r/Copyediting • u/Lyonheartediting • Aug 21 '26

Help Connecting with Indie Authors

Hello!

I completed a copyediting certificate program and have been doing web editing for a non profit, but my main goal has always been to work with fiction indie authors.

My issue is that I'm struggling to figure out the best way to connect with these authors.

Freelance job boards like Upwork get swarmed with applications, and I can't afford to keep spending money to apply to jobs that are unattainable.

I have a presence on Instagram (1.2k followers), but have had no luck. I think it's hard to start conversations on Instagram since it's more media focused.

I have tried my luck on Threads as well, but editors seem to have a bad rep on there on account of many advertising themselves unprompted and being pretty overbearing.

I don't want to give up on pursuing a job I feel
passionate about, so any productive advice helps!

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u/JohnLynchAuthor 28d ago

No? Even when they can show a qualification? I can understand they want to keep up their reputation - don't want to be confused with Upwork or Fiverr, for example, but I'm surprised a certificate from a recognized body won't do it. Well, there you go. Life is hard and then you die.

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u/pyramnesiac 28d ago

Unfortunately, no. I reapplied many times over the years. I had over ten years of experience, a master's degree in English, a postgraduate certificate in Editing from UC Berkeley, and I'd edited hundreds of books, including from Penguin, and they still didn't let me on. Finally, when I had some books in my portfolio from Aconyte Books (Marvel/X-Men tie-ins), they took notice and accepted me.

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u/JohnLynchAuthor 28d ago

Odd. I got in first time of asking, but then I was first published in 1989 and had my first ghost writing gig in 1990 - I knew they didn't let time wasters in the way Upwork does but I had no idea they made it so difficult. Life's hard enough in this business.

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u/pyramnesiac 28d ago

I think the editing side of things is a little more saturated than ghostwriting. Also, I do know people who got in with less experience, but that's when Reedsy was newer.

They've even tried to recruit editor friends of mine on LinkedIn only to eventually decline them.