Getting Started as a Freelance Copyeditor
Want to become a freelance copyeditor? Maybe you're ready to leave the corporate world or you'd like to have the flexibility that working for yourself can offer. How do you market yourself to establish and build your business? Do you know what skills you need, and what resources are available for you to develop those skills? What computer resources will you need? And what about money—how do you charge for your work, budget for the slow periods, and deal with invoicing and contracts?
Getting Started as a Freelance Copyeditor, my 16-page onscreen booklet, covers these topics:
- Starting out
- The freelancer personality
- The basic skills you need
- The resources that can provide advice and support
- The different types of work available
- What kinds of software you need
- What equipment and reference works you need
- Building your business
- Getting the word out
- Getting first clients
- Ongoing marketing
- Determining whether you need a website
- Using social media
- Unifying your online presence
- How to get more skills
- Managing time and money
- What to charge for what kinds of work
- Whether to charge by the hour, the page, or the job
- What work pace is considered usual
- How to plan your time
- Putting aside money for vacations, sick days, and taxes
- Budgeting for an unpredictable income
- Expenses
- Communicating as a professional
- Dealing with contracts
- Invoicing
- Dealing with clients who haven't paid on time
- Communicating with clients and authors
To purchase this information-packed booklet by credit card or bank-account debit for only U.S.$40.00, go to the "Payment" section here. When you are prompted for an invoice number, type Getting Started. Then either click the credit-card icon or press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will take you to a new page where you will complete the transaction. January 2024 news: I am in the process of updating the booklet. I will alert you via this page when the updated version is ready.
I usually send the booklet by e-mail within 24 hours of receiving payment for it. However, if I am vacationing or traveling for business, there will be a delay in shipping. If you do not receive the booklet within 24 hours of making payment, please use the contact form, but only after you check your e-mail junk or spam folder to see whether the booklet and related e-mail ended up there.