How To Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Career

In the current job market, many editorial freelancers have turned to freelance work as a matter of survival. I receive many queries from applicants regarding this part of the market. Addressed here are the key building blocks necessary for a successful freelance career.

EXPERIENCE: You need a minimum of three years (five is ideal), preferably as a full-time employee. Clients will feel more comfortable in your knowledge and abilities if you can demonstrate that you've performed your duties in the past, full-time, at an established institution.

Each industry has its own "lingo". Experience in an industry allows you to understand it and communicate effectively with your clients. As a proofreader, a potential client [eg, a reference book publisher] might say:

"I have 300 pages that need to be proofed. The footnotes and illos will be sent separately. Please make sure there's a hole for each illo and that all footnotes run consecutive, beginning anew with each new chapter. The chapter title is the right running head, there is no left running head. How long do you think it will take to complete this job?"

With no experience in publishing, it would be difficult to begin to assess the job. Before giving an estimate, some questions you would ask are:

  • Is this typed or handwritten copy?

  • Are there inserts to the existing copy that need to be proofed?

  • What style of proofreading do you use?

  • Are changes to be made on disk or hard copy?

    There may be four or five more questions that need to be asked before you can realistically assess how long it will take you to complete this job.

    Experience in the industry allows you to have the necessary knowledge to ask the right questions to judge each project.

    Knowledge of your industry will also enable you to decide how to charge for the job. Some jobs are billed on an hourly basis, others are billed on a project basis, and still others are billed as a page rate.

    Again, if you know your industry, you will be able to effectively calculate how much time the job will take and what billing method to use.

    EQUIPMENT: Working from home means you must to have all the necessary equipment. Minimally, a phone, computer and fax machine. Ideally, a [color] copier, modem, fast Internet access, scanner (if your field requires it) and separate work room in your home would complete the picture.

    CONTACTS/REFERENCES: The most obvious place to start building your customer base is previous employers. Remember the saying, "Don't burn your bridges." It has never been more true than when trying to build a freelance career.

    As companies cut back, employers like to use former employees because they already know the work, routines, and systems of the company. Therefore, very little, if any training is needed.

    These same industry contacts also make great references as you continue to expand your customer base. There is no better assurance to a potential new client than an ex-employer who says: "I'd hire her back if I could. She does great work for us as a freelancer. One of the reasons we use her as a freelancer is because she did such excellent work as an employee."

    Wouldn't you feel confident if you were a potential client?

    SAVINGS: In utopia, six months expenses (rent, food, cleaners, credit card bills, student loans, travel expenses, etc.) will be in the bank before you embark on your freelance career. In our experience, it takes about two years to build a solid base of clients that will (hopefully) keep you busy.

    If this is not possible, try to plan as much in advance as you can. The "fear of the first blues" [when rent is due] can be frightening if you have no income and no prospects on the horizon.

    PART-TIME JOB: I suggest that instead of going from a full-time job into a freelance career, get a steady, part-time job for a while. This will allow you to: 1) transition between the two without taking the financial hit (especially if you haven't planned); and 2) get a feel for how to organize as a freelancer.

    Freelancing usually means intense periods of work, eg, four 12-hour days, and then maybe a week with "nothing" going on. Nothing is in quotation marks because as a freelancer, just because there's no client project on your desk, does not mean that you should be idle.

    During these down times is when you should be organizing your books, re-stocking supplies, prospecting for new clients, tracking advertising - in short, running your business. If you think of freelancing as a business and organize yourself accordingly from the beginning, it will make this existence infinitely easier (especially at tax time).

    PERSONALITY: Freelancing is an enjoyable experience for some, a painful existence for others. Do a personality check to see if you can ride the roller coaster of this up-and-down existence. Do you like working alone; can you handle economic uncertainty; are you naturally motivated; are you organized - all of these, plus other elements are key traits in successful freelancers.

    If you don't take one other thing from this article, remember this: No matter how talented you are, what your background is, or how well connected you are, there will come a time when work just seems to dry up. At this point you may start to question your abilities, seriously consider a full-time jobs, and/or wonder if freelancing is for you.

    If this is the existence you've decided you want, stick with it. Continue to advertise, even when it seems that no one is interested. The average consumer has to see your advertisement at least 7-28 times (depending on what article you read) before they will act on it. So, be confident that if you advertise consistently, when they need a service/product that you offer, you will be at the forefront, rather than the hit-and-run advertisers.

    After all, the quickest way not to succeed is to quit.

    Good luck!

    Original, copyrighted material. May be reprinted only if the following is included in full: Parts of this article are excerpted from the e-book, How to Really Make a Living as an Editorial Freelancer, by Yuwanda Black. It is available for immediate download at http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.html.

    About The Author

    Yuwanda Black owns Inkwell Editorial, an editorial temporary staffing agency in New York City. She is an entrepreneur, author and syndicated small business columnist. Yuwanda has been an entrepreneur for 11 years and has over 16 years experience in the editorial industry. Contact her at http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.html for interviews and/or a link to the book for review.

    Ashley limo service .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
    In The News:

    Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: ConnectOnCall breach leaks sensitive data of 910,000+ patients.
    Rising elder scams: How to recognize them and protect yourself and your loved ones. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you outsmart the scammers.
    There are common habits and oversights that could leave your financial information vulnerable to cybercriminals, according to Kurt the CyberGuy.
    Counting calories just got easier with The Drop, the world's first automated nutrition tracker using advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence.
    A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.
    Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.
    An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.
    There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.
    A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.
    Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.
    Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.
    The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.
    Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.
    Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.
    Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.
    Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.
    Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.
    Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.
  • Go With The Flow: Write With Transition Words and Phrases

    One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More

    Creative Writing Tips - Have You Established Your Main Character At The Start?

    In the beginning of your story you have to grab... Read More

    Make Your Readers Cry

    You know, I really hate it when someone catches me... Read More

    How to Have an Effective Writing Group

    The works you've written are numerous, ranging from short stories... Read More

    Seven Compelling Reasons to Get Your Name on a Book Cover

    Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More

    Mama Dont Allow No Fighting in Your Writing

    When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More

    Focusing Your Reading and Finding Ideas

    Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More

    Important Points of Fiction

    Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:? The theme... Read More

    Writing Requires Self-Control

    The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More

    Six Tips for Creating More Lifelike Story Characters

    Working on my first humorous novel, I started with a... Read More

    Unusual Points of View

    Most writers are familiar with first and third points of... Read More

    Plotting Problems - Episodic Writing

    The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More

    Can Your Theme Be Proved In Your Story?

    Creative Writing Tips ?Your theme has to be something you... Read More

    Uncommon Advice for Beginning Novelists

    1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More

    Frequently Asked Questions from Writers

    1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More

    Plotting By Personality - Work With Your Natural Instincts

    What's the best way to plot?Quick answer: the best way... Read More

    Get Rich Writing With Your Computer Word Processor

    Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More

    A Perfect Day for Writers

    In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More

    7 Reference Books for Your Desk

    I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More

    The Dreaded Daily Word Count

    Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More

    Writing Made Them Rich #1: JK Rowling

    Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury,England in 1965.... Read More

    5 Reasons People Like Technology White Papers

    A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More

    The Authors Life: 14 Hints on Creating a Career Plan

    1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More

    Think Market!

    Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More

    Italics Part 1 - Do You Need to Use Italics?

    Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More

    car service from Midway Arena ..