Copy Editor Postion

[bunnys]

Does anyone know anything about being a copy editor? I am a social studies teacher who needs additional income and I want to do it from home. I was trolling the internet yesterday looking for possible online jobs and this came up.

According to what I read, there are many freelance positions available and they pay something like $20-25 per hour.

Anyone here have any copy editing experience? According to what I read, I have the tools and the talent (just like the Ghostbusters) but sadly, no experience.

I'm wondering if I can get one of these freelance positions w/o actually having experience.

I know this is kind of an obscure request but any info any of you can provide would be appreciated...as would advice.

Thanks.

[frugalone]

I do know a bit about it. I was never a copy editor per se, but I did do it as part of my last two jobs.

If you're really "good with words," you read a lot, etc., you might have a chance. I think it would depend upon the kind of copyediting positions they are offering.

For e.g., editing at a newspaper is way different from a freelance gig I once tried. It consisted of getting rid of duplications in enormous lists of reference works. It was mind-numbingly dull and I couldn't even finish the first assignment.

If you don't mind my asking, who is doing the offering?

In any event, good luck!

[JaneV2.0]

I have certificates in technical writing and editing and I worked for a year editing on-line IT courses. Even (legitimate) on-line opportunities seem to require more experience than I have, but I admit I've only done cursory investigation into what's out there. When I was actively job-hunting (circa 2000), Microsoft contract work paid around $35 an hour.

[bunnys]

http://www.demandstudios.com/freelance-work/copy-editors.html

Frugal: Supposedly this is a famous freelance copy editing site/company. Yahoo does a bunch of freelance copy editing work as well. I looked around on the internet for information about this about for about an hour last night and this is what I came up with. I don't know if there are any other sites/companies that offer these opportunities. I'm guessing there are as hiring freelancers is so much cheaper for companies than making people legitimate employees.

Jane: I have no experience in this field beyond my long history of academic writing and my experience grading high school social studies papers. I have NOT taken any specific courses in this field and hold no certifications. I'm wondering if I can self-teach in this area. As you can see, the pay rates I am citing don't come close to what you were working for over a decade ago. On the other hand, $20 per hour is not exactly get-rich-quick scheme kind of money so how picky can they really be? Or, am I deluding myself?

Mind-numbingly dull?

Thanks again.

[frugalone]

Well, at least it looks legit. And you're probably right--they wouldn't have to pay benefits etc.

Quite honestly, I never found AP-style copyediting that difficult. You probably could self-teach. And it doesn't sound like that dull job I had. I swear, I have never seen anything else like it. List after list...

I'd say, go for it. What's the worst that could happen: they wouldn't call you?

[JaneV2.0]

You may be able to get started informally and take advantage of contacts. As always, who you know is more valuable than what. It can't hurt to put yourself out there, and there are formal networking groups for writers and editors you can join. (My year of experience, alas, didn't pay the big bucks...)

[Zoebird]

I'm with Jane, it's easiest through contacts.

DH gets similar work (as well as copy writing work) through various work contacts -- from his former workplace, friends of his who now work in other places, and through our local contacts in the web design and development industries because people often need copy. He's worth $125/hr for writing/editing, and $90 per hour for editing.

But, he's been writing/editing for the last 18 years (professionally), and his experience is what gets him this kind of income. Though, he usually only does about 4 contracts per year, each contract taking anywhere from 2-4 weeks (or, 10-40 hours).