finding work

Five Tips for Finding Freelance Work

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Five Tips for Finding Freelance Work

by Karin Beery

Freelance work is a beautiful idea—no commute, no dress code, make your own hours. You only have to work with the people you want to work with and you can ignore the rest. Except when you don’t have any work lined up, so you take gigs you’re not really interested in or aren’t qualified to do.

No on wants to do that kind of work, but we need to work to pay the bills. So, how do we find better freelance gigs? Here are some tricks that have worked for me.*

  1. Get out there. No one’s going to hire you if they don’t know you exist. Improve your odds by joining Facebook groups for authors, attending conferences, and networking in places where writers and publishers hang out.
  2. Don’t be an advertisement. After you’ve completed #1, don’t spend all of your time talking about yourself and your business. That’s a huge turn off. It won’t matter how well connected you are if no one wants to talk to you.
  3. Engage sincerely. When an author asks a question, give an honest helpful answer with no strings attached. (See #2.) Let your knowledge speak for itself.
  4. Refer others. If someone’s asking for a developmental editor and you’re not sure what that is, don’t offer your services and provide a lackluster edit. When you do that, you’re essentially telling the author you don’t care about their manuscript; you only care about your next paycheck. Instead, refer the author to someone you know who provides that service. When people see that you care about their books more than your bank account, they’ll notice.
  5. BE KIND. Yes, I yelled that because it needs to be heard. I cannot stress enough the importance of interacting kindly and professionally with others (especially strangers!). What you say is only half of the equation; how you say it is as important. If you can’t keep the snark and judgment out of your tone, step away and respond later or walk away completely. Everyone else at the conference or in the Facebook group is listening/watching, and they’ll remember.

It takes time and some commitment to get your name out there, but I’ve had several strangers contact me because I used these five tricks. They can work for you too.

What are some tips you have for editors looking for freelance work?

*Another option to consider is joining the Christian Editor Connection. You need at least two years of freelance experience and you have to pass the editing tests with at least 85% accuracy, but the benefits are worth it—you’ll receive leads tailored to your skills and the type of work you do. There’s a membership fee to join, but most members earn back their fee each year by work received through CEC leads. This is one place where you don’t have to look for jobs—they come to you.

Owner of Write Now Editing, Karin Beery is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Christian Editor Network, where she teaches several editing classes through the PEN Institute and serves as the coordinator for the Christian Editor Connection. She is the Managing Editor of Guiding Light Women’s Fiction, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Her sophomore novel, Practically Married, is a 2020 INSPY Award semi-finalist.

 

5 Tips for New Editors

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5 Tips for New Editors

by Sue A. Fairchild

I began my editing career by taking any bit of work that came my way. Initially, I worked a lot for online marketplaces like Guru and Fiverr. Although these places were a decent place to start, I wouldn’t recommend them now to emerging freelancers. Typically, the pay was abysmal and the customers’ attitudes even worse. Working in this type of dire environment—fighting for work for little pay with people who don’t really want your feedback—cut down my self-esteem.

Where, then, would I suggest finding work for aspiring freelance editors? Here’s a short list of ideas.

  • Friends and people you know on social media. Although working with friends can be a sensitive and sometimes precarious situation, doing so has never gone wrong for me. You’re looking for any bit of editing that can help you get your foot in the door and work out the kinks in your process. Start by editing small church bulletins or organization’s newsletters—you have friends in church and in other organizations, advise them of your services and ask how you can help. Completing smaller jobs acclimates you to the process, to what works, and what doesn’t. In addition, friends, hopefully, will understand any of your errors.
  • Writing conferences. Where can you find writers to work with? Writing conferences. Where can you find other editing professionals to share information? Writing conferences. Where can you find valuable tips and tools for the writing process? Writing conferences. Need I say more? My favorite is the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference. It’s small enough to make real connections yet big enough to learn and grow in your craft. Of course, PENCON is the MUST conference for editors. And there are plenty more all over the country. Check your area for other conferences and retreats in which to find your tribe.
  • Seek advice and don’t be afraid to ask. Finding work might seem like a daunting task. Maybe you don’t know where to look, or perhaps you aren’t sure how to approach a publishing house. Do what I did—I simply asked. First, I joined The Christian PEN which introduced me to a lot of other editors. Then, once I had established some professional relationships, I began asking questions. If you don’t ask, how will you ever know the answer? Investigate professional organizations full of like-minded individuals and then start learning from these seasoned professionals. Most of the time, they’ll be willing to help.
  • Continue learning. The PEN Institute is a great place to start taking some classes to assist in your editing career endeavors. Look for other places such as Udemy, Writers Digest University, and Christian Writers Institute for classes and workshops with which to hone your skills.
  • Ask God to point the way. The first year of my career, I sought work in the wrong places and made a lot of horrible decisions. I tried to succeed on my own, because I forgot to keep God in the mix. When I handed my hopes and dreams over to God the second year, doors began to open, and He directed me to people and organizations that have helped my career blossom. Asking God for help is the best decision I’ve ever made in my editing career.

Remember, it’s up to you to find work and establish yourself as a professional, but there is lots of help to be had when you search the right places.

Sue started out as a devotion writer, but now also claims the titles of editor, proofreader, webmistress, and writing coach. She is a freelance editor with Elk Lake Publishing, proofreader for Iron Stream Media, blog coordinator for the PEN Tips Blog, and webmistress for St. Davids Christian Writers’ Association. She has written and self-published four books as well as helped a variety of authors get their manuscripts into readers’ hands. Sue loves working with clients that are working toward the greater good of sharing God’s message in this world. Email sueafairchild74@gmail.com or visit her website: Sue A. Fairchild

 

So You Want to Be a Freelance Editor? (Part Two)

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So You Want to Be a Freelance Editor? (Part Two)

by Rebecca Florence Miller

In my previous post, I shared some important preparatory work you need to do as you begin your new career as a freelance editor. In this post, I plan to share more about how to develop your business after you have put those foundational pieces in place.

Once you have adjusted your expectations, educated yourself, and begun to zero in on the best genres that match your skill and the market’s need, you will need to start finding clients. How on earth do you do this?

First, build client testimonials that demonstrate your abilities. Do you have a friend who would be willing to write a testimonial for free or discounted editing work? Better yet if you have three such friends!

Second, think of organizations, groups, and companies that need editors. How about doing some research work in a department of a university or college? How about reaching out to a local nonprofit that is doing great work but has typos in their materials? Is there a community blog you could offer editorial skills to? Does someone you know need compelling website copy or a résumé revision? All this adds to your experience and gives you more authority.

Third, network, network, network. Most of my work has come from networking. It is not instant. It takes years to build up a good network. But the good news is, I’ve done almost all my networking online. Brainstorm deeply about who you know and who you could connect with to get a few opportunities to shine. Also, consider reaching out to publishers with whom you may have some affinity or relationship. After you study your stylebooks, contact some publishers and ask if they are looking for proofreaders. There will likely be a proofreading test. It’s not sexy work, but it’s great experience.

Fourth, set up a simple, elegant website. You do not need anything flashy, although a professional headshot helps. Just make sure your website contains no typos, is organized thoughtfully, clearly communicates your experience and expertise, gives a sense of the services you offer, and provides a way to contact you. Ask your friends to share your website. Put it in your saved email signature, add it to your social media profiles, and include it in your bio every time you write something online.

Fifth, find some sort of regular gig, if you can. For me, this has taken the form of writing and editing a business’s blog posts every month, editing a website devotional for a friend, connecting with publishers who send me work regularly, moving up to a regular editing position at a Christian organization for pastors, and doing regular writing and editing for a Christian ministry. Having at least one gig that provides some reliable income is extremely helpful.

Sixth, once you have more experience, join the Christian Editor Connection. You must do professional editing work for a couple of years first, take tests to qualify in specific genres, and pay a membership fee. If you are accepted, the CEC will forward you referrals to bid on, based on the kind of material you are qualified to edit. I’ve gotten two publishing house referrals through the CEC, as well as several private clients. The CEC charges editors a referral fee of fifteen percent (for the first year of working with the specific client)—but because they expect you to charge the clients healthy fees, not pennies, you still end up with a good sum.

Best wishes to you as you begin to explore a rewarding and challenging new career!

 

Rebecca Florence Miller is the content editor for Ministry Pass and edits for many clients, including Redemption Press, Baker/Brazos, InterVarsity Press, and Truth for Life radio.

 

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