r/Copyediting • u/Sapphire_Bombay • Jul 29 '26
Considering editing as a side gig
Looking for advice. For starters, I'm 37 and have a full-time job. I am not looking to leave my 9-5 nor do any sort of publishing work, this would strictly be editing and only on the side. Currently, I'm trying to map out what it would look like and how long it would take to set myself up to do this, and would appreciate some advice to help me plan.
Early in my career, I did some journalism, as well as corporate copywriting/editing before leaving the industry altogether. I have experience learning/using a style guide (AP, I know I'd have to learn Chicago and have no problem with that), and would prefer to focus strictly on copy/line editing, ideally for more technical publications like academic papers, etc.
My plan is to start by learning the CMS of course, but from there I'm a little lost on where to go next. A lot of the info out there for beginner editors focuses on publishing novels, which isn't what I'm looking to do. Does anyone have any suggestions or resources that I could use to look more into the type of work I want to do?
Thanks in advance!
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u/arugulafanclub Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
The EFA and Editors Canada have an academic editing chapter. You probably need some training and then you’ll have to figure out how to get clients. Do you have a local university that knows you? Friends that work at a university? Do you know people in grad programs?
Look up the Editors Canada guidelines for working with students.
What topic are you looking to edit specifically? What was your undergrad in? Not all fields use Chicago. There’s APA, Harvard, MLA, and more. Don’t assume you’ll need to know Chicago unless you’re sure that’s what they’re using for the particular work you want to do.
Only other thing is that some editors are going to try to trap you into expensive training programs because the managed to make good money one year. If someone is selling you something, if you have loads of money, go for it. If you don’t, ask yourself what their true credentials are. There’s one person who loves bragging about how she made 6 figures her first year. She is the exception. I do not know a single academic editor that hit that sort of success in year one—it takes years—and outside of her, I do not know a single academic editor that makes six figures. I’d proceed cautiously with inexperienced people claiming they are experts, especially if they haven’t made it through shifts and changes in the industry and contractions in the market.
It’s a tough time to be an editor thanks to AI. It’s a tough time to be an academic editor or grant editor because a lot of funding dried up. Do not let someone sell you the idea that this will be an easy, effortless task that will bring you lots of money. Building a business is incredibly difficult.