Freelance Editing: Gauges & Contracts - video

Freelance editors must be able to gauge the amount of editing needed when writing a contract and setting a fee for editing. In this interview, editing director Sheryl Stebbins shares tips for freelance editor contracts, including fee considerations for freelance editors. She says that the first thing to do when you approach a freelance editing project is determine how heavy the editing needs to be. That will determine the fee you set. To get an idea of an appropriate fee for the kind of work required, use a resource, such as the Freelancer’s Union, which can give you an idea of the typical rates for specific types of editing in your part of the country. Always use a contract. Editing is like any other kind of job in this respect—you need to set clear expectations. The contract is important for both sides. It clearly lays out what the client can expect the editor to do as well as the editor’s compensation for the work. It protects both the person whose work is being edited and the person who is doing the editing.