Are you interested in becoming a freelance editor or proofreader?
For those interested in starting work as a proofreader or copy-editor The Publishing Training Centre at Book House runs introductory distance-learning courses (020 8874 2718; www.train4publishing.co.uk) and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) also runs introductory courses (020 8785 5617; www.sfep.org.uk). Other institutions which run courses, ranging from one-year academic courses to more practical ones lasting a few days, are listed in The Directory of Publishing (published annually by Cassell and the Publishers Association).
Publishers are not usually impressed by theoretical expertise so much as practical evidence of an ability to proofread or copy-edit accurately and quickly. Most people start by proofreading and move on to copy-editing after they have become familiar with the appearance of a marked-up manuscript. Both proofreaders and copy-editors need to be able to spot inconsistencies or inaccuracies (e.g. layout, facts, spelling) and errors such as ‘it’ for ‘is’ or ‘practice’ for ‘practise’. Copy-editors in particular need to be able to follow the sense of a manuscript and make appropriate suggestions to clarify, shorten or lengthen passages. Both copy-editors and proofreaders must be able to follow a client’s editorial and design stylesheet accurately and consistently.
Most publishers and companies involved in publishing project management, including Go Britain Ltd, keep a register of freelance staff who are initially assessed by tests which they are asked to complete at home. When enquiring about freelance work, always include a relevant curriculum vitae, any references relating to work you have done, and an A4 stamped addressed envelope. Test papers will normally only be sent to those people whose qualifications and experience are appropriate to the current needs of the company. If the test papers reach an acceptable standard, the freelancer will be put on a register and contacted when there is suitable work available; most publishers have more freelancers on their books than they have work to send out.
Essential reference books for any freelancer include a good dictionary, a good thesaurus, Copy-editing by Judith Butcher (Cambridge University Press), The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors and Hart’s Rules for Compositors and Readers (both Oxford University Press).
More information
For more information or to discuss your requirements please telephone us in the UK on 01434 688834.
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