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Topic: book publishers using freelance copyeditors?
| Author | Message |
| Suet | Posted – 9/27/2007 1:33:59 PM | show profile | email poster I've called several of the largest trade publishers to ask who to send a resume for freelance copyediting. IF I was able to reach a human, in each case, they said the publisher doesn't use freelance copyeditors. And yet, in their job listings, these publishers include supervising freelance copyeditors in some of the job descriptions. Can anyone reconcile this apparent contradiction? Is this a matter where it's 100 percent "who you know"? Do they get so many resumes from unqualified people that they won't take the time to deal with someone who isn't their friend/acquaintance/family member/loved one? I remain interested in finding out who to contact at these publishers, if any of them are open to working with qualified people that they don't already know. Thanks! |
| starstar | Posted – 9/27/2007 2:08:32 PM | show profile Hi there-- The majority of trade publishers do indeed use freelance copyeditors, and only a couple houses anymore actually have in-house, full-time copyeditors. And even those houses have to freelance out some work, b/c there's no way the few in-house editors can manage all the titles. I'm not sure who you're contacting, but the best person is the managing editor. Also, phone calls are annoying--find out who the managing editor is, figure out the publishing house's e-mail configuration, and send along a cover letter and resume. I used to hire freelancers for a large trade house and 1) no, I didn't rely on people I knew, and I'm sure most production editors don't. I'm not going to hire my best friend who has no experience b/c he needs money. This does a huge disservice to the author and I would never do that. I hired people who had solid book copyediting experience for other large trade houses and good references from those houses. If you don't have that, then I'm not going to hire you. If you have experience and good contacts with other trade publishers, ask your contact if 1) they could help you get in touch with other production editors who hire freelancers and/or 2) they will serve as a reference for you. If you're a valued copyeditor then your contact should be happy to help you. Or do you have friends who do work for these houses? Could they help you out? It may be that you're calling the wrong people--or calling the right people at the wrong time. Or maybe you are a qualified copyeditor, but you don't have experience in books. But anytime I scanned a resume and saw the person worked for Random or Knopf or Houghton Mifflin, I usually always at least sent them a test. Good trade book copyeditors are quite hard to come by. Good luck. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/27/2007 3:03:50 PM | show profile Just because phone calls are annoying doesn't mean they are effective. The trouble with email is its passive -- you send it off and it may be read or it may be deleted, It certainly has a place in marketing campaigns, but as a general rule I find too many freelance editorial people are hesitant about picking up the phone to pitch themselves. If I was looking for business quick, I would send out a bunch of emails, but I'd also make a minimum of 20-50 phone calls a day. --Also, phone calls are annoying-- |
| Suet | Posted – 9/27/2007 3:21:18 PM | show profile starstar, thanks for taking the time to provide a thoughtful answer. i've been calling personnel, mostly, usually the only # I could find. Or, I ask for Editorial and they put me through to what sure sounds like personnel. |
