Post by subornaakter on Nov 11, 2024 2:59:55 GMT -5
Learning how to write yourself–especially the type of content you want to edit–helps you understand what that content should look like.
Build your writing skills by: Starting a newsletter Becoming a freelance writer Writing a personal blog Contributing guest posts Taking freelance writing courses Let’s put that into practice.
Say I wanted to become a freelance editor for a company’s blog.
Before I edit someone else’s work, I’d need to know what a good blog post looks like, the ideal rate of revelation for the reader, how to communicate an idea through phone number library writing, and how to structure a piece of online content.
All of those skills are technically copywriting skills–but they’re essential for anyone breaking into a freelance editing career.
Read… a lot “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.
” —Stephen King That quote is true when it comes to freelance editing, too.
There are a bunch of benefits you’ll get from reading more, including: Exposure to different writing styles, formats, and genres Understanding of why writers write the way they do (which can be used to improve existing content in your rounds of edits) The good news? Reading isn’t exclusive to books.
Blog posts, emails, and newsletters all count as reading.
For example: After reading a handful of articles, you’ll notice how writers structure their introductions in a way that convinces the reader to continue.
Once you get to grips with the structure of a non-fiction book, you’ll spot patterns to take through with you when you’re doing developmental edits.
3.
Take small freelance editing jobs While it might be tempting to ditch the traditional path and go freelance the second you can, it’s worth noting that freelancing isn’t an easy path.
It can take years to get to a point where your freelance editing career brings in a decent salary.
That’s why we recommend taking small editing jobs on the side of your job.
Of course, we’re not saying to work a low-paying (or worse: unpaid) internship.
You could take small freelance jobs through platforms like Reedsy, or find a part-time editorial assistant role to reduce the risk and help you figure things out.
If you’re brand new, taking a part-time editing job will give you some invaluable contacts.
You might also get inside information that you may never have been privy to if you went freelance straight away.
Dear Freelancer ✉ Get honest, raw letters from Brooklin Nash, a freelance and content marketing veteran, every Tuesday.
Email Address i want in We won't send you spam; just weekly letters from a fellow freelancer.
Unsubscribe at any time.
4.
Find your editing niche A niche is an area, industry, or type of work that you specialize in.
If you’ve thought about any type of freelance work before, you’ve likely heard that choosing one is important.
The same is true for freelance editors.
Having a niche means you become the go-to editor for a certain type of company, industry, or type of client.
Plus, being that go-to person often means you can demand higher rates for your freelance editing services.
Popular editing niches include: Fiction books The self-publishing industry B2B blog posts and SEO content Don’t panic if you’re unsure which niche to pick.
You don’t need to decide right now.
Build your writing skills by: Starting a newsletter Becoming a freelance writer Writing a personal blog Contributing guest posts Taking freelance writing courses Let’s put that into practice.
Say I wanted to become a freelance editor for a company’s blog.
Before I edit someone else’s work, I’d need to know what a good blog post looks like, the ideal rate of revelation for the reader, how to communicate an idea through phone number library writing, and how to structure a piece of online content.
All of those skills are technically copywriting skills–but they’re essential for anyone breaking into a freelance editing career.
Read… a lot “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.
” —Stephen King That quote is true when it comes to freelance editing, too.
There are a bunch of benefits you’ll get from reading more, including: Exposure to different writing styles, formats, and genres Understanding of why writers write the way they do (which can be used to improve existing content in your rounds of edits) The good news? Reading isn’t exclusive to books.
Blog posts, emails, and newsletters all count as reading.
For example: After reading a handful of articles, you’ll notice how writers structure their introductions in a way that convinces the reader to continue.
Once you get to grips with the structure of a non-fiction book, you’ll spot patterns to take through with you when you’re doing developmental edits.
3.
Take small freelance editing jobs While it might be tempting to ditch the traditional path and go freelance the second you can, it’s worth noting that freelancing isn’t an easy path.
It can take years to get to a point where your freelance editing career brings in a decent salary.
That’s why we recommend taking small editing jobs on the side of your job.
Of course, we’re not saying to work a low-paying (or worse: unpaid) internship.
You could take small freelance jobs through platforms like Reedsy, or find a part-time editorial assistant role to reduce the risk and help you figure things out.
If you’re brand new, taking a part-time editing job will give you some invaluable contacts.
You might also get inside information that you may never have been privy to if you went freelance straight away.
Dear Freelancer ✉ Get honest, raw letters from Brooklin Nash, a freelance and content marketing veteran, every Tuesday.
Email Address i want in We won't send you spam; just weekly letters from a fellow freelancer.
Unsubscribe at any time.
4.
Find your editing niche A niche is an area, industry, or type of work that you specialize in.
If you’ve thought about any type of freelance work before, you’ve likely heard that choosing one is important.
The same is true for freelance editors.
Having a niche means you become the go-to editor for a certain type of company, industry, or type of client.
Plus, being that go-to person often means you can demand higher rates for your freelance editing services.
Popular editing niches include: Fiction books The self-publishing industry B2B blog posts and SEO content Don’t panic if you’re unsure which niche to pick.
You don’t need to decide right now.