Freelance Editor

Finding and Working with a Freelance Book Editor

JoSelle Vanderhooft — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:42:35 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by JoSelle Vanderhooft on 3/21/2018 5:42:35 PM

In this webinar, editor JoSelle Vanderhooft explores topics relating to different types of freelance editing services, such as copyediting and content editing, and the differences between them. She'll also discuss interactions between editors and authors, what editors can and cannot do for your writing, how to price freelance services, and more. Question and answer is a big part of this webinar, so please be prepared to ask questions and interact with the presenter.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../Finding-and-Working-with-a-Freelance-Book-Editor-_2800_1_2900_.mp4

JoSelle Vanderhooft has been editing since 2004. Her clients include publishers such as Dreamspinner Press, Siren/Bookstrand, Bella Books, and individual authors who have been nominated for numerous awards or reached Amazon bestseller status. As an author, anthologist, and poet, her own work has been a finalist for the Rainbow Reader Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the Lambda Literary Award. She lives in Utah with her family and two rambunctious kitty cats.

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, Recorded Webinar

Fee Structures for Editors - video

David Colin Carr — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:51:12 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by David Colin Carr on 6/16/2017 12:51:12 PM

Writing coach and editor David Colin Carr walks us through the fee structure that he uses with his clients. He stresses that it's important to find an editor who has an honest pricing system and doesn't try to be deceptive about their rates.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DavidCarrFeeStructuresforEditorsALCWebinars003.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Fee Structures for Editors - podcast

David Colin Carr — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:50:15 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by David Colin Carr on 6/16/2017 12:50:15 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DavidCarrFeeStructuresforEditorsALCWebinars003.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

6 Questions to Ask When Finding a Freelance Editor - article

R.J. Lee — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 15:59:50 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by R.J. Lee on 3/3/2017 3:59:50 PM

So, you’re about to embark on a quest to write the next great American novel. You realize, though, that since you don’t have a publisher, you’ll need to find a freelance editor. Before you begin your search, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I need a copy editor/proofreader only?
Do I want an editor who can help with re-writes and story suggestions?
Do I need help writing my book proposal? Many literary services include proposal writing as part of their service offerings.
Do I want my editor to be a published author?
Am I going to require references from satisfied customers?
How much am I willing to pay?

Once you answer these questions, the next step is to go about finding the editor. Where to begin? There’s an excellent website, run by the Editorial Freelancers Association, that you might want to check out. It lets you search for a member editor by name and/or skill set, with dropdown menus to let you click the specific requirements you’re seeking. It even includes an option for computer hardware and software expertise. Once you receive the results of your search, each name is hyperlinked to the member’s profile. It could not be easier. However, the list is limited to members of the association, so it’s not necessarily exhaustive.

Many times the publishing service provider will offer editing services as a part of publishing packages. This is true at companies like iUniverse and Trafford Publishing. But if you are truly self publishing and not using such providers… or if your provider is more of a print on demand service and less of a publishing service…you may want to check out some other online resources. Here are a couple of websites that you can consult to get the feel for what freelance editors and literary services companies offer. This is not an endorsement of either one, and there are countless others from which you can choose, but both of these sites are well done:

Novel Doctor. A very creative approach to marketing one’s services. This website is informative, creative and humorous, and is worth checking out.
Greenleaf Literary Services. A website with a very straightforward approach to marketing literary services. This is a full service shop, and will give you a good idea as to what’s available.

Don’t forget to also consult friends, read articles and blogs, and communicate with other literary professionals. A good freelance editor should be able to share a verifiable resume and should have referrals. He also should offer a safe and secure way to make payment (PayPal, for example.)

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Tips for Working with a Freelance Editor - article

R.J. Lee — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 15:59:24 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by R.J. Lee on 3/3/2017 3:59:24 PM

One of the most important aspects of working with a freelance editor is your comfort level with that editor. So, you’ve selected an editor who is not only competent, but is accessible, responsive and reliable. And you like him or her. However, this is a two-way street. You also have to be accessible, responsive and reliable --- and communicative. Clear communication is the key to an effective author-editor relationship, freelance or otherwise. However, with a freelance editor, this may be more challenging, as the editor is reporting to no one but him or herself, so you have no “customer service” resource to fall back on if things aren’t working.

The good editor does more than just edit. He or she should also be able to provide suggestions on how to make your work better and more marketable. You should never be hesitant to tap into the expertise and experience of your editor in these regards, and should strive to build a rapport that makes this give and take flow easily and painlessly. Remember, just as you have to deal with the editor on a professional basis, so too does the editor have to deal with you. Be open to comments and criticisms or they won’t be offered to you. You’ll end up cheating yourself. Search around for a freelance editor, and check out the comments page. Notice the words that clients use. They might be things like helpful, thoughtful and even compassionate. These recommendations should give you a good idea of how an effective author-editor relationship works.

Here are five tips for working with your freelance editor:

Clearly define what the editor is going to do for you and your project.
Establish milestones for performance, for both you and the editor.
Agree on a timetable for both parties to complete stages of their work. This will change, but should serve as a general guideline.
Don’t just exchange emails and files. If possible, meet in person or at least talk on the telephone periodically.
Communicate, communicate and communicate.

A good freelance editor will greatly increase your project’s chance of success, and a good relationship with that editor will increase it exponentially.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Advice on Selecting an Editor - podcast

Jill Marsal — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 09:32:39 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Jill Marsal on 2/26/2017 9:32:39 AM

Choosing an editor for your book can be a daunting task. Listen in as agent Jill Marsal offers advice on selecting an editor, and how to make the best decision for your book. She says spending a lot of money on a freelance editor isn't always necessary. It depends on exactly what kind of editing you need, and it’s also important to make sure the editor is going to be available through the entire publishing process. Make sure you actually need the kind of editing a freelancer editor can provide before you spend thousands of dollars on it. Most agents today are doing a lot more hands-on editorial work than they have in the past. If you can find an agent who will help you do that work, then you don’t need to pay a freelance editor to do it. And once your book has been sold, an editor at the publisher may do some work on it—although not all editors at major publishers are doing that kind of editorial work anymore.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PodcastATEJillMarsalAdviceonSelectinganEditor.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Advice on Selecting an Editor - video

Jill Marsal — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 09:32:26 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Jill Marsal on 2/26/2017 9:32:26 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../JillMarsalAdviceonSelectinganEditorNEW.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Advice on Selecting an Editor - article

Jill Marsal — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 09:32:15 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Jill Marsal on 2/26/2017 9:32:15 AM

A lot of writers feel the need to go to freelance editors and spend a lot of money, but it’s not always the best thing to do. It depends on exactly what kind of editing the editor is going to do for you, and it’s also important to make sure the editor is going to be available through the entire publishing process. For example, what if you hire an editor to help you develop a proposal and manage to sell it, but then the editor isn’t involved in writing the actual book? If there’s a big change in the writing between the proposal and the actual manuscript, the acquisitions editor isn’t going to be very happy about that. I’ve heard of books getting canceled as a result.

You also need to make sure you actually need the kind of editing a freelancer editor can provide before you spend thousands of dollars on it. Most agents today are doing a lot more hands-on editorial work than they have in the past. If you can find an agent who will help you do that work, obviously you don’t need to pay a freelance editor to do it. And once your book has been sold, an editor at the publisher may do some work on it—although not all editors at major publishers are doing that kind of editorial work anymore.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Freelance Editing: Enhancing the Writer’s Voice - podcast

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:45:13 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 2/24/2017 4:45:13 PM

As a writer, you may be interested in freelance editing opportunities. Before you jump into your first project, there is one essential tip that you must understand: editing requires you to set aside your own writing voice in order to enhance the author's. Editing director Sheryl Stebbins discusses the importance of preserving the author's voice while editing. She says that when you’re editing someone else’s work, you have to focus on the voice that they’re creating in their work, instead of your own. Before taking on an editing job, read three to five chapters of the material to determine if you can work with the author’s voice to enhance the project.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALCATESherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingEnhancingtheWritersVoice.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Freelance Editing: Enhancing the Writer’s Voice - video

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:42:08 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 2/24/2017 4:42:08 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../SherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingEnhancingtheWritersVoiceNEW.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - video

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:41:59 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 2/24/2017 4:41:59 PM

Freelance editors must be able to gauge the amount of editing needed when writing a contract and setting a fee for editing. In this interview, editing director Sheryl Stebbins shares tips for freelance editor contracts, including fee considerations for freelance editors. She says that the first thing to do when you approach a freelance editing project is determine how heavy the editing needs to be. That will determine the fee you set. To get an idea of an appropriate fee for the kind of work required, use a resource, such as the Freelancer’s Union, which can give you an idea of the typical rates for specific types of editing in your part of the country. Always use a contract. Editing is like any other kind of job in this respect—you need to set clear expectations. The contract is important for both sides. It clearly lays out what the client can expect the editor to do as well as the editor’s compensation for the work. It protects both the person whose work is being edited and the person who is doing the editing.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../SherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingGaugesandContractsNEW.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - podcast

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:41:37 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 2/24/2017 4:41:37 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALCATESherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingGaugesandContracts.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - article

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 16:41:08 GMT

Current Revision posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 2/24/2017 4:41:08 PM

The first thing to do when you approach a freelance editing project is figure out how heavy the editing needs to be. That will determine the fee you set. For example, if I look at a book and think all I’ll need to do is brush up the language a little bit and correct a few punctuation errors, the fee won’t need to be very high. But if I read through the book and realize there’s a lot of information missing and there will need to be major changes for the sake of the continuity of the story, it’s going to be a much heavier edit, and therefore the fee is going to need to be higher.

To get an idea of an appropriate fee for the kind of work you’re going to be doing, you can go to places like the Freelancer’s Union, and they can give you an idea of the typical rates for particular types of editing in your part of the country. If I’m working with an editor who lives in New York City, for example, I expect the fees to be much higher than if I’m working with someone in the middle of the country.

Always use a contract. Editing is like any other kind of job in this respect—you need to set clear expectations. If I look at something and determine that it needs a heavy edit but don’t explain that in the contract, then the client isn’t going to understand why I’m asking for such a high fee. The contract can also act as a sort of report card. You can go back to the contract and make sure that all of the expectations laid out there have been met. The contract is important for both sides—it clearly lays out what the client can expect the editor to do as well as the editor’s compensation for the work. I would never do a job without a contract, because I believe very strongly that it protects both the person whose work is being edited and the person who is doing the editing.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Fee Structures for Editors - video

David Colin Carr — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Freelance Editor by David Colin Carr on 1/9/2017 12:00:00 AM

Writing Coach and editor, David Colin Carr, explains how he charges clients for his editing work.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DavidCarrFeeStructuresforEditorsALCWebinars003.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Fee Structures for Editors - podcast

David Colin Carr — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Freelance Editor by David Colin Carr on 1/9/2017 12:00:00 AM

Writing Coach and editor, David Colin Carr, explains how he charges clients for his editing work.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../DavidCarrFeeStructuresforEditorsALCWebinars003.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - Article

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:59:05 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 12/30/2016 12:59:05 AM

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - Podcast

Sheryl Stebbins — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:57:44 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 12/30/2016 12:57:44 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALCATESherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingGaugesandContracts.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - Podcast

Sheryl Stebbins — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Freelance Editor by Sheryl Stebbins on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ALCATESherylStebbinsFreelanceEditingGaugesandContracts.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Advice on Selecting an Editor - Podcast

Jill Marsal — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Freelance Editor by Jill Marsal on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PodcastATEJillMarsalAdviceonSelectinganEditor.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, podcast

Advice on Selecting an Editor - Video

Jill Marsal — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Freelance Editor by Jill Marsal on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../JillMarsalAdviceonSelectinganEditorNEW.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video