Rachel Starr Thomson

Commenting on the least popular people club , Elisabeth asked, "I’ve been wondering…how did you get into editing? I’ve toyed with the idea of trying it myself and I’ve been meaning to ask you where you started out."

That’s a good question, and a very relevant one right now — for me! I’ve set some financial goals for this year that require me to pursue editing aggressively again. For the past two years, I’ve been fairly laidback about it. So this post is a good chance to remember how I got started!

I had a strange youth full of obstacles to actually working; that is, working a job for someone outside of my family. But obstacles pass, and in 2004 I realized that I was 21 years old and I needed a job. I also realized that I didn’t want one. For the first time in my life, really, I knew that I wanted to write. And I wanted a job that would allow me to do that while actually making money.

So hey, I thought, why not become a freelance editor? Many people need editors. I happen to be good at editing. I have spent the last umpteen years giving myself a really solid education in writing; I know what to look for and how to work with words.

Thus, I trekked out into the world. First, I joined email lists of writers and small publishers. I introduced myself to them as a freelance editor, making sure they knew my services were available. Most email lists frown on constant self-promotion, but many will allow it on certain days or in specific ways. And you can learn a TON from other members! Try searching Yahoo or Google Groups for likely candidates.

(The payoff may not always be immediate, but networking is smart. Soon after I joined the Christian Self-Publishers list on Yahoo, I did a sample edit for Home School Enrichment Magazine . It was almost two years before they were able to hire a copy editor, but when they could, they hired me!)

Speaking of email lists, I also joined the general mailing list for the Christian Proofreaders & Editors Network, aka the Christian PEN. You can find them at www.thechristianpen.com . This is a wonderful list for networking and learning! When I joined, the list regularly referred writers who were looking for editors. I found several of my first clients this way. At this point, you must become a Contributing Member in order to receive these referrals, but I’m not complaining — member dues are extremely reasonable. The PEN also offers regular online courses on various aspects of editing.

Clients were still few and far between, so I paid for ads in several email newsletters for writers. One of them, I believe, was Angela Hoy’s Writers Weekly (www.writersweekly.com ). I didn’t find the response to be fantastic, but the ads paid for themselves.

Eventually, I came across an ad in one of the newsletters for a coaching service called Write At Home . They were looking for one-on-one tutors to work with mostly homeschool students. The fit couldn’t have been better! I’ve been with Write At Home ever since, enjoying an ever-expanding roster of students. If you’re interested in coaching, W@H is always looking for new coaches. Check out the "Coaches" link on their Web site. (That picture is me, by the way!)

That, in a nutshell, is how I got started as a freelance editor.

Coming Up Next Time, the editor’s essential tools :).

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