Most editors begin their training in college, in training programs, or as entry-level employees in a company. That means they learn to edit in ways that appeal to people who are interested in quality editing but are rarely the folks who wrote the material. When an editor turns freelance, that dynamic shifts.
As an independent editor, you often provide editing services directly to writer clients. Even when you interact with a managing editor or other non-writer, you’re building a relationship directly with them. An instructor will continue to give students assignments and training until a course is over, and an employer will continue to use and train their employee (unless things go really sour). A client has no ongoing, day-to-day pressure to return to that same editor when they next have a project. (Or a reason to send that editor personal referrals, which are the primary way freelancers find new clients.)
Clients return to editors who do good work and who build effective professional relationships. If you can already do good work, then it’s time to focus on nurturing client relationships. I asked Utah Freelance Editors members about how they build these relationships to give you the best advice UFE has to offer.
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