People who want to do other kinds of freelance writing usually look down on copy editing. People say that copy editing doesn't pay much attention to the structure of a piece and doesn't involve much of the research and fact-finding that is needed to make an article or story interesting and memorable. But copy editing comes with its own problems, such as:
- You should pay close attention to the basics of how to write; and
- You need to make sure that your facts and language are correct.
Freelance copy editing isn't just a simpler part of freelance writing in general; it's also an important and rewarding field in and of itself.
You need to know how to use style guides if you want to be a good copy editor. With a few exceptions, editors of newspapers, magazines, and other print publications want you to write in a uniform style. This is both to make up for writers who sometimes misspell words or use them incorrectly and to make sure that terms stay the same over time. (This is important for newspapers because the names of foreign leaders, organisations, and other nouns written in a foreign language are often spelled in different ways.)
AP (Associated Press), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago are the style guides that are used most often. Any new freelance copy editor would do well to have a copy of each of these and learn how to use them before sending out job applications. Copy editors who don't know how to use style guides won't get hired by companies. Use software like StyleEase to help you with your style.
Checking the facts is another important job for copy editors, as it is the first line of defence for a publication against claims of libel or misrepresentation. A simple way to check facts is to call the article's author and ask for his or her sources. If necessary, you can then call the sources directly to confirm quotes or statistics. Different publications have different ways to check facts, and you should be told about all of them when you take a job.
Aside from that, all you need to be a good copy editor is an eye for awkward language, grammar, and spelling, as well as an ear for an author's personal style. Many new copy editors do their jobs too forcefully, rewriting a reporter's or other writer's article for them so that it fits style guides and their own ideas of what makes good writing. The job of a copy editor is not to do this. Yes, clarity, grammar, and other issues with writing mechanics are important, but a writer's ego is also important, and a too-free hand in the editing process can turn off a publication's staff reporters and cause general dislike.
Why would you want to rewrite someone else's article, since it gives you more work to do? Instead, just try to make the article clear enough while leaving as much of it as you can "as is." Before making any changes, you should talk to the writer about any large parts of the text that are unclear or have serious mechanical mistakes. Yes, it's an extra step, but it's one that makes sure everyone treats each other with respect at work.
If you don't want to work for a publication, you can do freelance copy editing for both businesses and private people. Educational publications are always looking for good copy editors, and book publishers and literary journals always have a few spots open. You can find out about these jobs by looking in the newspaper or by calling the company directly. There is usually a lot of competition for these kinds of jobs, so you need a good interview strategy and some great samples to get hired. Once you get your foot in the door, however, corporate copy editing can be a steady, if sometimes boring, way to make money.
Copy editing jobs offered by individuals are another option, and they can give you a more varied body of work and a much less strict attitude toward style guides and format restrictions. But there are some big problems with this choice. People often give copy editing jobs that are basically ghostwriting without paying for it. Pay rates can also be iffy, ranging from low to nonexistent (with a promise of "resume experience," maybe.) Even though low pay isn't always a problem when work is steady, most people can't guarantee that they will have enough work to make a living and have a good career.
Before you take on individual copy-editing jobs, make sure you know how much you need to make per hour to make the job financially worthwhile, and don't accept less than that hourly rate. You might get less work this way, but clients won't cheat you out of money, which is important for professional copy editors to keep in mind.
Copy editing is a good, low-stress writing job that can be fun on its own or as practise for other goals in freelance writing. As a freelance copy editor, you can do well if you know how to use style guides and are good at grammar, spelling, and style.
