Comments on: My Start in Publishing http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/ SF/F Copyeditor Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:03:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Poison Ivy http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-55840 Poison Ivy Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:39:47 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-55840 When I started in the business, I was a very good proofreader and soon advanced to be a copy editor. Then I began reading manuscript submissions, and the constant contact with bad spelling and atrocious grammar--that had to be left alone, and preferably, merely skimmed--turned me into a lousy proofreader and a lazy copy editor. I even have trouble now with the correct spelling of certain words that I once knew cold, because so many writers do not spell them correctly. So I would warn you not to mix editorial imperatives. Work that is directed at content is very different from what is directed at technical form. And yes, the best copy editors are often conned into rewriting the incoherent sentences of authors who know a topic but not how to write. But that is line or substantive editing and should be paid, openly, at a different (and higher) rate. When I started in the business, I was a very good proofreader and soon advanced to be a copy editor. Then I began reading manuscript submissions, and the constant contact with bad spelling and atrocious grammar–that had to be left alone, and preferably, merely skimmed–turned me into a lousy proofreader and a lazy copy editor. I even have trouble now with the correct spelling of certain words that I once knew cold, because so many writers do not spell them correctly.

So I would warn you not to mix editorial imperatives. Work that is directed at content is very different from what is directed at technical form.

And yes, the best copy editors are often conned into rewriting the incoherent sentences of authors who know a topic but not how to write. But that is line or substantive editing and should be paid, openly, at a different (and higher) rate.

]]> By: deannahoak http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1708 deannahoak Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:50:58 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1708 Yeah, two self-employeds would be tough. I actually had a self-employed insurance before I married that was very reasonable and was fine for standard care, but it would have really <i>sucked</i> if something truly major went wrong. I haven't had a problem making enough money to live on, but making a living is about more than money. Despite the fact that my rates have gone up too, they still aren't commensurate with what I would have had I spent twelve years in the same corporation, working my way up to ever-higher levels. And for many people, the isolation of freelancing is too much to take. I love copyediting, but the most difficult thing I face in it is that I'm always very hungry for new challenges and seldom have them anymore. I know copyediting backward, forward, and upside down. Even when a project comes in that's a lot of work, it's something that <i>I already know how to do.</i> If anything ever leads me to go in-house again, it will be the desire to learn and practice new skills. Yeah, two self-employeds would be tough. I actually had a self-employed insurance before I married that was very reasonable and was fine for standard care, but it would have really sucked if something truly major went wrong.

I haven’t had a problem making enough money to live on, but making a living is about more than money. Despite the fact that my rates have gone up too, they still aren’t commensurate with what I would have had I spent twelve years in the same corporation, working my way up to ever-higher levels. And for many people, the isolation of freelancing is too much to take.

I love copyediting, but the most difficult thing I face in it is that I’m always very hungry for new challenges and seldom have them anymore. I know copyediting backward, forward, and upside down. Even when a project comes in that’s a lot of work, it’s something that I already know how to do. If anything ever leads me to go in-house again, it will be the desire to learn and practice new skills.

]]> By: editgirl http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1707 editgirl Sat, 22 Apr 2006 09:33:28 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1707 Whoops, that "anonymous" post was me. I thought I was logged in. Whoops, that “anonymous” post was me. I thought I was logged in.

]]> By: anonymous http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1706 anonymous Sat, 22 Apr 2006 09:32:40 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1706 I suppose it helps that where I am (central NC), the cost of living is fairly low, so making enough to live on isn't *too* difficult to achieve. I've been making a living working from home for nearly a decade. A lot of people DO freelance on the side. It also helps that my rates, like my skills, have more than doubled since I started. I would agree on the health insurance thing, but until recently my husband was *also* self-employed, and be both paid handsomely for our own health insurance. In fact, he won't be covered by employer insurance for another month, but WOW that will certainly help our finances! :) I suppose it helps that where I am (central NC), the cost of living is fairly low, so making enough to live on isn’t *too* difficult to achieve. I’ve been making a living working from home for nearly a decade. A lot of people DO freelance on the side. It also helps that my rates, like my skills, have more than doubled since I started.

I would agree on the health insurance thing, but until recently my husband was *also* self-employed, and be both paid handsomely for our own health insurance. In fact, he won’t be covered by employer insurance for another month, but WOW that will certainly help our finances! :)

]]> By: readwrite http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1705 readwrite Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:25:57 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1705 Freelancing is ALL about networking. And I periodically try to expand my contacts. It can be tricky. A place that gave me steady work for over 5 years had a change in personnel. I have no quarrel with the new person, and she has given me work, but not on the regular basis that her predecessor, who loved me, did. So...I've found new places. Just today I discovered by accident that a fellow freelancer is now a production editor, and discussed some upcoming projects. These days, a lot of the big publishers have databases, so it pays to specialize. If they're looking for someone who knows about such-and-such, and you have that listed as a specialty, your name may come up, and you'll get a call from someone you've never heard of. Many of my prime contacts have come from friends and neighbors--people I've gotten to know outside of work, who turned out to work in publishing. But that's New York for you... Freelancing is ALL about networking. And I periodically try to expand my contacts. It can be tricky. A place that gave me steady work for over 5 years had a change in personnel. I have no quarrel with the new person, and she has given me work, but not on the regular basis that her predecessor, who loved me, did. So…I’ve found new places. Just today I discovered by accident that a fellow freelancer is now a production editor, and discussed some upcoming projects.

These days, a lot of the big publishers have databases, so it pays to specialize. If they’re looking for someone who knows about such-and-such, and you have that listed as a specialty, your name may come up, and you’ll get a call from someone you’ve never heard of.

Many of my prime contacts have come from friends and neighbors–people I’ve gotten to know outside of work, who turned out to work in publishing. But that’s New York for you…

]]> By: aerden http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1704 aerden Fri, 21 Apr 2006 09:55:13 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1704 Thank you. I'll look into it, then. Chantal Thank you. I’ll look into it, then.

Chantal

]]> By: deannahoak http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1703 deannahoak Fri, 21 Apr 2006 08:38:49 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1703 I've had many friends fail at full-time freelancing while I've succeeded, and I know far more people who freelance on the side than who dedicate themselves to it. You have to be <i>good</i> to make a living this way, and even then it's a huge help if you have health insurance from an S.O. :-) I’ve had many friends fail at full-time freelancing while I’ve succeeded, and I know far more people who freelance on the side than who dedicate themselves to it. You have to be good to make a living this way, and even then it’s a huge help if you have health insurance from an S.O. :-)

]]> By: editgirl http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1702 editgirl Fri, 21 Apr 2006 06:07:03 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1702 I kinda fell into publishing myself... my senior year in college I had no clue what I wanted to do, and publishing sounded related to my English major, so I went to the university press, where lo and behold, they actually TAUGHT me something useful! I did desktop publishing and freelance typesetting and proofing (for a typesetter) for years before I got into editing. Eventually I was doing about 20 hours a week of freelance on top of a full-time job, and I decided to just drop the full-time job. I find there are tons of freelancers in this business, and it's fairly easy for me to make a living--but I won't get RICH! Editing from home is a way for me to make a living without much overhead. Networks of freelancers are important, you're right. Most of my contacts were all introduced to me from other clients/friends. My major client found me when I met a crucial person there at a social function, we hit it off, and found out we'd been working for the same clients for a while... she eventually hired me as a freelancer, and has since put me in touch with other clients who have also hired me. I find it fairly simple to get editing work because so much of it IS freelanced out. Practically NO ONE has staff manuscript editors... managing editor, production editors, and assistants, but no simple copyeditors on staff. I kinda fell into publishing myself… my senior year in college I had no clue what I wanted to do, and publishing sounded related to my English major, so I went to the university press, where lo and behold, they actually TAUGHT me something useful! I did desktop publishing and freelance typesetting and proofing (for a typesetter) for years before I got into editing. Eventually I was doing about 20 hours a week of freelance on top of a full-time job, and I decided to just drop the full-time job. I find there are tons of freelancers in this business, and it’s fairly easy for me to make a living–but I won’t get RICH! Editing from home is a way for me to make a living without much overhead. Networks of freelancers are important, you’re right. Most of my contacts were all introduced to me from other clients/friends. My major client found me when I met a crucial person there at a social function, we hit it off, and found out we’d been working for the same clients for a while… she eventually hired me as a freelancer, and has since put me in touch with other clients who have also hired me.

I find it fairly simple to get editing work because so much of it IS freelanced out. Practically NO ONE has staff manuscript editors… managing editor, production editors, and assistants, but no simple copyeditors on staff.

]]> By: cakmpls http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1701 cakmpls Fri, 21 Apr 2006 05:52:50 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1701 <i>Publishing does not pay particularly well, and the turnover rate is pretty damn high. People in publishing often freelance on the side. When you’re in publishing, making contacts with people at other companies is honestly essential—not only for if and when you switch jobs, but in case you want freelance work.</i> Yep. When I was working in my first (and only) in-house copyediting job--after wandering through other work--my boss was freelancing on the side, and she recommended me to the publisher she freelanced for. That was the beginning of my transition to freelancing, which I've been doing for a bit over 20 years. She later moved on to other jobs, and in three different ones she could hire freelancers, so she hired me many times over the years. Publishing does not pay particularly well, and the turnover rate is pretty damn high. People in publishing often freelance on the side. When you’re in publishing, making contacts with people at other companies is honestly essential—not only for if and when you switch jobs, but in case you want freelance work.

Yep. When I was working in my first (and only) in-house copyediting job–after wandering through other work–my boss was freelancing on the side, and she recommended me to the publisher she freelanced for. That was the beginning of my transition to freelancing, which I’ve been doing for a bit over 20 years. She later moved on to other jobs, and in three different ones she could hire freelancers, so she hired me many times over the years.

]]> By: deannahoak http://deannahoak.com/2006/04/20/my-start-in-publishing/#comment-1700 deannahoak Fri, 21 Apr 2006 02:21:07 +0000 http://deannahoak.com/?p=200#comment-1700 If it's something you want to try, you should. Learning the business in the first place is the most critical factor. Contacts are something you make as you go; I didn't have any outside my own publisher when I started freelancing. If it’s something you want to try, you should. Learning the business in the first place is the most critical factor. Contacts are something you make as you go; I didn’t have any outside my own publisher when I started freelancing.

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