Your 6-Step Guide to Becoming a Freelance Editor (beginner friendly)
In the publishing industry, a freelance editor is a professional hired to improve or correct texts or manuscripts on a project-by-project basis, unlike in-house editors employed full-time by publishing houses or magazines. As free agents, freelance editors juggle two main tasks: mastering the craft of editing—ranging from developmental editing to copy editing and proofreading—and running their own business.
To guide you on your path to freelance editing, we’ve consulted some of Reedsy’s top freelance editors and put together 6 steps to help you start your own editing business.
Psst… This article is perfect for beginners with no prior editing experience. If you’ve been editing for a while and want to learn how to go freelance, feel free to skip ahead using the table of contents.
1. Understand what freelance editors do
Editing isn't a one-size-fits-all job. As an in-house editor, your day might include a mix of editing, author communication, acquisitions, and aligning with the publishing house's budget and creative direction. Your schedule is dictated by the company's publishing calendar and may involve collaborating with authors or reporting to senior editors.
Freelance editors, however, work independently, allowing them to focus more on editing and directly with clients like indie authors or occasionally publishing houses. You have the flexibility to shape your work as you please.
Freelance editors can either specialize in or perform all types of editing:
You can read more about the different types of editing here.
Skills and qualifications
No matter your specialization, there are a few core skills every editor needs. First, you must be comfortable handling large amounts of text, which requires a strong grasp of storytelling techniques, language, and style, along with an awareness of market and genre trends. Technically, proficiency in word processing programs like MS Word is essential. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are necessary for delivering feedback to clients effectively. You'll also need to be organized and able to work toward deadlines.
Freelance editors must also be strong networkers, self-promoters, and business-minded. Self-discipline and excellent organizational skills are crucial for managing the administrative aspects of your business while making time for creative work and downtime.
While no specific university degree is required to become a successful editor, most have a background in the humanities, such as English, Journalism, or History. A publishing degree can help those transitioning from another field, and business administration knowledge is beneficial for freelancers. However, these are not strictly necessary; employers and clients usually look for relevant experience.
2. Hone your craft and gain relevant experience
When we asked our Reedsy freelancers for their best tips on honing editing skills, they unanimously emphasized putting in the time. You can study the theory behind good writing, but there’s no substitute for practice. If you’re new to editing, finding opportunities to gain experience can be challenging, so here are some ways to start:
Read a lot
Reading extensively is essential to becoming a good editor. You must understand storytelling fundamentals and distinguish between good and bad writing. Loving reading is crucial to sustain you through challenging times in your career. Remember, there's a difference between reading for enjoyment and active reading.
Practice editing published books
Although the books on your shelf have been edited, they’re great for practicing if you don’t have access to rough manuscripts. Read with the intent to analyze the book’s components. Write in-depth reviews focusing on characterization, plot, or language, and analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how you would have edited it.
You can also write reader’s reports, which are 1-2 page summaries used by literary agents and editors to present manuscripts. They should include factual descriptions like the title, word count, author credentials, and plot summary, along with unique selling points, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and your recommendation for or against publication.
Try beta reading
Beta readers provide feedback on unpublished manuscripts, often for free, offering insights into how the intended audience will receive the book. It’s valuable practice for detecting errors, plot holes, and inconsistencies. Join Facebook groups or Reddit threads for beta reading opportunities, or offer to edit your friends’ writing to practice giving constructive feedback.
Take courses
If you want something more structured, sign up for courses to boost your skills. Websites like Coursera and Udemy offer free editing courses, and you can explore paid options with certificates. Courses in business administration or self-employment finances can also prepare you for freelancing.
Another option is to enroll in creative writing courses. These courses are particularly useful because they teach the building blocks of storytelling and often include editing and feedback sessions between classmates, providing practical experience in both giving and receiving feedback.
Get a relevant degree
While not strictly necessary, many editors come from a humanities background, and a university degree is often required for entry-level positions in publishing. Make the most of your time at university by joining the campus newspaper or creative writing societies. These activities allow you to practice editing and gain bylines to boost your portfolio.
3. Look for entry-level editing jobs
Once you’re confident in your foundational skills and passion for editing, it’s time to seek paid opportunities.
Many freelance editors begin their careers in-house before transitioning to freelance work. This approach provides valuable industry insights and a network of clients and contacts, which can be beneficial when starting your own business. However, it's not impossible to start freelancing right away.
Internships and part-time positions
Landing an entry-level position in a publishing house fresh out of university is ideal but competitive. Employers often seek verifiable editing experience, which can be gained through internships and part-time positions.
You can search for internships and part-time opportunities on sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, or your university’s job board. Additionally, check your favorite publisher’s website or social media, where they often announce new opportunities.
Paid freelancing gigs
For newer editors eager to dive into freelancing, platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.com offer accessible alternatives to more curated sites. These platforms provide a variety of opportunities, but be aware that they often involve bidding wars, where editors lower their rates to secure gigs.
While your portfolio may be limited initially, you may need to start with lower rates and simpler projects, gradually working your way up. However, remember that keeping your prices low isn’t sustainable long-term, and you should still charge a reasonable rate.
Join publishing-specific marketplaces
To advance in the freelancing world, consider joining curated marketplaces. If your portfolio includes highly praised published books or you have experience with reputable publishers, sign up for publishing-specific marketplaces like Reedsy.
By listing your services on Reedsy, you can showcase your profile to thousands of clients seeking editorial services. Our platform facilitates easy collaboration between authors and professionals, enhancing your reputation and making you more discoverable by serious clients seeking high-quality work.
Curated marketplaces also streamline administrative tasks like billing and invoicing, giving you more time to focus on your craft.
4. Network and build a client base
At all stages of your career as a freelance editor, but perhaps particularly in the beginning, networking is vital to building your client base. Here are some tips on how to get your name out there:
Be patient, but proactive
Small businesses don’t grow overnight, and freelance editing is no exception. If you have relevant work experience, you may have prior leads to start with, but beginners should be prepared for it to take time to build a client base. Don’t let the wait discourage you.
To speed up the process, be proactive and put yourself out there! Network with other professionals, ask for referrals, and advertise your services. Freelance editors are often happy to share resources and experiences, so don’t be shy about reaching out.
Check out our webinar on how to build your freelance client base for more advice.
Remember that even with proactive efforts, building your business might take time. For example, editor Clem Flanagan spent over a year networking through workshops and conferences, both online and offline, before successfully launching her full-time freelance editing business.
Frequent Twitter and other online forums
When it comes to the world of publishing, there’s no better social media platform for you to When it comes to the publishing world, there's no better social media platform for networking than Twitter (X) or Reddit. Here, you'll find an active community of freelance editors and a vast pool of writers to market your services to.
If you’re interested in connecting with other editors, follow accounts like the EFA for updates on conferences and monthly chats. You can also follow publishing experts like Sam Missingham and Louise Harnby, who hosts an excellent editing podcast.
To meet potential clients, follow hashtags like #Writing and #WritingCommunity to see what authors are discussing. Many authors ask questions you can answer as an editor, giving you a chance to demonstrate your expertise.
Attend on- and offline conferences
While social media is a great way to connect, few things beat in-person networking at events and conferences. These events can lead to valuable connections and generate positive word-of-mouth about your editing business. Look for local book festivals and set aside time to attend them. If you can't attend in person, many online events are also available.
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Join vocational societies
Besides following societies like the EFA or CIEP on social media, consider joining them. Membership often grants access to job boards and upskilling opportunities, and you'll be able to chat with fellow editors who can help you stay informed about new projects.?
Be communicative
Networking often involves casual conversations with colleagues and industry professionals, but going the extra mile for your clients is also beneficial. As a freelance editor, you'll often work with new and self-publishing authors who may need support navigating the publishing process. While advice and consultancy aren’t necessarily part of your job, you can assist your clients by being communicative.
Explain industry jargon, respond promptly to messages, and recommend other freelancers who can offer further assistance. This approach can lead to follow-up collaborations and long-term work relationships. Clients who have a positive experience with you are more likely to recommend you to other writers.
5. Set your rates according to industry standards
Pricing is crucial for freelancers: it can determine whether your business stays afloat. You want to set freelance editing rates that reflect your skills and experience accurately.
Novice editors typically charge about $25/hour, while more established editors may charge upwards of $0.04 per word or $50/hour, depending on the type of editing and genre. As you gain experience, you may want to switch from charging per hour to charging per word.
However, don't underestimate your abilities, even as a beginner! Editor Christina Roth advises, "If you're good at what you do, you should charge a fair price, not what you think the author expects. If you charge far less than other freelancers, you could risk looking cheap and inexperienced."
Learn more about how to set your editing rates in this article.
Charge in installments
At Reedsy, we encourage freelancers to get a percentage of their total fee paid upfront. The rest can be divided into equal installments based on your preference. This approach establishes a committed relationship between you and the client, ensuring both parties uphold their end of the deal.
On Reedsy, you choose the number of installments, and the fee is automatically divided and paid out via Stripe.
For other payment methods, consider using electronic wire transfers or virtual payment services like Venmo for convenience and flexibility. Remember to keep a record of your invoices; you can download our free invoice template here to save time.
Raise your prices frequently
Pricing can be one of the trickiest parts of freelancing. It’s often hard to know if you’re charging appropriately. Many freelancers struggle with asking for what they’re worth. Discussing rates with a network of other freelancers can help, but it’s also important to experiment and raise your prices frequently. Do this until you feel like you’ve hit a ceiling and the types of clients you want to work with are starting to get priced out.
It’s all about fine-tuning, adapting, and staying flexible in your business.
Stay organized
Organization is crucial for running any business, especially a virtual one. For every freelance editing job, you'll need to keep track of your schedule, forms, and correspondences. This helps maintain clear records with the client in case any disagreements arise and is important for official purposes.
Being organized also helps prevent missed deadlines. Turning in edits late can harm your reputation, so a meticulous schedule is necessary. This becomes even more important when you have multiple projects at once. Consider using a time tracker to better gauge how long each task will take for future planning.
A detailed record also helps you manage the administrative side of your freelance editing business in a timely and headache-free manner. Invoices are essential for filing taxes, so having everything organized will save you from scrambling for paperwork when deadlines approach.
6. Finetune your freelance business
By now, you should have a solid foundation as a freelancer. The beauty of freelancing is that it's entirely customizable to your needs and preferences. While you may have enough work and clients to pay the bills, now is the time to narrow your focus so you can consistently get gigs that inspire you.
Determine your niche
Every book genre has its own conventions. Some, like cookbooks, are highly specific in style and content, while others may be less demanding but still have particular conventions and tropes. Authors prefer working with editors who understand these conventions, so having in-depth knowledge of one or two niches can greatly benefit your editing business.
Analyze books in your target genres, see what readers enjoy, and explore beyond books where appropriate. Take editor Perrin Davis, for example. When her publishing company acquired a cookbook imprint, she immersed herself in the culinary world to give her authors insider knowledge.
Perrin says, “I learned as much as I could about food, mostly to make myself a better cookbook editor. Embrace each challenge because something that seems insurmountable at the time might end up being your specialty.”
Curate your portfolio
If you know what types of projects you want to work on, make sure your portfolio reflects that. You might have an impressive list of romance titles, but if you want to work on biographies and memoirs, highlight relevant projects and be clear with clients about your focus. While narrowing your scope may result in losing a few potential clients, it will help you find projects that truly align with your skills and passion.
As you gain experience and expertise in one area, you can and should be more selective with the jobs you accept. Life is too short to work on projects you merely tolerate when there’s a market where you can flourish. If a project doesn’t interest you, recommend another freelancer who might enjoy the work more. Chances are, they’ll return the favor in the future.
Perfect your online presence and brand
Being selective with jobs requires clearly communicating your focus through your online presence before clients reach out to you.
A professional website or freelancer profile is essential for any freelance editing business. Your website should reflect your best work and personality to appeal to clients. Compatibility in tone and work style can sometimes be as important as your testimonials—authors like to work with someone they feel comfortable communicating with.
On Reedsy, we encourage freelancers to be specific in their profiles, helping authors find the right match when browsing our marketplace. This specificity also helps you avoid unwanted clients. Instead of deterring clients you don't want, clearly and enthusiastically communicate the projects you love working on.
In addition to a strong work portfolio, maintain a professional yet friendly freelancer profile that introduces you as a person, not just an editing machine. Share details about your life, location, and even pets. As freelance designer Caerus Kourt states, your online presence is not actually about you:
“This is about your clients. What can you do for them? What have you done for others like them in the past? What can they expect if they hire you? Once you focus on the client, writing about yourself becomes easier.”
Reedsy editor Randall Klein demonstrates a good balance between friendly and professional in his profile photo. For the eagle-eyed visitor, the background photo hints at his being a dog person—a nice personal touch.
I'm a professional editor with ten years in the publishing industry under my belt (Random House, then Diversion Books). I have edited authors across genres, with a focus in mystery / suspense / thriller and romance. I am also a published author, with my book, Little Disasters, published by Viking in May of 2018. After thirteen years in New York, I now live in Charlottesville with my wife and our very photogenic dog.
Segment clients
As you begin to pick up projects, you'll encounter various clients with different needs. Segmenting these writers into groups can help you address them appropriately.
For instance, categorize clients by their level of experience—a new author will need more guidance than someone who's published before. You might share resources on outlining with the former but not the latter.
Other criteria for segmenting clients include:
These segments will make your process more effective and might help you recognize and nurture long-term partnerships. You can gather this information during negotiations, perhaps through a questionnaire when you send your offer.
Never stop learning
Finally, avoid stagnation by continuously seeking new opportunities to learn and improve your craft. Earning additional certificates boosts your credentials and makes you a more professional editor.
Even if you're already qualified and experienced, you can still expand your skill set. Organizations like the CIEP and EFA frequently organize conferences and workshops where freelance editors share insights on current topics like inclusive language and popular tropes. These events are excellent opportunities to learn from fellow editors and stay updated on publishing trends.
The more you learn and connect with the current market, the better service you can offer clients. You can share your participation and reflections on social media or let your new skills shine through your work. Either way, your service will improve throughout your career if you keep learning.
If you feel like you need more tips and support, follow us on LinkedIn or check out our article on Freelancers Union.