Copy editors, on the whole, proofread written material for errors and awkward writing. A self-employed copy editor is known as a freelance copy editor. He or she edits copy for a variety of clients from a home office, but depending on the needs of individual clients, he or she may also work on-site at client locations. Copy editors work for magazines, newspapers, book publishers, and websites as freelance copy editors. For ad agencies, corporate creative departments, educational institutions, and other organizations, they also edit marketing pieces, advertising copy, and a variety of other written material.
Many of the same responsibilities as a staff copy editor are performed the freelance copy editor, who may be the last person to look at a written piece before it goes to print or is published online. The freelance copy editor double-checks written copy for things like grammar, spelling, and word usage. To make copy flow better, he or she tightens up verbose writing and smooths out transitions. The copy editor may be responsible for significant rewriting of a piece on occasion, but the job is typically one of correcting and smoothing rather than redoing. Freelance copy editors also write headlines and photo captions, and are occasionally called upon to verify facts, particularly for publications without fact checkers.
Specific editorial style guides are frequently used magazines, book publishers, ad agencies, and other organizations when creating written materials. The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style are two popular style guides. Client organizations may create their own style guides on occasion. The use of the correct style is an important aspect of a copy editor’s job. Because freelance copy editors may work with a variety of clients who use a variety of editorial styles, they must be well-versed in the standard styles and quick learners in order to quickly learn client-specific styles.
Because freelance copy editors are self-employed, they may experience periods of intense activity followed periods of inactivity, necessitating a significant amount of time spent marketing themselves and their services. Freelance copy editors frequently network, attend client industry events, join organizations for freelance writers and editors, and advertise their services through websites, brochures, and other means to find new clients. A four-year journalism degree, an English degree, or another language-related degree might be required of a freelance copy editor. Before venturing into self-employment, many freelance copy editors begin their careers as staff editors, gaining experience and contacts.