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mixingpumpkins · 1 year

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Hi, I just graduated university recently and will likely be doing some remote part-time freelance proofreading and editing while I search for something more permanent. Because I believe I saw that you do similar work yourself, is there anything I should know that might help me prepare for early obstacles if I’ve never been paid for this work before? Any tips? I feel as though I’m a fairly talented writer and editor, I’m just wondering if there’s anything I should be looking out for outside of my own skills.

Hi! Congrats on your graduation. :)

Honestly, it depends on what kind of editing you're doing. Books? Resumes? Blog posts? Technical writing? Content mill-type articles from all the outlets that are putting things like "5 Reasons We Can't Wait to See the Next Marvel Movie (and 5 Reasons the MCU Should Die in a Fire, Actually)" on your Google feed?

Also, is this freelance editing like... you set up shop on your own site, you're on a platform like Fiverr, or doing contract work with a media company? They're all different animals, so I'll answer like you're applying for part-time contract editing work. (If it's one of the former, lmk.)

Overall tips...

You probably already know this, but have good samples both for things you've edited AND things you've written (and ideally, links to where they're published online). If you're applying to edit at a specific outlet, try to pick samples that are similar to their vibe. Don't stress if they're not a 100% match, but it certainly helps. (Do NOT send 5 million sample pieces unless the application asks for it. Just pick the best you have that's similar to what you'd be editing for the job.)

Don't stress about an interview. Chances are, they already feel you can do good work – they've already seen your samples. Now they just want to see how much of a fit you are for the people you'll be working with.

Generally, people who hire editors want to see 1) can you spot when a writer isn't following a style guide/other standards and correct them on it, 2) can you do this while meeting a certain productivity standard, 3) can you not constantly fuck up with any tech you need to use, and 4) can you be pleasant and communicative with anyone you're required to work with. If yes, you're in good shape. BUT...

...These are hard things to tell from an application and interview alone, so you'll probably have a probationary period to this end. There will probably be at least one other editor who looks over ALL your work during this period to see if you're meeting their standards. DO NOT DO THIS FOR FREE. Do not do anything "here, edit these 3 articles/these 5 pages as a trial" for free. Shitty companies and people do this to use applicants and trainees for free labor. If you're doing work while you're in training, they should be paying you.

Do some research on average pay rates for the kind of editing you're doing. If you can set your own rates, you'll know what to shoot for (adjust for your experience). If you can't and you're hunting on job boards, you'll have a better idea of which employers are trying to rip you off.

If you can, avoid working with people and companies who accept, encourage, or are interested in using AI in any part of their content generation or creation process. (The reasons why are a rant for a different day.) If you get to a job and your "editing" is to essentially fact-check and rewrite AI content to make it sound more human, fucking run.

Be prepared to check for AI-generated content if you're working in a circumstance where human writing is still valued.

Get very comfortable with giving and receiving feedback, if you're not already. Be kind, but don't stress too much about stroking egos. Most pro writers (well, outside the book publishing or screenplay world) won't fight you – they just want to get their pieces out there and get paid, especially if they work on a per-word basis.

Get REALLY comfortable with editing to strict word count standards. (My first book had +/- 3 words of wiggle room around certain sections' target word counts.) Yes, you will probably have to cut something that you love or reword it to something worse a few times. No, a publisher/printer/higher-up editor will not usually let you make an exception. Mourn these instances and move on.

Writers will sometimes get mad. Some of them will try to bully or steamroll editors they've never worked with before. Don't let them. Give them grace because you know what it's like to have to kill your darlings, but remember that you were hired to hold them to certain standards. It doesn't matter if they've been published in Forbes or the New York Times and you're a new face – if their current work isn't meeting the standards it needs to, hold them to it.

Try to develop a good rapport with any writers, editors, or others you work with, even if you're only doing this as a part-time, temporary thing. You never know what opportunities may come down the line if you cross paths with these people again.

Try not to do what I do on Tumblr, aka word-vomit all over everything every time I answer an ask. ^^^^^^^^

Best of luck!

#asks #congrats again anon here have a word salad #yes i'm an editor no i don't edit my tumblr posts lolol #hope that helps #feel free to ask anything else - i'll try not to give you a novella every time #writing reference

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armoricaroyalty · 3 years

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Image description and transcript below the cut.

IMAGE 1. Freddy sits on his bed, barefoot, laboring over the perfect text message to Theo. He sends her a link to the sLx! story about them.

Freddy: Lol have you seen this? Freddy: Theyre acting like were together lolllllllllllllll Freddy: Haha itd be so messed up if we were actually daying lol Theo: Yeah I saw it

IMAGE 2. Theo walks down the front steps of the townhouse in Brüda, phone in one hand and an umbrella in the other.

Theo: Yeah I saw it Freddy: It’s completely wild right haha Theo: Actually I’m *really* pissed off! This could ruin my career Freddy: wdym Theo: I JUST got admitted to the bar and they’re going to be watching me rlly close bc I am a new baby lawyer Freddy: oh crap.

IMAGE 3. Freddy walks along the shore on the grounds of Blackwell Palace, texting. He is presumably wearing shoes, although his feet are not in frame.

Freddy: oh crap. Theo: More or less yeah. I swore an oath to uphold the letter of the law and now I’m smoking weed on the front page of a celebrity gossip site 🙃 Freddy: Well can you just tell them it’s legal in bruda? Theo: It’s still illegal everywhere else Theo: And even if weed was legal everywhere, they made me sound like some kind of posh asshole Freddy: Whats wrong with being a posh asshole lol

IMAGE 4. Theo pushes a loaded shopping cart in a supermarket, texting as she goes.

Freddy: What’s wrong with being a posh asshole lol Theo: Well first off, I’m *not* one Theo: My mom’s family was posh and they’re awful Theo: They never liked my dad. When my mom died they just stopped talking to us. The last time I saw any of them was her funeral 10 years ago Freddy: I’m so sorry. That’s really awful Theo: It’s fine. I mean it’s not, but it was a long time ago. She got skin cancer. Wear sunscreen.

IMAGE 5. Freddy walks on an elevated boardwalk through a salt marsh, heading toward the beach. The last message in the text conversation has a read receipt, but Freddy hasn’t responded.

Theo: It’s fine. I mean it’s not but it was a long time ago. She got skin cancer. Wear sunscreen. Freddy: I always do Freddy: I feel really bad about this whole thing tho Theo: It’s ok. I might not get investigated. I prolly shouldn’t text about this tho. I don’t want my text convos to get subpoenaed lmao Freddy: Well if there is anything I can do lmk Freddy: Sorry again about all of this...I feel like it’s my fault Freddy: I want to make things right Theo: Plz don’t do anything stupid

#armorica story #chapter 1 #behind the scenes #other sources #character: theodosia adams #character: frederick st. fleur #drugs cw #death-cw #cancer-cw

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