Whats the pay like as a freelance?
Not very good. Every year the Society publishes suggested minimum hourly rates for freelance proofreading, copy-editing and project management, but they cannot be enforced (and, of course, it is the responsibility of each individual freelance to agree rates with clients). And there are always some who will be prepared to work for less than these rates, especially when starting out. Finally, many publishers habitually pay less – some much less – than the suggested minima. It should not be forgotten that there is unlikely to be a steady flow of work, even when you are established. In fact, ‘established’ is unlikely to mean ‘fully employed’ for a considerable time, if ever – 20% of our members consider themselves to be ‘under-employed’. And your overheads – including such things as a computer and other office equipment, supplies, postage – are likely to be higher than you think, despite the fact that you’ll probably be working from home.
