The Writing Coach Blog

Expanding Your Horizons: How to Be a Freelance Editor

by Rebecca Smith Hurd

Seasoned pros say that writers looking to branch out need to build a strong network and adapt to whatever technology clients use.

Q: Do you have any resources you’d recommend for freelance editors? As a journalist, I have always edited my own work, and I think I have the skills, but have not had the “editor” title. I’m not sure what computer programs are commonly used, especially when working remotely. 

A: Breaking into freelance editing can be tough because, as one seasoned editor put it, “there’s more competition than there is meat.” Networking is usually the best resource for finding jobs, and any professional journalism experience — including writing — gives you a huge advantage: You already know people in the field.

“I don’t think of myself as a networker, a schmoozer or a people person, really, but that’s pretty much the only way I’ve ever gotten work,” says Hon Walker, a Portland, Ore.-based editor. “When I started out, it wasn’t about scouring Craigslist or reading classifieds or looking at job listings or sending out resumes. It was about people I had a personal connection to. I talked with them. And before long, I was working.” Over the past 13 years, Walker’s client list has included CNET, PC World, Wired, Dwell, SFGate.com and O’Reilly Media.

Editorial managers tend to prefer “known quantities” because they often don’t have time to vet freelancers the way they would potential full-time hires. “It’s very rare that I would hire somebody completely cold, with no connection whatsoever, because I have no context for them,” says Karen Zuercher, associate managing editor at Via Magazine in Walnut Creek, Calif. “Sure, I can call their references, but only an idiot is going to provide one that isn’t glowing. So if there is any personal connection at all, I recommend it — schools, professors, whatever they can find.”

If you don’t have any connections, Zuercher, who freelanced for more than two years before accepting her current position last fall, suggests joining a networking or affinity group in your area to establish contacts. In many major U.S. cities, you can connect with other freelancers online through Yahoo or Meetup. You might also consider joining a national industry organization, such as Mediabistro or the Society of Professional Journalists, both of which hold periodic regional events.

In terms of computer programs, there really isn’t a definitive answer about which ones you’ll need to master. The tools of the editing trade vary wildly from job to job and across media — regardless of whether you’re working in-house or remotely. Generally, you should be adept at using a personal computer, email, a Web browser and search engine, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). You’ll likely find yourself working with some sort of publishing software, too, either online or off.

If you’re editing online, be prepared to change software with each new client. “Web publishers have proprietary posting tools, and they all have quirks — weird, kooky things that you figure out through trial and error,” Walker says. “I’ve also worked remotely through a virtual desktop/private network. I was looking at a desktop in their office: I used their software and servers remotely through my machine.”

If you’re editing for print, get familiar with a desktop-publishing program like Adobe InDesign. Amanda Mitchell Henry, a Dublin, Calif.-based freelancer, says you don’t need to be an expert, but understanding what happens to the words on the page after you’re done editing them is beneficial. “I don’t have graphic-design capabilities, and I don’t have the layout skills, but I have paid enough attention to both that I’ve been able to do the best I can with, say, a PowerPoint presentation or blog posts … because now a lot of stuff is in our hands as editors,” says Henry, who’s freelanced for eight years for clients like InfoWorld, NetworkWorld and BWIA Airlines’ magazine, Caribbean Beat.

Zuercher says she doesn’t expect freelancers to be tech experts, but she looks for self-starting editors who feel comfortable with computers and software in general. “It’s more about adaptability than it is about any specific skill set,” she says. “You have to be able to step up and train quickly and figure out stuff on your own.”

Do you have a question about freelancing? Ask Writing Coach.