| Setting up as a freelance editor or proofreader | | | | Because of the huge diversity of publishing it is a |
| could be the ideal money maker for you. It's | | | | good idea to specialise in something, preferably |
| work you can carry out at home, as and when | | | | something that reflects your own personal |
| you like, doing as much or as little work as suits | | | | interests. For example, if you like romantic novels |
| you. There's no particular skills or qualifications you | | | | then offer your services to publishers of romantic |
| need to get started, although a liking for reading | | | | novels. If you are interested in either gardening or |
| and an eye for detail is an advantage. Here's what | | | | motoring, then again write to relevant publishers. |
| to do if you'd like to follow this route to extra | | | | As a professional editor or proofreader, you |
| part/full time cash. | | | | should be able to work with any subject, but |
| What Does an Editor or Proofreader Do? | | | | working in this way will make your work easier |
| There's a slight difference in the work of an | | | | and more enjoyable. |
| editor and that of a proofreader, although many | | | | Try and convince the Senior Editor to give you a |
| people do both jobs, as customers for one | | | | small test project, then proceed from there if |
| service usually also require the other. | | | | they are pleased with your work. Obviously the |
| The main work of the editor is to take an | | | | quality of your work is important, but how much |
| author's raw manuscript, check the spelling, | | | | you are offered in future could well depend on |
| punctuation and grammar and then mark up the | | | | being able to develop a good working relationship |
| manuscript for the typesetter according to the | | | | with the Senior Editor. |
| instructions given by the publisher. | | | | There are no set fees for this service. Current |
| A proofreader, on the other hand, takes the final | | | | rates are around $35 per hour for editors and |
| page proofs - after the typesetter has finished | | | | $20 per hour for proofreaders, perhaps less if |
| with them - and checks them meticulously for | | | | you are relatively inexperienced. This all depends |
| both author's and typesetter's mistakes. | | | | on what you negotiate with the company you are |
| Both are very responsible jobs - a single mistake | | | | working for. Quite often the work will go to the |
| in a book, such as incorrect instructions or even | | | | editor or proofreader who can do the job for the |
| just a wrong telephone number, could easily cost | | | | lowest cost. |
| a publisher many thousands of pounds in reprinting | | | | Carrying out the Work |
| costs if they slip through the net. However, as | | | | The various courses and textbooks listed will |
| you'll see, editing requires a little more initiative, | | | | teach you the basics about editing and |
| whereas the proofreader basically just follows | | | | proofreading. Above all, you must listen to what |
| instructions. | | | | the publishers tell you they want. Ask for a |
| How to get Started | | | | written brief before taking on an assignment. |
| You don't need any special qualifications to launch | | | | Most publishers have a house style for editing and |
| yourself in this new career. However, you will | | | | proofreading and this must be followed in detail. |
| boost your chances of finding work - and your | | | | Much of the work is common sense - for |
| likely earnings - if you organise some sort of | | | | example, correcting spelling and typing mistakes, |
| training first. Many further education colleges have | | | | punctuation and grammar, and checking for |
| short courses in editing and/or proofreading. Ask | | | | missed words and sentences. If you're editing you |
| your local FE institute for details. You will also find | | | | might also have to check facts and figures, |
| there are correspondence courses on offer, which | | | | instruct the typesetter how to lay the page out, |
| are advertised from time to time in the national | | | | and even make decisions on cutting parts of the |
| press. | | | | text if it won't fit the page. All this is done by |
| If you prefer, there are several books on the | | | | marking up the manuscript or the proofs, using |
| subject suitable for studying on a 'teach yourself' | | | | Standard Correction Markings. |
| basis. Copy Editing, published by Cambridge | | | | The development of computerised desktop |
| University Press, is the authority on the subject | | | | publishing has revolutionised the publishing industry. |
| and is used by many large publishers. | | | | Certain facets of the industry, particularly |
| Incidentally, editors and proofreaders have their | | | | magazines and newspapers, now use DTP |
| own professional association - the Society of | | | | programmes such as Quark Express and Aldus |
| Freelance Editors and Proofreaders (SFEP) - which | | | | Pagemaker to put together their publications. |
| works to promote their interests and generally | | | | Pages can be designed and text inserted onto the |
| help and advise on matters which affect the | | | | page by one person - the sub editor or editor - |
| profession. They can also advise on sources of | | | | rather than the editor having to check it and then |
| training. | | | | pass it to the typesetter. This has speeded up |
| How to get Editing and Proofreading Work | | | | the whole publishing process. |
| There is no shortage of work for freelance | | | | It is therefore desirable (or necessary, if you |
| editors and proofreaders, as the number of | | | | intend to edit magazines and newspapers) to |
| publishers who use freelancers rather than in | | | | have some experience using DTP programmes. |
| house staff to do this work is growing by the | | | | Again, your local FE college should provide DTP |
| month. There are over 25,000 companies involved | | | | courses, and there are various distance learning |
| in publishing in the UK alone, from the very largest | | | | courses advertised in the national press. |
| to the very smallest, so you can see the potential | | | | Indexing Publications |
| that exists for this service. | | | | A related, and highly lucrative, service you can |
| However, publishers won't come to you if you | | | | offer to your customers is INDEXING. |
| don't tell them that you are available. The best | | | | This is, as the name suggests, making an index of |
| way to get work is to either telephone or write | | | | the contents of the book which will appear in the |
| to as many publishers as possible (or better still, | | | | end pages. This can be done manually, although it |
| write and then follow up with a telephone call). | | | | can at times be a tedious job. If you have a |
| Ask to speak to the Senior Editor. The vast | | | | personal computer with a database programme |
| majority of publishers are listed in books such as | | | | then a book can be indexed very quickly and |
| The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook, The Writers' | | | | easily indeed. You will normally earn at least $20 |
| Handbook and The Directory of Publishing, which | | | | per hour for this, or between $200 and $900 for |
| are available in most main libraries. | | | | indexing an average book. |