I’ve found myself in a particularly unique situation. I have no formal education in editing, and I am quite young. However, a month or so ago one of my aunts showed me the first few chapters of a story she was working on. She’s an author and has a few published works. I was absolutely giddy. I’ve always wanted to be an author/editor, and there was my chance. A few weeks later, I overheard my mother speaking of me to my friends. My aunt had told my mother that I had shown an incredible aptitude and that my feedback rivaled that of her generously-paid editor. My aunt had also said that I could begin editing online immediately, even charging, so long as I kept my age under a veil. So—long story short—this is what I would like to do. But I’m not quite sure how. I don’t know how the process of billing people online works, nor do I find myself very capable of successfully advertising. As of right now, I am doing some pro bono work on Wattpad in hopes of building up references, but I have yet to charge a dime. What do you suggest I do?
It is truly wonderful that your mother told you such kind things about your aunt’s feedback. I hope that your aunt spoke with you directly. It is always a good thing for a young person to be supported and nurtured in their work.
I assume that you have done solely Copy Editing—not Line Editing or Developmental Editing. There are many intricacies to Copy Editing for which you will need a formal education, so that’s something you can start right away. A course in Advanced English Composition will help, as well as Journalism and a class on Grammar and Punctuation. An internship with your local newspaper can be extremely helpful—journalistic Copy Editing is an excellent place to hone your skills. There are any number of differences between editing fiction, nonfiction, and journalism that you’ll need to know, as well as between American and British English.
We speak a very complicated language, so take your time learning your craft—I have been a professional editor for 35 years, and I still find myself looking things up and consulting with my editor colleagues.
The best way to begin working is to become an apprentice to a reputable independent editor. There are zillions of very bad amateur ‘editors’ advertising themselves online right now. The vast majority don’t know what they’re doing and frequently damage manuscripts. I hear the horror stories all the time. So you definitely don’t want to wind up associated with them. You might apply with Renni Browne, who has been a reputable independent editor since the 1980s and maintains a stable of editors working for her. You will learn during your apprenticeship how to bill, take payment, schedule projects, and follow-through on your commitments.
Once you have one or two years’ worth of excellent client testimonials, you can create your own website and begin to advertise your services independently.
But don’t be in a hurry!
Like any other professional work, it takes years to learn how to do this well. There are many of us editing who have been professionals for decades, and we are your competition. It is far better to apprentice yourself properly than to ruin your reputation by charging for editing before you are ready.
You must always be aware that when a writer hires an editor, someone is paying good money for a valuable service. If you love this work enough to do it, treat it as a career—for that is what it is.
BECOMING A FREELANCE INDEPENDENT EDITOR: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3