Freelance writer & editor

Starplay · 2023-11-28T14:16:52+00:00

I write kids' reference books, and do lots of freelance editing / proofreading work. I've recently had discussions with a fairly major publishing house and they've asked if I have indemnity cover. This is not something I've worried about in the past – perhaps I need to? What do other freelance creatives do?

papooser · 28/11/2023 14:34

I'm also a freelance editor and writer in educational publishing and have indemnity insurance through Simply business. It never occurred to me to have it until about 8 years ago when a company I freelance for recommended having it. I've never had to use it but guess it's just for peace of mind.

papooser · 28/11/2023 14:37

Sorry meant to say my policy is through Policy bee not simply business!

Original poster

Starplay · 28/11/2023 14:38

Thanks @papooser How much do you pay if you don’t mind me asking?

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papooser · 28/11/2023 14:41

It's about £120 per year based on my turnover

Original poster

Starplay · 28/11/2023 14:49

@papooser
Another question, if you don’t mind me asking… what is yr typical hourly rate? I’ve also been asked this and it’s thrown me as I normally get offered a flat fee. I don’t want to quote too high but I don’t have other freelancers to ask 😀 It’s been a while since I worked in-house so I don’t know what a typical fee is these days (just derailing my own thread!!)

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papooser · 28/11/2023 14:57

In the specific area I work in (ELT) about £30 p/h is standard - a bit higher though for writing work and project management. Most jobs are fee based however (but on the understanding it works out at approximately that rate for the number of hours it takes - the fee will sometimes get adjusted up if the job turns out to be bigger than initially thought).

SomersetBrie · 28/11/2023 15:01

Read your contract very carefully if you work for a publisher that requires you to have indemnity cover. They can end up signing quite a lot of responsibility over to you.
I avoid one particular publisher because they insist on it and their contracts are quite harsh, and a couple of times when asked by others I've said I don't have it and they have removed the section from the contract.
When I did have it, I used Policy bee, I haven't been asked for a while.

bigbadbarry · 28/11/2023 15:04

I have indemnity cover - I held out against it for years on the basis that I should neve have final sign-off on anything, but the time came when it was just easier to get it. I have it with policybee

Original poster

Starplay · 29/11/2023 04:46

papooser · 28/11/2023 14:57

In the specific area I work in (ELT) about £30 p/h is standard - a bit higher though for writing work and project management. Most jobs are fee based however (but on the understanding it works out at approximately that rate for the number of hours it takes - the fee will sometimes get adjusted up if the job turns out to be bigger than initially thought).

Thanks for this... I find it varies wildly from publisher to publisher and between projects. As a freelancer, it can be incredibly difficult to navigate!

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Original poster

Starplay · 29/11/2023 04:50

SomersetBrie · 28/11/2023 15:01

Read your contract very carefully if you work for a publisher that requires you to have indemnity cover. They can end up signing quite a lot of responsibility over to you.
I avoid one particular publisher because they insist on it and their contracts are quite harsh, and a couple of times when asked by others I've said I don't have it and they have removed the section from the contract.
When I did have it, I used Policy bee, I haven't been asked for a while.

That's interesting...
The publisher offering me work seems to be implying it's dependent on me having cover. Which makes me a bit nervous!

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SomersetBrie · 29/11/2023 09:09

Starplay · 29/11/2023 04:50

That's interesting...
The publisher offering me work seems to be implying it's dependent on me having cover. Which makes me a bit nervous!

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If you are a member of CIEP, they cover this quite well in their forum. They also have quite an optimistic list of hourly rates on their website (you don't need to be a member to look at that). I find many publishers fall short of these.

I haven't personally had a problem when I did have cover - I just worry that if something did go wrong that required books being pulped or whatever that they would go after me, the proof reader for missing something rather than all the other people in the chain who also missed it.

Original poster

Starplay · 29/11/2023 09:50

SomersetBrie · 29/11/2023 09:09

If you are a member of CIEP, they cover this quite well in their forum. They also have quite an optimistic list of hourly rates on their website (you don't need to be a member to look at that). I find many publishers fall short of these.

I haven't personally had a problem when I did have cover - I just worry that if something did go wrong that required books being pulped or whatever that they would go after me, the proof reader for missing something rather than all the other people in the chain who also missed it.

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Being the last person in the chain, ie the proofreader, is pretty stressful isn't it! You catch 1,000 mistakes and miss one – you'd have to be a robot if you didn't miss stuff occasionally.
I wonder who's taking the rap for the Scobie book being pulped in Holland (for a 'translation' error)?

I'm not a member of CIEP, is it worth it do you think?

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SomersetBrie · 29/11/2023 10:01

Starplay · 29/11/2023 09:50

Being the last person in the chain, ie the proofreader, is pretty stressful isn't it! You catch 1,000 mistakes and miss one – you'd have to be a robot if you didn't miss stuff occasionally.
I wonder who's taking the rap for the Scobie book being pulped in Holland (for a 'translation' error)?

I'm not a member of CIEP, is it worth it do you think?

Show quote history

I was involved in a book that made the news (wrong kind of claim to fame!). Small news story and thankfully I was a) in house and b) had not worked on that section personally. I'd forgotten about that!
I think CIEP is worth it if you would be considering any further training courses or if you want to make new contacts. I use the forum on and off, and I also occasionally attend meet ups with my local group. I am in their directory so have found a fair bit of work through it too.