providing informed feedback?
  • What network do you have that you could utilize as you get started?
  • What knowledge do you possess that might set you apart in some way from other editors?

When a potential client asks what your experience is, you want to be able to quickly explain with confidence what you bring to the table, what might set you aside, etc. 

For example, an editor I know has a wealth of knowledge about archery and offers archery consultations to her fantasy clients to ensure their narratives are accurately depicting the weapon and its use. I love this so much! 

Many copy editors find their niche hobbies like this are able to help them with the fact checking portion for certain clients. So as you think about what you have to offer, don’t forget about your random knowledge.

What Your Focus Will Be

Next, you need to have an idea of the type of editing you will provide (if you’re not sure yet, that’s OK).

Let’s do a quick overview. There are four levels of freelance editing that range from tackling whole-manuscript issues down to wrangling typos:

  • developmental (big picture issues like plot, structure, character development, pacing, etc.)
  • line (sentence/paragraph-level style and clarity)
  • copy (grammar, technical, and fact checking)
  • proofreading (post-formatting to check for typos, formatting inconsistencies, etc.)

Editors tend to specialize in a couple levels of editing, then train and hone their skills accordingly. They may also specialize in specific types of writing or genres, as structures, pacing, flow, language choices, tone, beats, etc. can vary greatly depending on the purpose and audience of a manuscript.

Think about copy editors. A copy editor will need to not only be a grammar goddess, they will also be well-versed in the most common style guides, know how to research (for fact-checking) and may need to know how to check things like footnotes and appendices, etc. A copy editor familiar with medieval terms may be great for a fantasy writer; someone familiar with computer systems may be able to pick up more in a technical manual than someone (like me) who is tech-averse.

Meanwhile, a developmental editor will need to understand the nuances of the specific types of books/genres they work with in order to tailor their feedback to the needs of that genre. The plot structures, character types, worldbuilding, conflicts, pacing, etc. will be different between something like an epic fantasy and a light romance, for example.

All of this takes time to study and understand. So as you prepare to become an editor, give thought to what types of editing you want to do and the types of writing you want to work with so you can find the right training for your goals.

Find Your Skill Gaps

Compare what you bring to the table with what you want/need to know. First, look for transferable skills (it’s good to know your strengths). 

For example:

  • A voracious fantasy reader may already know a lot about the plot structures and character types expected in a fantasy manuscript.
  • A writer who feels they have a strong grasp of language and grammar may just need to take courses to understand these things from an editor’s perspective.
  • A teacher may already feel comfortable communicating constructive feedback.

Then it’s time for the harder questions:

  • Where are your skill gaps?
  • What training do you need to obtain or elevate those skills to a professional level?
  • Are you prepared to undertake the necessary learning and gain the necessary experience to call yourself an editor?

This exercise will provide you with a checklist of next steps. That may include taking courses and webinars, or completing a certificate (or two). You may wish to find a mentor or even work with a publisher or editor to get a better understanding of the job.

Then it’s time to . . .

Build Your Skills

There are plenty of certificates, degrees, and courses out there to help you fill those gaps with the skills you’ll need to be a great editor. 

General Editing Programs & Courses

If you don’t know yet which level(s) of editing you wish to provide—or if you would just like to get familiar with all of them for your own benefit—you may find it useful to complete a broad certificate that allows you to experience each level of editing, or to take courses that apply to all levels. Here are a few to check out:

Programs/Courses for Specific Types of Editing

Developmental Editing Certificates

Copyediting/Proofreading Certificates

If you’re looking to do copyediting, then I highly recommend you look at the certificate through the University of Chicago—they literally crafted CMoS, which means you’ll be tapping into one of the most popular style guides as part of your skill building. You can also check out:

Organization Offerings

The following organizations offer a host of courses and webinars. You may find several related to the types of editing you’re interested in as well as genre-specific courses.

The above are resources that I’ve used or heard about through my network. Because I am U.S.-based, they are also focused within my region. If you live in another region, check for offerings in your area—I bet you’ll find some!

Join Associations and Network

Look into joining some of the common editing associations to help you network. Consider EFA, ACES, CIEP (UK), the Northwest Editors Guild, Editors Canada, etc. (Except for CIEP, these are North American associations—there are similar associations around the world!)

There are also so many editors out there who help and support one another. Freelancing can be lonely, and having fellow editors to connect with and learn from will be invaluable as you grow. Here are a couple I follow on LinkedIn:

  • Jennifer Lawler. Jennifer runs ClubEdFreelancers.com, where she helps people develop into strong freelancers. She posted this little infographic that I think is simple, but great for those just starting out. Jennifer also has a book on starting and running a freelance editing business.
  • Sarah Fraps. Sarah came onto my radar when did a four-part series all about starting out as a freelance editor: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

The EFA has a list of resources for new freelance editors with even more helpful information.

Wanting More?

If you’ve already built the skills and you’re curious about actually setting up your business, check out my follow-up blog post on Establishing Your Business. I offer recommendations for getting your business set up, expenses as an employee vs. as a solopreneur, and how to set a rate that reflects your worth.

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