What’s a Freelance Copy Editor’s job?

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Generally speaking, copy editors check written material for errors and odd wording. A freelance copy editor is a self-employed person in this field. He or she usually works on an edit copy from the home office for multiple clients, but may sometimes work on location at clients’ locations, depending on each client’s wishes. Freelance copy editors work for magazines, newspapers, book publishers and websites. They also edit marketing pieces, advertising copy, and a variety of other written materials for advertising agencies, corporate creative departments, educational institutions, and other organizations.

The freelance copy editor, who may be the last person to review a piece of writing before it goes to print or is published online, performs many of the same tasks as a staff copy editor. The freelance copy editor analyzes the written copy for things like correct grammar, spelling and word usage. He or she deepens detailed writing and smooths transitions to improve the flow of copies. Significant rewriting of a piece can sometimes be the responsibility of the copy editor, but the job is usually one of correcting and smoothing rather than redoing. Freelance copy editors also write headlines and photo captions and are sometimes called upon to fact-check, especially for publications that do not employ fact-checkers.

Magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, and other organizations often use specific editorial style guides when creating their written materials. Two commonly used style guides are the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style. Client organizations sometimes develop their own style guides. An important aspect of a copy editor’s job is to ensure that the correct style is used. Freelance copy editors, because they may have a variety of clients using various editorial styles, often need to be well-versed in standard styles and be quick learners to quickly become familiar with client-specific styles.

As freelancers, freelance copy editors can experience extremely busy periods followed by dry periods, so they often have to spend a significant amount of time marketing themselves and their work. To find new clients, freelance copy editors often network, attend events for client industries, join organizations of freelance writers and editors, and advertise their services through websites, brochures, and other means. A freelance copy editor might have a four-year journalism degree, an English or other language-related degree. Many freelance copy editors start their careers as staff editors, gaining experience and contacts, before diving into working on their own.

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