Finding work as a freelancer

By Jocelyn L. Bailey, PhD

Freelancing can provide such a satisfying lifestyle. When your workload is balanced, you can make your own hours, pick-and-choose clients, and enjoy the freedom that comes with knowing you aren’t shackled to a cubicle for nine or ten hours a day. Freelancing also comes with its downsides, though: specifically, the days when you don’t have enough work on your plate and you’ve convinced yourself that you will never, ever get another job and that your editing career is over and your bills won’t get paid and you’ll probably wind up moving in with your grouchy aunt and selling your hair or your grandfather’s pocket watch (your last vestige of him, alas!) to make next month’s student loan payment. Those days aren’t great!

After my first stints in trade publishing, I was a part-time freelancer during the years I worked on my PhD. My client base grew organically because editors I knew would pass my name to other editors, resulting in a steady and modest income. When it was time to write my dissertation and graduate, however, I decided to make a real effort of freelancing full-time rather than pursue the academic track. Waiting for jobs to cross my desk was no longer enough. I had to get creative.

I present the following tips for anyone at any stage of a freelance copyediting career, though my experience is fairly limited to trade publishing and work with independent writers. Even if some of these ideas seem basic, my hope is that you will find something here that leads you to at least one well-paying job. Even more, I hope it opens up a conversation between ACES members regarding what is working for them right now and what isn’t when it comes to locating profitable work.

Invest in a website. This is obvious, but make sure your website is updated and sharp. Though I’m not freelancing at the moment, I still receive so many organic queries from people via web searches. Your site doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, but make sure your contact information is easy to find. (Nothing annoys me more than a website where the “contact me” information is buried.) If you have a portfolio, include it, as well as any testimonials from clients who have agreed to endorse you. The goal of a website is to present a picture of what your copyediting services would provide a potential client, so ask your friends to make sure your site is typo-free!

Your website should also list the services you’re able to provide. In the past, I debated including price ranges on my website simply because doing so might weed out clients who hope to pay me five cents an hour for my work. Other freelancers might have strong opinions on this, but at the very least, I might include minimums on certain services. Ultimately this is a decision you must make depending upon the kinds of services you offer and the kinds of clients you hope to court.

Make use of social media. My relationship with social media is beyond complicated! I hate how invasive and addictive it is, yet it has undoubtedly helped me find clients.

• Customize your profiles. I’m not here to tell you how to do your taxes or set up your business, but if you have a business entity, make sure it’s searchable on the typical socials. Again, make sure your contact information is updated and easy to find. If you’re an individual who prefers to use a persona to sell your services, then do the same with those accounts! I find that this toggling between personal and professional can get a bit messy, but that’s just me.
• Join pertinent conversations and groups. Though Facebook is my least favorite platform, it’s probably the most functional for finding clients. For one, you could target potential self-publishing writers with ads using your business account. But if you’re looking for something free and easy, consider joining some writers’ groups and participating in conversations. I used to do this when I was freelancing full-time, and I would offer my expertise on questions as they came up in the groups. Sometimes those groups let you advertise your services for free. Aside from Facebook, I’ve hired people that I’ve discovered on Twitter during our ACES chats! Don’t underestimate the power of showing up to a conversation and contributing something useful.

Look for an agent or a business with whom to partner. Now that I’m back in publishing, I hire the bulk of my freelancers through agents. Some people don’t even know that agents for editors is a thing! For reasons that I won’t get into, legally it’s easier for us to contract with a corporation, so I email my agents and ask for help when I need it. They refer to their roster of power editors, and I pay them a fee above the agreed-upon amount. The work gets done, and if I’m not happy for some reason, I take it up with the agent. Usually things work out just fine, and the editors are free to accept/decline any job just as they would without an agent.

Agents are hoping to work with experienced editors, of course, so depending upon your background, it might not be possible to find one. That said, do not underestimate the potential of an unsolicited email to an agent or any small business to whom you believe your services could be useful. Do a little research on a company, then make a sharp pitch that demonstrates that you could provide them something valuable as they grow. Worst-case scenario is being ghosted or turned down, so why not try?

Expand your network and build upon the one you already have. This one may also sound obvious, but meeting people is the easiest way to find work. Though my moderate social anxiety makes this aspect of job hunting difficult for me, I cannot reinforce the importance of it enough. When I say “expand your network,” I’m not talking about spending hours on LinkedIn making friend requests; I’m talking about making real connections digitally and in person (once it’s safe again to do so). Word-of-mouth referrals and asking your friends for help can be your superpower. In fact, I attribute most of my professional wins to knowing and talking to people who have opened doors for me.

• Tell your friends and family you’re looking for work. The past year has been rough, and many of us have faced unemployment or dwindling incomes. It has been normal for people in my realm to reach out saying they need something to do, and I’ve watched my friends circle up to figure out how to help each other. It’s been wonderful to see! Even if you are not good at asking for help, please consider letting your inner circle know you’re hoping to expand your business. There is no shame in this. It doesn’t have to be a “poor me” sort of request; just let them know you’d appreciate any hot tips on openings or any organic referrals they could make on your behalf. Good people are happy to do this for you!
• Join pertinent organizations (like ACES!). I’ve both hired ACES members and been hired by people who found me on the ACES job board. Professional organizations pertinent to your niche often include such networking opportunities, so don’t balk at the (tax-deductible) membership fees if they are reasonable and provide chances for you to promote yourself. Don’t forget to look at organizations where your potential clients will be. For example, I’m not an independent author, but I’ve attended events and joined groups for indie writers because indie authors need people like you and me.
• Reach out to editors and vetted clients. I cannot tell you how many jobs I received early on because an editor/friend passed a project along to me. Likewise, because I’m not freelancing these days, I refer potential clients along to editors I know whenever I receive queries. If this is not happening for you and you know of some editors who seem to be slammed with work all of the time, send them an email. Ask them if they’d be willing to add you to their referral list. They might be grateful to have another name to share! Another thing I appreciate (as someone who hires editors) is the occasional email from my regulars. If they have an open window coming up, they tend to let me know about it. I’m grateful to have this information because it helps me know more immediately who might be available for a job I need to assign. That point of contact is a win-win situation for us both.
• Consider coworking. When I began freelancing full-time, I spent a few days a week at an affordable local coworking space for other gig workers and startups. Not only was it a great place to get work done, but also it provided many opportunities for serendipitous meetings. Some of my favorite clients came from this place and period in time, and I was able to deduct the office costs from my taxes. I realize this is not a feasible option for everyone, but don’t underestimate the possibilities that might present themselves at a local meetup or even at your local coffee shop “office.” Be safe during the pandemic, but put yourself out there again once we’re all safe to do so. Make sure you have business cards on hand at all times.

Don’t forget traditional job-hunting. If you’re looking for book work, Publishers Marketplace features a job board that often includes listings for freelance gigs in addition to salaried positions. Some smaller publishers list right on their websites that they need freelance help, so it doesn’t hurt to poke around in those places once in a while. LinkedIn suggests freelance gigs to me often, though, like most clients, such postings demand vetting. In short, if you can think of any companies for whom you might enjoy working, check out their job boards. You never know what you’ll stumble across.

Freelancing can be wildly rewarding, whether you do it full-time or on the side. Whatever your circumstances, celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Never underestimate the satisfaction of a job well done and the power of word-of-mouth referrals. And no matter the gig, make sure new clients pay you at least half upfront. (I learned about this the hard way.) Good luck out there!