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Topic: Writer seeks more copy editing/fact checking work
| Author | Message |
| overthehillwriter | Posted – 5/12/2006 11:38:10 AM | show profile | email poster I am a freelance writer who has started doing some copy editing/fact checking work for a couple magazines and discovered I really enjoy it. I got the first gig by responding to an ad, then that satisfied client told a friend at another mag, who contacted me. I would like more of this work, but I'm not sure who to contact at magazines. Anybody have any ideas for marketing myself for this kind of work? Also, I charge $25 an hour -- is that about right? I don't think I can do it for less, because of the time it takes from my writing schedule. Your input is greatly appreciated! |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 5/12/2006 12:06:48 PM | show profile I posted below about my own confusion over fact-checking rates (isn't fact-checking surprisingly fun, though?). I've gotten five clients since I started, three months ago, and they pay $25, $25, $15, $12, and $12. The second $12 I actually told declined because it's just not worth it to work for that much. I'm curious to see what others are making for fact-checking. |
| overthehillwriter | Posted – 5/12/2006 12:13:15 PM | show profile | email poster It is surprisingly fun, and something I was always good at as an editor. It's not as if it's mindless -- far from it -- but it's a nice break from the CREATIVE work of writing. I had such gratitude from the one magazine and they've actually given me two new clients. I really wouldn't mind more. |
| JCH | Posted – 5/12/2006 4:58:48 PM | show profile | email poster Copy-editing rates I get paid $18/hour, which I think is a little low when I realize a housekeeper makes about the same as I do in one day. But apparently the going rate is high teens to low 20s. It goes up significantly if they want you to do actual editing. |
| Fledgling Journo | Posted – 5/12/2006 5:05:43 PM | show profile | email poster crackers I think I remember you are a relatively new graduate from other posts? I am as well... did fact-chcking at a consumer magazine internship. Would love to do it freelance, I'm entering grad school in the fall and a little money would be great! How did you go about getting your first gigs? I never see too many listings and it's not like an article that you can query... |
| overthehillwriter | Posted – 5/12/2006 5:45:35 PM | show profile | email poster Hey Fledge ... Nope, I've been working in print for 15 years-plus, mostly fulltime, newspaper and magazine. I myself am wondering how to get more of it -- I responded to an ad to get the first of it, and referrals popped up from that. |
| overthehillwriter | Posted – 5/12/2006 6:11:35 PM | show profile | email poster Ahh.. just noted you were talking to Crackers ... pardon me! |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 5/12/2006 10:01:49 PM | show profile | email poster Hi Fledgling, You're right that the posts are pretty rare. I did a fact-checking internship and after that started working with two of the sister publications (through word of mouth). The one independent client I have I got by responding to a post - though it took them 2 months to get back to me. I'm actually thinking of just sending my resume in to a bunch of magazines and seeing what happens. A lot of the larger magazines have a research editor and I'm hoping one of them will need someone. Feel free to email me off the list if you'd like to chat more (I love strategizing with other relative newbies :) |
| Marie | Posted – 5/13/2006 12:05:48 AM | show profile I didn't read all the responses, but the going, average rate for copyediting at national magazines is $30/hour, and if you're working for less than $25 and you're in NYC, you're underpaid. I know people are going to say differently, but I know what I'm talking about. Now these are magazine rates for New York City, and I know rates are lower in other parts of the country, with the exception of California, where I got $50/hour for copyediting from a client there (I telecommuted--work was done in NYC, and this was more than five years ago). I don't know about fact checking, but it seems to pay less, which always struck me as odd, because it requires more work. |
| belinda | Posted – 5/13/2006 5:42:39 PM | show profile Until a few months ago, I did fact-checking for a publication put out by a DC-based national association for retirees. (Clues enough?) It paid $20 an hour -- less than half my hourly target, but I worked it around other work until it became too big a PIA. |
