Welcome to the World of Freelance Editing

As some of you know, I decided to start pursuing a career as a freelance editor last year. Since freelancing and writing can be such isolating fields, I thought I’d start a blog series detailing my experiences as I launch my career, and eventually, offering advice to fellow freelancers and authors.

It’s easy to find advice from people who have been in these fields for years, and obviously that advice is necessary and useful to newbies like me. However, during the process of becoming a freelance editor, I keep thinking, “Why aren’t there any newbies sharing their experiences?” The wisdom from the pros is greatly appreciated, but sometimes I just want someone to commiserate with about all the intricacies of starting out in a new field, all the insecurities we feel along the way, and all the many misunderstandings. In other words, I want to talk with someone else who sometimes feels like they have absolutely no clue what they’re doing, someone who feels imposter syndrome creeping up, someone who spends two hours trying to determine where a comma goes, only to realize their first instinct was, in fact, correct.

So, whether you’re here because you’re in the same boat as I am, or if you’re an author looking for advice, welcome! I’m glad you’re here, and I hope you find some useful information along the way. If you have any burning questions for me, let me know in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

A little background information about me: I have been writing book reviews for about two years now. During a brief period when I wrote for a magazine, I met another contributor, who I now consider to be my freelance editing mentor. She had mentioned that she was an editor, and after a lot of questions and contemplation on my part, I decided to pursue freelance editing myself.

Currently, I am taking Copyediting II through the University of California San Diego Extended Studies. I’m set to complete their Copyediting Certificate by September, then I plan to continue taking developmental editing classes through the Editorial Freelancers Association. Basically, I’m very new to the field. I look forward to learning and connecting with you all on my journey into the freelance editing world.