I recently finished updating an unfinished eBook, helpforneweditorswriters1-4.
People often write me asking for advice about starting their own editing or writing business. The many excellent questions allowed me put together a brief eBook with some sample forms/templates to help people fill in some gaps. It took time and research and some amazing people helped by critiquing it.
It will never be finished. New situations will pop up and I want to feel free to make changes and update it.
There’s no charge for the book however, if you find it of value, feel free to send a modest sum to my PayPal account, and I will pass it on to one of my favorite charities. But most importantly, please let me know if and how the book helps you, and what I have missed.
Comments from new and soon-to-be editors
1. I recommend a long, high-quality copyediting course. This is essential in providing information about what references to use, styles, marketing, and techniques of good editing. I took the certificate course from the University of California, which was one year and approximately $1,500 for the six required courses, but there are several good ones out there. Heather
2. Mentoring: Your advice has been so helpful, and having a copy of your contract has been great, since that’s a complicated document. Thanks again! Heather
3. Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA): It has been very helpful being part of this group, especially the discussion forum. It’s so nice to have access to a whole group of editors with years of experience who are happy to answer questions of all kinds. I’ve asked a couple questions and gotten some really good answers. Heather
4. Sessions with a senior business advisor/financial specialist: These sessions are offered for free by the chamber of commerce in my town. Heather
5. Sessions with a career counselor and communications specialist: I’ve had a couple of sessions with a counselor who has been helping me get ready for phone calls: preparing a list of things to say and practicing it. Heather
6. Rates: Setting rates was difficult and still is. The rates on the EFA website weren’t very helpful because they are for experienced copyeditors. I needed to know what beginning editors should charge. Also, they had a discussion on the EFA discussion list about rates, and it seemed that people weren’t charging as much as the chart showed. So I found an article on the Internet that suggested beginning copyeditors should charge $20 per hour (http://mirandamarquit.com/how-should-you-charge-for-freelance-editing/). That seemed right to me so I went by it. Heather
7. Judy’s guide is helping me to prepare for a career in editing – and a jump-start to creating my own business – that I never thought was previously possible. Thanks for all of your guidance, Judy! Michelle
8. This guide is an amazing tool for anyone looking to start an editing business. The guidance on basic topics such as invoicing, deposits, pricing and advertising is super helpful. These areas are easy to overlook, and are probably the most crucial parts of creating a sustainable operation. My biggest takeaway relates to the use of advertising in driving volume. Plenty of dollars can be wasted on silly marketing campaigns that do nothing to increase sales. Make sure to read that section to get some great tips on how to sell and market your services. M. K.
9. What a helpful website for prospective editors! Thank you. I am contemplating starting my own editing business and found a wealth of great information on your site. I made a list of things I found especially helpful (to me). M.U.
- The Advertising Advice
- Email Advice
- W-9 Info
- Invoicing
- Templates
- Blogs
- Style Guides
- Samples
10.The things you talk about in the ebook can save a writer or editor a ton of time and money they would otherwise have spent on failed actions. For myself, it was pleasing to finally have a good definition of various levels of copyediting services. I was aware there were different levels, from proofreading for grammar to well-nigh ghost writing, but hadn’t had clear distinctions.W.B.
