People interested in other freelance writing careers usually
look upon copy editing with disdain. Copy editing doesn't involve attention to
the actual structure of a piece, they say, and involves little research and
fact-chasing necessary to create a lively, memorable article or story. However,
copy editing carries its own unique challenges; such as:
1) you need to pay careful attention to the basic mechanics
of writing; and
2) you need to pay attention to accuracy, both in facts and
in language.
Freelance copy-editing isn't just a simpler offshoot of
freelance writing in general, but an important discipline in its own right --
and a rewarding one.
To become a successful copy editor, you need to know how to
use style guides. With some exceptions, editors of newspapers, magazines, and
other print publications require you to write in a homogeneous style, both to
compensate for writers with occasionally sloppy spelling and usage and to
ensure consistent terminology over time. (This is important with newspapers:
the names of foreign leaders, organizations, and other foreign-language nouns
are often subject to variant spellings.)
The most commonly used style guides include AP (Associated
Press), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Any budding freelance
copy editor would do well to own a copy of each of these and to become
familiar with their use before applying for jobs. Prospective employers will
not hire copy editors who lack knowledge of style guides. Use software to help
with style.
Fact-checking is another prime skill for copy editors, as it
is a publication's first line of defence against accusations of libel or
misrepresentation. Fact-checking is a simple procedure: call the author of the
article, ask for his or her sources, and, if warranted, call the sources
directly to confirm quotes or statistics. Different publications will have
different procedures for fact-checking, all of which should be explained when
you take a job.
Beyond that, all that it takes to become a successful copy
editor is a sensitivity to cumbersome phrasing, grammar, and spelling, as well
as sensitivity to an author's personal style. Many novice copy editors take a
far too forceful approach to their work, effectively rewriting a reporter or
other writer's article for them in line with style guides and their own ideas
about what makes good writing. This isn't the function of a copy editor. Yes,
clarity, grammar, and other issues with writing mechanics are all important,
but a writer's ego is important as well, and a too-free hand in the editing
process can alienate a publication's staff reporters and foster general enmity.
Since rewriting someone's article causes you more additional
work as well, why would you want to do it? Instead, just try to achieve
sufficient clarity while leaving as much of the original article
"as-is" as you can. If there are any substantial portions of text
that inhibit clarity or exhibit serious mechanical errors, talk to the writer
personally before making any changes. Yes, it’s an extra step, but one that
ensures professional respect in the workplace.
If you don't want to work for a publication, there are
plenty of opportunities available for freelance copy editing, both for
corporations and for private individuals. Educational publications, in
particular, are always looking for good copy editors, and book publishers and
literary journals always have a few spots available. You can find out about
these opportunities through classified ads, or by making inquiries directly to
the company. There's typically a lot of competition in these sorts of jobs, so
a solid interview technique and some excellent samples are mandatory for
securing work. Once you have your foot in the door, though, corporate copy
editing can provide a stable -- if occasionally dull -- source of income.
Copy editing projects offered by individuals are another
option and one which can bring you a more varied body of work and a much more
informal attitude toward style guides and format restriction. But this option
carries with it some heavy caveats. Often, copy editing projects given by
individuals amount to ghost-writing without appropriate compensation, and pay
rates can be sketchy as well, ranging from low to non-existent (with a promise
of "resume experience," maybe.) Although when work is consistent, low
pay isn't necessarily a problem, individuals can rarely guarantee a sufficient
volume of work to ensure your livelihood and a decent career.
Before you accept individual copy-editing projects, make
sure that you know how much you'll need to make per hour to make the project
financially worthwhile (as well as an estimate on how many hours the project
will take), and don't accept less than that hourly rate. You may get less work
with this approach, but clients won’t rip you off either -- an important
consideration for professional copy editors.
Copy editing is a good, low-stress writing job, enjoyable on
its own merits or as practice for other freelance writing goals down the line.
You can succeed as a freelance copy editor if you familiarize yourself with
style guides, and have a good grasp of grammar, spelling, and style usage.
Comments