Hey there, fellow editor! If you've ever found yourself puzzled about how to estimate freelance editing project rates and timelines, you're in the right place. I’m about to demystify the entire process, breaking it down into easy-to-understand steps. I'll even walk you through an example featuring D...

So you've taken the leap into running your own editorial business—congrats! But let’s be real, figuring out the financials can be a bit overwhelming. How do you set payment terms that are fair for both you and your clients?

Don't worry; if you're wondering how to set payment terms as a freelance ed...

If you're anything like me, you know that staying in the loop is more than a good habit—it's a lifeline in the ever-evolving industry of editing. Whether you're a seasoned pro with years under your belt or a bright-eyed newbie eager to learn, blogs are your secret weapon. Why? Because they're chock-...

As freelance editors, we're no strangers to the hustle and bustle of juggling multiple projects, meeting tight deadlines, and delivering top-notch work. But while we're engrossed in the day-to-day operations of our freelance business, it’s easy to overlook one critical aspect: our financial well-bei...

Payment processing fees are an unavoidable part of doing business online these days, but many freelance editors still try their darndest to avoid paying them.

While the rationale makes sense (you may be trying to lower your expenses and/or avoid the hit to your effective hourly rate), it can be ris...

The biggest rule in freelancing—and one new freelancers often break—is “trust your gut.”

No matter how a prospective client finds you (personal referral, search engine, networking event, etc.), it’s crucial to make sure you’re a good match. You don’t want to end up with a problem client, and take i...

Freelance proofreaders, copyeditors, and line editors often do a free sample edit for prospective clients. This sample is generally between 250 and 500 words (one to two standard pages), although I know some editors who prefer to do 1,000-word sample edits. This can help the freelancer determine how...

I have a confession to make: I’m the rare introvert (hello, fellow INTPs!) who actually…don’t judge me too harshly…likes networking.

Don’t get me wrong—my enjoyment of networking events varies by the situation. I can talk to almost anyone for five to fifteen minutes, but if the conversation is less...

As an editorial business owner, I wear many hats. In addition to managing both the billable and non-billable tasks of my company, I also need to run errands and complete other day-to-day tasks.

For years, I piled everything into my Google Calendar, using it as my to-do list. I’d have client project...

In Part 1 of this series, I shared some of my recent productivity goals and provided a set of questions designed to help you create your own list.

The productivity goals that were the most important to me both related to email. Specifically, I wanted to reach Inbox Zero in Gmail, spend less time an...

Does the following sound familiar?

You sit down at your computer to work on a specific project.

Before you open the document, you check your email to see if the author has answered a question you asked yesterday.

You see that you have a new message from another client, about a project due in a fe...

Sometimes I need to turn down projects that come my way. In these cases, I like to provide the potential client with a few referrals to editors who may be interested in the work. I try to refer projects to editors I know personally, because I trust them to do good work.

When that’s not possible, ho...

In late June 2017, after working a very long week and pulling a few all-nighters to finish two copyediting projects, my hands suddenly became so painful that even thinking about typing on a keyboard made me feel sick to my stomach. The low-level hand and forearm pain that I’d been ignoring and pushi...