Freelance, WFH Editing/Proof reading jobs

[ChocoChocoLatte]

Does anyone do this? I'm beginning to look into it as an option for some additional work but I'm not sure where to start if I'm honest.

I’m a freelance editor. I moved from a publishing house into freelance work, so already had experience and contacts but I have friends who trained and then became editors. Subject expertise is a good ‘in’ if you don’t have more formal editing experience. What’s your experience, OP? What base are you starting from?

Hi @GreenTurtle75 thank you for your reply.

Without 'outing' myself I write features for two national newspapers and have done for 4yrs.

I recently returned to further education to gain a writing qualification having worked in a completely unrelated field my whole
Career.

Part of this qualification includes proof reading skills.

I need to find myself a flexible, part time job to compliment my studies and my lecturer suggested this.

I have no idea where to start.

Oh and subject expertise - food and drink.

I found freelance was quite badly underpaid. I'd avoid anything where you bid on work (it results in prices being driven down) and instead go freelance via an agency.

You might find some ideas if you sign up to the freelance writing jobs newsletter, there are always food related things on there.

You'll find more work if you're really open to a range of topic too. I did holiday cottage adverts, seo stuffed articles about conservatories and furniture descriptions amongst other things.

Really? I've been getting quotes from proofreaders recently and they are far more expensive than using an agency! For example, the agency quote (with 48hr turnaround) was £175 and freelance quotes ranged between £300 - £900 with a much longer lead time.

Look up CIEP (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) for information on training. They are well respected and publishers look out for those who've trained with them / are members.

PTC (The Publishing Training Centre) do an intensive proofreading training course which is an excellent launchpad.

I have a publishing background, but also trained with CIEP so I could go freelance.

Many thanks everyone. Happy to undertake any work as long as it's paid.

Any specific agencies etc ?

Isn’t there a law (Law of Sod?) that when writing about editing or proofreading informally you will make at least one egregious error? 😊
I got into proofing through my work as a translator in a special field - over time some clients would write pieces in English instead that needed editing and then proofreading, or I would proofread the translations. The tricky part of it is that I have to be familiar with various British and American style guidelines, depending on the publisher’s house style.

I don’t know much about newspaper publishing but if they take freelancers, they’d be a great first call. Let your contacts know you’re taking on freelance proofreading as well as the writing you’ve been doing. Or if they’re not editorial, ask if they know anyone. I’m on the books side, and have found personal recommendation to be my primary lead.

I second checking out the CIEP. It takes time to get onto their directory (you have to attain certain experience and training) but their training courses will give you a helpful, formal grounding, and their forums are full of members who are generally very willing to offer helpful advice.

@henrysugar12 places like upwork work by having freelancers bid to take on a project. Part of it involves putting your CV forward and the other part is saying how much you want to be paid, so people undercut each other.

@ChocoChocoLatte Woocontent

Also OP, legit agencies will pay you for trial pieces

@LadyGreySpillsTheTea Muphry’s Law (which I’ll probably now manage to invoke…) :-D

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law

@Hubblebubble I've not used Upwork - this is from contacting proofreaders on the CIEP website.

Newspapers do use freelancers, but they are sub-editors, with additional skills such as headline-writing, fact-checking, SEO, some legal skills, perhaps a bit of layout. It's a different career path really. But worth exploring if you have newspaper experience. The chief sub on the desk that commissions you could probably advise.

For mainstream editorial work, getting into the CIEP directory is a good goal. I trained with them (among other places), and got nearly all my clients through that listing. People who search it are generally prepared to pay proper fees, unlike the chancers who look for the lowest possible quote on Fiverr or Upwork.