The world of publishing has changed since that time – for the better. For one thing, freelance book editors are in more demand than ever. That’s thanks to the rise of independent publishing, which, in 1995, was not yet distinct from the less respected “vanity presses.” Independent publishing was considered a path only those who weren’t “real authors” used for publication.
But now, twenty-five years later, indie publishing has exploded. Just look at the increase from 2008, with less than 100,000 books independently published, to 2018, with over 1.5 million books self-published.
Number of self-published books in the United States, 2008-2018 (Source: Statista)
Our Self-Paced Class about Freelance Book Editing
At Editorial Arts Academy, Susannah and I are charting the territory for freelance book editors and sharing the lay of the land to those interested in pursuing editing as a full-time or part-time career. Since 2018, we’ve guided aspiring as well as professional book editors in live workshops, individual consulting sessions, mentoring groups, online Zoom classes, and now, our new baby: the self-paced Freelance Book Editing 101: What You Need to Know to Succeed.
Would it benefit you to learn about the world of freelance book editing from two seasoned freelance professionals so you could decide if it’s something you want to do? What do you need to know to take the plunge, or be more successful at a career you’ve already begun?
In just a few hours, you can get the scoop on exactly what it’s like to have a freelance book editing business — the opportunities, challenges, and (many) rewards. The class focuses exclusively on editing trade books, aka popular books for a general audience. We find these are the books that are so much fun — and educational, and inspiring, and edifying — to read.
A Tour of “Freelance Book Editing 101”
The class is entirely self-paced, with videos, PDF and Word document downloads, and a final quiz. The class goal: Give our students everything they need to succeed as a freelance book editor of fiction and nonfiction.
Modules 1-4
In Module 1, DISCOVERY, three lessons lay out the territory of freelance book editing.
- In the first lesson, “What Do Book Editors Do?,” we introduce what it means to be a freelance book editor, distinguishing the different kinds of editors and unpacking what can be a confusing slew of labels.
- In Lesson 1.2, “The World of Publishing,” you’ll explore the various paths to publishing, with a review of what’s going on in the industry today and how that affects freelancers.
A slide from Lesson 2.1, The World of Publishing, that shows the five paths to publishing today
- In Lesson 1.3, “Introduction to the 7 Editorial Roles,” we present the seven ways you can offer services as a freelance book editor in today’s marketplace, depending on the type of editing you find the most satisfying.
- For Lesson 2.1, “Your Editor Profile,” you’ll take a quiz that helps you identify which of the four types of editor you might be: Grammar Guru, Bookworm, Teacher, or Detail Lover. Once you know your profile, you’ll be able to select the kind of editing jobs you’re most likely to succeed at.
- In Lesson 2.2, “Editorial Roles for the Content Edit,” we unpack in detail the first four editorial roles: Book Coach, Beta Reader, Manuscript Evaluator, and Developmental Editor.
A slide from Lesson 2.2, “Editorial Roles for the Content Edit,” about Manuscript Evaluation and Developmental Editing
- In Lesson 2.3, “Editorial Roles for the Language Edit,” you’ll learn about the remaining three: Line Editor, Copyeditor, and Proofreader.
In Module 3, ENVISION, we get into the nuts and bolts of running your freelance business.
- In Lesson 3.1, “The Freelance Lifestyle,” we explore what it means to be your own boss.
- In Lesson 3.2, “All About the Money,” we go over what you can charge for freelance book editing and how that converts into a yearly income.
- In Lesson 3.3, “The Business of Freelance Book Editing,” we look at setting up your own business. We explore things like paying taxes, creating a home office, marketing, and technology.
A slide from Lesson 3.3, “The Business of Freelance Book Editing,” about the various ways to market your business
- A book coaching assignment
- An editorial letter for a developmental edit of both nonfiction and fiction
- A line edit of a memoir
- A copyedit of fiction
- A proofread of fiction
Bonuses
We also have a bonus video for you:
- An over-the-shoulder video of line editing and copyediting on a short piece of fiction. This video is a demonstration of real-time editing with our narration, so you can follow along with a professional editor and understand our editing decisions. See snippets of the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93pbN5p62n4&t=2s
And to help you dig deeper into the many resources available to aspiring editors and chart your course as a new editor, we’re including:
- Our expanded ebook, Begin Your Editing Journey: A Guide to the Best Resources for Aspiring Freelance Book Editors. This PDF is packed full of over 100 links to resources that will get you started.
- A Roadmap to Your Editing Future – a document that prompts you to write down your goals so they’re manageable and easy to track.
One of the class bonuses – our ebook, Begin Your Editing Journey: A Guide to the Best Resources for Aspiring Freelance Book Editors
Forum
Finally, because we know how much a community matters when it comes to embarking on a journey of this magnitude, every student will have access to a moderated forum on Slack. This will be an online gathering of all students in the course and an opportunity to ask specific questions and get answers to anything you’d like to know.
An example of a Slack forum from our 2018 Copyediting Group Mentorship class
Certificate of Completion
Once you complete the course, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion.
How to Register
If you’re ready to learn how you can succeed in a career in which you’re meaningfully engaged with fiction and nonfiction books and that you do from your living room, working for yourself, then it’s time to register!
The class is priced at $249. Click the button below to access the registration page:
