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Editors and Writers discussion
How to promote your editorial services?
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Alex,Your site looks great, though you might separate your photography from the writing/editing.
How's your LinkedIn Profile? Make sure that's up to date and get involved with not only a few editors' discussion groups but a few authors' threads too (the authors are the ones who need editors after all). My suggestion is that you don't push yourself as an editor; just put it in your tagline and play nicely with the authors.
I think specificity helps (something I need to work on for my site as well). If allowed, tell for which agency you worked and on what projects. Testimonials are supposed to be helpful too.
Are you part of a writers' group? Have you edited for the others in the group? There's no reason that kind of experience can't count and no reason to tell anyone if you didn't get paid for it.
Editors often don't have "portfolios" because we're expected to keep our clients' work confidential. Most authors aren't going to want early versions of their work with all the errors shared. Offer to do sample edits of a reasonable amount of a ms. for free. That's the best way for you and the client to figure out if you'll work well together. You'll have to decide what you consider reasonable.
I hope that helps some. Let us know how you do. I couldn't find you on LI (too many Alex O'Connors popped up). Look me me up if you want to connect.
Ruth
PenKnife Writing and Editorial Services
www.penknife-editing.net
Thanks Ruth! Sorry it took so long to reply; I was traveling. you might separate your photography from the writing/editing
Good idea, although I am hesitant to have a bunch of different websites/portfolios for every separate hobby of mine. I'm afraid it would get overwhelming for me.
How's your LinkedIn Profile?
I actually don't have one! I started working a the lit agency through my college's internship program and never needed one. Honestly, this is the first time I'm hearing about LinkedIn in relation to the writing/editing community. Most of the time I hear about Elance. I'll definitely be setting up a LinkedIn profile, so thank you!
Are you part of a writers' group?
I live in a very remote location and I don't have a physical group I can join. Do you have any recommendations for some good online groups?
I will definitely update my site with specifics concerning which agency/projects I've worked on.
I think advertising a sample 5-page edit for free would be a good start. I'll definitely post it on my Editorial Services page, but would a good way to get more viability be advertising this on my goodreads/linkedin profile?
I'll be sure to connect with you once my LinkedIn profile is up!
Btw, thank you *so much* for your help. It's crazy how integral all of this is now to self-advertising your writing/editing, but how little they taught about utilizing these tools when I was in college for creative writing.
I think you're in better shape than you realize!You have experience, and it's in-house experience (which is often highly valued in this field.) You obviously know how to edit. You've got a website. You're doing well.
It's my opinion that your first freelance clients don't need to know they are your first freelance clients. I wouldn't make that public knowledge. Just tell clients you have 3-4 years experience. You can give them details if they ask. Always offer sample edits. And then in a couple of years, if it's important to you, you can proudly say you've got 6 years experience and have been freelance for 2 years (or whatever.)
What about joining professional organizations for freelance editors?
Thanks! Always offer sample edits
Sample edits of the perspective client's work I'd do for free as an example? Or work I've done in the past?
What about joining professional organizations for freelance editors?
If I'm not looking to be an editor full-time, can I still benefit from these organizations?
Alex,No problem. I hope you went somewhere exciting.
I understand the desire to keep website commitments manageable. I don't keep up with my own site the way I ought to do.
I think LinkedIn has become essential. Most people seem to check there for proof of professional life. Here are links to a few of the groups I like:
Freelance Editors: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/93213
The Literary Endeavour: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4712605
LinkEds & Writers: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/37917
Friday Flash Fiction: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8193514
I have been terribly remiss about keeping up with these groups for some time because of health issues, but am hoping to dive back in soon. By the editors' groups have useful advice for making your way and the writers' groups have people who need editors, so I suggest joining both types. There are many other groups too; those are just the ones where I lurk.
Regarding sample edits: Yes, sample edits of a prospective client's work. Usually sharing another author's drafts is considered taboo. And working with some of a possible client's writing gives you and the client a way to decide whether you want to work together. Some editors will fold that time into their charges if the client works out.
I haven't joined any professional editors organizations, but only because I don't yet feel I can justify the expense. Many people swear by the Editorial Freelancers Association:
http://www.the-efa.org/about.php
You might want to check out their page on average rates:
http://www.the-efa.org/res/rates.php
There might be local groups (there's one that's supposed to be fantastic in the Bay Area: http://www.editorsforum.org) that could be useful for you join. See what's offered; these organizations can indeed be beneficial even if you're part time.
Check out the Freelancers Union. There are no dues to join and you'll find some useful groups (they're called Hives) there: https://www.freelancersunion.org. You can also get help with health insurance. (Let me know if you sign up and I'll "fave" you.) You really have nothing to lose by joining.
If you know other editors with blogs, write guest posts if they'll let you. That counts as publishing credit too. I'd be happy to give you space on my site, but will be upfront and tell you that only about six people read it and one of them is my brother.
If you write letters, you might join the Month of Letters community: http://lettermo.com. It's pretty quiescent right now, but will pick up after the new year and there are some well-known authors on that group. There's also a site called The Rumpus about which I recently learned. You can, for a fee, subscribe to a letter-writing service and receive letters from well-known (or sort of well-known) folks, many of them authors, and have the opportunity to write them back. I've received three letters so far; two were really interesting. I don't think it would be cricket to use the addresses to market your services, but you might make friends with people who could indirectly give you more insight into how to get clients.
And I agree with everything Sonnet wrote as well. You really do have plenty of experience and don't need to explain or apologize for anything.
Keep in touch. We're all in this together.
Ruth
PenKnife Writing and Editorial Services
www.penknife-editing.net
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I'll let you know when I join the Freelancers Union! Just subscribed to your blog :DThanks again!
As an avid reader, writer, and editor, I understand just how much goes into the writing process in order to deliver a polished novel. Copy Edit: (Improving formatting, style, and accuracy of text)
-Shorten long sentences into two
-Cut adverbs
-Stick to the same narrative
-Punctuation
-Remove redundancies
Proofreading: (correct or mark any errors before print or publishing)
-Careful reading
-Detect spelling errors, punctuation, or grammar
I will copy edit any genre to any fiction novel for a very reasonable price. Typically, I charge $1.00 (CND) per page. (Size12 font, double-spaced)
I offer converting your Word document into any format to suit all e-reader devices. (EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, PDF, etc…) Simply name the ones you want. This also includes meeting Kindle and CreateSpace guidelines. Fee for all of this is only $50.00(CND) Contact me via e-mail and we can discuss in further detail.
I know firsthand how frustrating it is to pay some big company $70-$80 for a single Kindle format only.
Lastly, after your manuscript is copy-edited, I recommend a final proofread after any modifications have been made. Price for this depends on word count.
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Alex wrote: Sample edits of the perspective client's work I'd do for free as an example? Or work I've done in the past?
Free samples for the client! Just ask for a few pages (I have heard some editors say they do 3 or 5, some do 10) and copy edit them using Track Changes so the client can see how you work.
If you have sample of past work you have done that you can use, by all means keep a portfolio on a website or to send to clients. But in my experience these are very hard to come by, as most authors don't want you sharing their first drafts full of errors around. Definitely don't share work without asking.
As far as organizations, I think they're totally worth it! If you don't want to spend the money to join the EFA, come join us at EAE on Facebook. Totally free and a fun, supportive group that can help with everything from client leads to business building to those times you just can't remember where the comma goes.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Edito...
Stella wrote: "As an avid reader, Except a reader of the thread you posted in, maybe? :) :) :)
I've since moved on from the Agency, and I'd like to get into freelance editing to support my writing habit.
I have industry experience, but no 'personal' clients. Where can I start? I have an info page concerning my services on my website, but I'm not sure how/where to market myself.
I also feel a little nervous about having had zero freelance clients; how can I attract people to my services if I don't have a big portfolio of projects already?
I work primary with MG & YA fiction. Any suggestions would be great, thanks!