| Do you have editing skills? If so, consider a | | | | Big tip: before you start using these sites, do |
| freelance editing career: editors are in high | | | | ensure that you have a Web site of your own |
| demand, and if you promote yourself effectively | | | | which describes the work that you do. If possible |
| you will get hired both by writers and by publishing | | | | add testimonials; testimonials are vital because |
| companies. As publishing companies cut back on | | | | they offer social proof of your skills. |
| staff, I've noticed that more freelance editing jobs | | | | 3. Approach Writers Directly |
| are being advertised on the outsourcing sites. | | | | Every professional writer knows that one of the |
| This can be an opportunity for you. If companies | | | | benefits of working with large publishing houses is |
| are advertising on the outsourcing sites, it means | | | | that you get to work with great editors. An |
| that they're desperate. Usually they'd hire people | | | | experienced editor can turn a rough-diamond |
| they know, so all you have to do to get | | | | manuscript into a sparking gem. |
| unadvertised editing jobs is to become someone | | | | Many writers hire freelance editors to help them |
| that they know. | | | | to get their books ready for publication, because |
| Try this process. | | | | nowadays, a book has to be as near ready for |
| 1. What Specialties Do You Have? | | | | publication as possible even before it's sent to an |
| Firstly consider your specialties. Publishing houses | | | | agent or a publisher. You can make contact with |
| need specialists when they hire editors. If you've | | | | writers easily: approach them through their Web |
| been writing articles for parenting magazines for | | | | sites. Ensure that any writers you contact have |
| example, you can consider yourself a specialist in | | | | been published by a traditional publisher; |
| parenting topics. Therefore, approach publishing | | | | professional writers understand the value of good |
| houses which publish parenting books. Parenting is | | | | editors. |
| an extremely wide field, with many opportunities. | | | | 3. Get Testimonials -- They're Vital |
| 2. Make Contacts Via Social Networking | | | | We've already said that you need testimonials, but |
| A freelance editor friend told me that she got her | | | | it bears repeating, because if you don't have |
| last three editing jobs via Twitter. | | | | testimonials, you'll find it very hard to get work. |
| The social networking sites like Twitter and | | | | Here's how to get testimonials: complete some |
| Facebook have become hugely popular in the past | | | | jobs on the outsourcing sites, solely with the aim |
| few months. They're being used as serious tools | | | | of getting testimonials for your work. It's well |
| by companies. | | | | worth the effort. |