How do I go about becoming a freelance editor/writer?

Question

I am already a writer. With a degree in journalism and editing/writing experience.

Answer 1

1 Have something to say!

2 Say it.

3 Persuade an agent to accept you as a client

4 It is then his/her job to market your writings. Most publishers don't accept un-agented submissions.

5 To get a job as an editor, send a resume and cover letter to each company you want to work at. Research them and customize each resume. Their websites often have information about what they want from applicants.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

it depends on what kind of editing you want to do: literary or journalism.

in either case, one good way to start out is to look for an independent magazine/journal in your area and volunteer to work with them for a while. indies, especially if they're nonprofit, don't have the cash flow to pay well, or at all, so you can get work and build experience/get clips that way.

you can also try online magazines, especially the more borderline blog/mags like bookslut, who will take on no-names but are high quality enough to be read by the right people.

alongside this you'll want to be sending resume/cover letter/clips out to various magazines and journals asking for editing jobs. you'll also want to be pitching stories EVERYWHERE.

there's no one single good path to a freelance writing/editing career. you can start out freelancing, or you can start out with a salaried job at a mag or newspaper, or you can start out as a blogger, etc, etc.

your best bet is to try everything and take every opportunity that comes to you. the first three years, do everything you're asked to do, even if it doesn't pay. don't get picky about payment until you have the ear of editors at major magazines.

Answer 3

It's harder to start a career in freelance editing than it is to transition to one after working for an established editor first. You'll probably have the most success if you first hire on at a publishing house, then after a year or two go freelance, taking as many clients as you can with you. If your long-term plan is to freelance, you should work on developing as many contacts as you can in the editing/publishing world, and wowing the heck out of them with your efficiency and turnaround time - then when you start out on your own you'll have a ready-made stable of eager clients!

Answer 4

Join the Journalism group at your school and start writing.