Course Description

Freelance editors are typically talented wordsmiths, but many find themselves intimidated when it comes to handling money—also an essential skill for managing a home business. How do you determine a fair and reasonable rate for the service you provide? What should you consider when establishing a professional rate? Can you afford to freelance, and are your expectations in line with common practices?

Even after you set your rate, how do you estimate total cost for a project? How long might a project take you to do? What do you need to discuss with your client to determine whether you can do the job within the client’s budget? Finally, how do you communicate clearly with your client up front to avoid problems when it comes to billing?

Participants in this workshop discuss these and other related issues and receive practical advice to help them set up for success. The two sessions allow time for questions.

Instructor Bio

Barbara Fuller has worked in publishing since 1985. As director of Editcetera, she has helped connect freelance publishing professionals with hundreds of clients. Her personal clients have included the Administrative Office of the Courts, Computer Literacy Press, Encyclopaedia Britannica, HarperSanFrancisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers, Sierra Club Books, Sierra magazine, Ten Speed Press, and many independent authors, from professors to novelists. She has taught writing and editing for UC Davis, UC Berkeley Extension, and private businesses, as well as for Editcetera. She is the author of How to Start a Home-Based Editorial Services Business (Globe Pequot Press, 2013).