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Resources for New Freelance Editors

If you find yourself spotting typos and grammatical errors in your local newspaper and being asked to look over friends’ cover letters when they apply for jobs, you might be considering becoming an editor. Maybe you’ve always wanted to know the ins and outs of the leading style guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook. Or perhaps you are intrigued by the prospect of helping writers develop their work on a larger developmental scale. You’ve got the right instincts; you just need help refining them and learning about the industry.

 Dark blue and red EFA logo  Dark blue icon of a network of resources

 

 

EFA Resources

If you decide to join the EFA, you’ll be eligible for a number of member benefits of particular interest to new editors:

  • 20% off all EFA courses and webinars, and many webinars for free

  • networking with fellow members via in-person and virtual chapter and affinity group activities

  • EFA-wide events, such as the annual winter social; annual association meeting; Candid Conversations series featuring thought leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion; and STET Talks series, hosted by EFA Board members featuring presentations or interviews with experts on topics of interest to editorial professionals

  • access to the EFA’s online Discussion Forum and Discord server, where you can exchange ideas and advice with thousands of other EFA editorial professionals across the globe

  • the Freelancer e-newsletter, where you can read about recent news and trends in freelancing, communications, and publishing and get pro tips about business, technology, grammar and language usage, diversity, equity, and belonging in the industry, and other information of professional value to freelancers

  • discounts on editing software, industry conferences, reference materials, and more

Building Your Skills

The EFA frequently runs introductory courses in copyediting, developmental editing, line editing, and more. We also have discounted bundles to give you a head start with exploring different editing specialties, such as fiction editing, and academic, scientific, or medical editing.

If you’re looking for quick, inexpensive introductions to editing, editing tools and technology, or freelancing, check out our recorded webinars, many of which are geared toward people interested in entering the industry. Access to a library of free webinars also is included in EFA membership.

Building Your Business

The EFA offers courses, webinars, and recorded webinars as well as specialized booklets to help jumpstart your freelance career and business. Here is a curated list of EFA offerings (also check out the Other Valuable Resources section for more on the business of freelancing, such as setting rates, incorporating your editorial business, getting an EIN, and more):

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Other Valuable Resources

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  • Online Communities

  • Peer Organizations
    • ACES: The Society for Editing
      Started in 1997 by Pam Robinson of Long Island, NY, and Hank Glamann of Houston, TX, as a group to foster support for news copyeditors, ACES is an organization that has grown to include editors of all types. Their annual conference is a great place to meet your peers, and they also offer online training, Poynter ACES Certificates in Editing, and a Job Board that's freely accessible to the editing community.

    • Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
      The UK-based organization initially was founded in 1988 by Norma Whitcombe as the Society of Freelance Editors and Proofreaders and renamed the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading in 2020. CIEP sets professional editorial standards, offers editorial training courses, and publishes resources for members and the public. EFA members receive a 10% discount on all CIEP classes—check the Affiliate Discounts page for details.

    • Editors Canada / Réviseurs Canada
      Editors Canada / Réviseurs Canada supports professional development through seminars, online training and conferences; promotes and maintains high standards of editing through certification and reference publications; helps in-house and freelance editors to network and collaborate; and cooperates and partners with related associations in areas of common concern. In 2022, the Academic Editing affinity group was formed as a collaboration between the EFA and Editors Canada and is open to members of both organizations. EFA members can register for Editors Canada webinars at a discounted rate—check the Affiliate Discounts page for details.

    • Freelancers Union
      Founded in 1995 by Sara Horowitz, Freelancers Union is a nonprofit that grew out of freelancers’ need for affordable health care. The organization advocates for freelancers’ rights and provides health insurance and other resources.