Honorary president: Judith Butcher Honorary vice-president: David Crystal OBE

FAQs: Working freelance

• Is freelance proofreading or copy-editing a viable way of making a living?
• How can I find work?
• Can you refer me to people who will give me work?
• What are my chances of getting work?
• Why is the SfEP so pessimistic about new freelance proofreaders and copy-editors finding work?
• What's the pay like as a freelance?
• How do I get a client to pay me?
• Can a freelance work for just one client?
• Can I find editorial work if I live outside the UK?

Is freelance proofreading or copy-editing a viable way of making a living?

A proportion of SfEP members and associates make a living from freelance proofreading, copy-editing and related skills in publishing.

The SfEP runs the course Going freelance and staying there, which helps with those vital first steps.

How can I find work?

There are a number of ways that you can drum up work:

• Personal contacts  The most successful way of getting work is through personal contacts. If you are leaving an editorial job to go freelance, tell everyone you know – at your old company and elsewhere – giving them a good idea of what you have to offer and all your contact details. Use Christmas cards to remind people of your availability, and read trade journals so that you can drop friends and acquaintances a line in the event of a promotion, change of job or any other excuse that seems legitimate.

• Networking  This is the active pursuit of further professional contacts. The SfEP organizes networking opportunities through its local groups, professional days and annual conference. In addition, you might consider joining organisations such as Business Links, local chambers of commerce and other business forums.

• Directories  The SfEP produces a Directory of Editorial Services offered by ordinary and advanced members. It is searchable and can be updated at any time. It has proved to be one of the main benefits of SfEP membership.

  There are also a number of other directories that list people offering freelance editorial work. The success rates of these (for the entrants) are quite patchy, and you should check up on them carefully before contributing your details. (Also remember that many of them – unlike the SfEP's Directory – are used as sources of email addresses by spammers.)

• Advertising  As well as taking entries in the SfEP Directory of Editorial Services, many members simply advertise their services, as do many associates. There are a number of ways of doing this, from adverts in the trade press (Bookseller, Publishing News), which are likely to be quite expensive, to free adverts in the Yellow Pages. (However, the consensus seems to be to avoid the latter unless you like being the target of marketing campaigns.)

  Alternatively, you might try sending leaflets about yourself to local businesses – get contact details from the local Thomson Directory and/or local business groups – or you can band together with other complementary freelances (e.g. designers, typesetters, translators) to advertise a one-stop shop.

  SfEP associates can advertise their skills and availability for work to other associates and members via Associates Available, distributed fortnightly via SfEPAnnounce.

Can you refer me to people who will give me work?

As a professional body, the SfEP is not licensed to act as a recruitment agency. It does, however, provide various opportunities for its members and associates to get work (see above).

What are my chances of getting work?

Variable, but not good. You will be competing with the established workforce, many of whom trained in a publishing company and have quite a few years' experience. And you will be vying for jobs with a large number of newcomers who are doing the same as you – the SfEP receives up to 10,000 enquiries a year!

However, some areas of publishing are more in need of freelance editors and proofreaders than others. If you have expertise in a particular subject, you may stand a better chance of finding work with publishers producing publications in your subject. For example, if you have a degree in engineering or law, or can cope with complex mathematics, you will probably get more business coming your way than if you are hoping to work on the latest bestselling novels.

In addition, in recent years SfEP members and associates have been finding new markets for their skills and services in the non-publishing sector: industry and commerce, charities or local government – in fact, any enterprise that produces text. The main problem here is that these clients have not traditionally used editorial skills and may need to be persuaded of their value. The SfEP runs the course Working for non-publishers, which can help you to approach new clients in these areas.

Why is the SfEP so pessimistic about new freelance proofreaders and copy-editors finding work?

If the experience of the vast majority of our members and associates is anything to go by, it is very difficult to build up an adequate client list if you don't have either specialist knowledge or contacts in the publishing industry or both.

Even these advantages might not be enough. Although more books, journals and websites are being produced all the time, publishers are trying to reduce costs by eliminating or severely curtailing the editorial work done on their texts, often not valuing the skills that were applied in less pressured times. Even if they do appreciate them, an increasing number of publishers are now sending proofreading and copy-editing work to be done abroad to save money.

What's the pay like as a freelance?

Not very good. Every year the Society publishes suggested minimum hourly rates for freelance proofreading, copy-editing and project management, but they cannot be enforced (and, of course, it is the responsibility of each individual freelance to agree rates with clients). And there are always some who will be prepared to work for less than these rates, especially when starting out. Finally, many publishers habitually pay less – some much less – than the suggested minima.

It should not be forgotten that there is unlikely to be a steady flow of work, even when you are established. In fact, 'established' is unlikely to mean 'fully employed' for a considerable time, if ever – 20% of our members consider themselves to be 'under-employed'. And your overheads – including such things as a computer and other office equipment, supplies, postage – are likely to be higher than you think, despite the fact that you'll probably be working from home.

How do I get a client to pay me?

This is not really something with which SfEP can help, although members and associates can get advice from FirstAssist – a 24-hour telephone advisory service on all legal and related problems – through belonging to the Society. The Better Payment Practice Campaign is also an extremely useful source of information, especially about your legal rights.

This topic is regularly discussed on the Society's email list SfEPLine, where the more experienced can advise the less. Ensuring that you get paid is, of course, a prime function of a trade union – the National Union of Journalists is the union for freelance editors and proofreaders.

Can a freelance work for just one client?

For Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC – what used to be known as the Inland Revenue) to consider you to be self-employed/freelance, it helps if you work for a number of clients. If you work for only a few or even just one, HMRC may decide that you should be on the company payroll, with National Insurance and PAYE deductions.

As far as HMRC is concerned, attaining self-employed status (and keeping it) can be a minefield – check out its Employment Status page.

Can I find editorial work if I live outside the UK?

The SfEP already has a number of members living outside the UK. More important than your location are the skills that you have to offer. If you can edit or proofread material written by companies or government agencies for an English audience or translated material, you may find that this is a niche market that you can fill. Similarly, companies with English language websites may be able to use you.

However, editorial work is now becoming truly international, with editors and proofreaders often working for companies and agencies in countries far away from where they live and work. Payment can be a problem – there are many opinions on the most cost-effective ways of getting paid by foreign companies (i.e. the least expensive bank charges), and you have little or no protection if a foreign client chooses not to pay you.

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