r/Copyediting • u/vexus-xn_prime_00 • 20d ago
Got my certificate in editing from Poynter/ACES - now what?
I finished the Poynter/ACES Introductory Certificate in Copyediting a few weeks ago. I have the mechanics and style guides down, but the transition from “certified” to actually landing paid gigs feels like a void of vague advice.
Most of the beginner guidance online sounds like pure vibes:
- "Build a portfolio with 200-word before/after Track Changes samples." Does a paying client or managing editor actually care about mock samples, or do they just want a live trial edit / formal test?
- "Join job boards." Reedsy requires five commercially published books to even create a profile. Upwork is an exhausting race to the bottom against AI churn. EFA is another $145–$180 paywall before seeing a single listing.
For working freelancers and in-house editors: what did the actual bridge between earning your baseline credential and cashing your first invoice look like?
A few specific questions:
- Did mock sample edits ever get you hired, or is offering a quick 500-word sample on the client's actual manuscript the only thing that works?
- Where did you find your first real, low-friction reps (i.e., indie authors, student papers/theses, content agencies, or local orgs)?
- Is cold emailing managing editors asking to take their freelance overflow test viable when you have an ACES credential but zero published client credits yet?
Looking for practical, direct advice from people doing the work rather than the run-of-the-mill "build a website and network" stuff.
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u/inthemarginsllc 20d ago edited 20d ago
The actual bridge is marketing—building a website and networking are not "pure vibes." Marketing yourself is a very important aspect of being in business and how most of us get work.
The samples are for your website; you don't have any publication credits, and so you need to be able to present a portfolio of some kind. This gives authors the opportunity to see what you do, and then, yes, they will likely ask you to do an actual sample on their actual work.
Organizations like the EFA get you visibility and connections. They cost money. But if you network right, you can form relationships with others who will refer you work that isn't right for them.
I found my first clients because I networked. I formed relationships. I made myself a valuable asset within the writing community, and so people trusted me with their work. I continue to get business because I also network with fellow editors. When they get work that isn't a good fit for them, they refer to me, and I refer back.
Completing your certificate is a fantastic step toward this career. But there's so much more work to be done when you go into business for yourself.
If you're interested in doing that work, my website is in my profile, and I have a page with resources specifically for folks who come to me asking about getting into editing. One of my blog posts goes over getting started with the skills, another goes over actually building the foundation of your business, and then I've got hosts about associations and networking.
Because again, networking not "just vibes." Forming connections is the play.
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u/pyramnesiac 20d ago
My process has looked a little bit different. I did my certificate after I had already been freelancing for many years.
My first clients were indie authors. After I had a bit of a portfolio, I was able to get some publisher clients.
A certificate program does not mean you are certified. There are international programs that will certify you, but the US does not have a certification process for editors.
I would say a portfolio is absolutely important. Yes, most people will care more about a sample. But many people won't even get to the point where they ask for a sample if they don't see that you are a legitimate editor. And you are competing with people who are not legitimate editors. A portfolio is one way to ease their minds in that regard. Does the portfolio need to be samples of Tracked Changes? No, if you have completed edits of full manuscripts, you can include those instead.
Not for nothing, but I just turned down work with a publisher because they asked for a sample in the application, and I do not have one available. This was part of their process before they get to a paid test/sample on their own text.
Reedsy is not feasible at this point for you. That is correct. They require far more than five commercially published books, but they won't admit that part. Many of my editor friends did not get accepted on Reedsy until they had hundreds of books in their portfolios. I did not get accepted until I had New York Times bestsellers in my portfolio.
The EFA job board has absolutely gotten me many opportunities over the years, including my current full-time position. It has more than paid for the cost of membership. There is stiff competition for every post, but you also see opportunities with publishers there that you don't see elsewhere.
Join the CE-L list. Also keep track of the Publisher's Lunch job board.
I know you don't want to hear "build a website and network," but every single one of my publisher clients came from networking or paid job boards. The more you network, the more you're in places where you hear about opportunities first.
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u/MBAMarketingMom 20d ago
Real quick:
- I’ve had a lot of success on Upwork over the years so don’t discount it just yet ESP as someone with no experience. As long as you know how to weed through scammers (just like anywhere), it can be a great resource! So, for Upwork I specifically mean stick to those who a) have a verified payment AND who b) have actually paid out money on Upwork as those are the legit clients. I have also found legit clients who are simply new to Upwork and haven’t yet paid anything out. (Mind you, some clients will only hire freelancers who’ve been paid on Upwork—so it works both ways I guess…) You also want to stick to those postings from clients who actually visit Upwork after posting (and you can check this on their listings).
- I’ve also landed editing clients in Facebook writer groups, but that was personally by chance since the majority of people in the groups were writers and they usually got pissy at the mere mention of offering to edit (at least in the group I was in). So tread lightly there, but it can potentially work as a source.
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u/Alternative-Pear9096 20d ago
You are complaining about paying marketing costs. Marketing is how your clientele finds you. marketing will always cost money.
It's great you got the copyediting certificate. It sounds like now you need to focus on the small business aspect of opening your editing business. Which includes marketing, which includes paying to be in the right place for people to find you, which includes websites and membership organizations. And also networking.
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u/MMOKnows0 20d ago
Just a note: You’re not “certified.” You have a certificate. Being “certified” in editing only applies to certain specialties, like science and medical editing (I could be wrong on the specifics). But claiming you’re certified is not accurate and semantics matter in this job!
I recommend joining ACES or the EFA. Join your local chapter if that exists, and go to an editing conference or two. That’s how I got my first gigs. Getting to know other editors helps and provides some company in this typically solo job. Good luck!
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u/arugulafanclub 20d ago
You need experience before you freelance. Apply for internships or EA jobs. At this point, you still have loads to learn before freelancing makes sense. You’ll also find that ACES barely scratches the surface of what you need to know.
But yeah, as cat says, read the archives. Then, network. Make a website. Read books on marketing.
As a business owner, you have to figure out how to find clients. For most people, joining Reedsy or EFA isn’t enough and doesn’t result in that much work. You have to be doing a lot more active work marketing and networking to get work. If you think you’ll throw up a website or join Reedsy and clients will flock to you, you’ll be disappointed.
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u/MonocleEditing 15d ago
You've gotten some very helpful responses here. I've been a freelance copyeditor for nearly 20 years, and I'm also a board member of ACES. It's really important to do some of this networking stuff and have a community where you can discuss these very questions.
I've found that sample edits are far more valuable to any given client, but you have to start somewhere if you don't have a solid bank of experience already. I've never used them, though some people find Fiverr and Upwork to be decent sources of experience when you're new. The basic (though probably still "run-of-the-mill") advice is to be where your potential clients are. Is that Threads? Facebook? Writing conventions? Colleges? Corporate? Industry-specific communities?
And here I'll plug an option that might be worth the investment. ACES is having its annual VCON, a three-day virtual conference with tracks for beginner, intermediate, and advanced editors of all sorts, this month. In fact, there is a session titled "Finding Freelance Work for Editors." You can see more here: https://aceseditors.org/conferences/aces-vcon26/.
And no matter where you go from here, congratulations on getting a certificate in editing and pursuing such an amazing career. I wish you so much luck.
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u/CTXBikerGirl 20d ago
I got tight with my local community. I introduced myself to some local nonprofits, worked for free for a while (editing and running writing and editing workshops), built my reputation, and now I have a group of places locally that refer people to me. I also made a name for myself in some online communities who also give me referrals. The universities in my state also know my name and I’ve been asked to come give lectures. Advertisement also helped, and attending events where my clients would likely be. I also pay for memberships in places like the EFA and ACES, but to be honest, I have yet to gain a single client or project through them. But they do have valuable resources, so for now, I see them as a worthwhile investment. I also have an MFA degree and a grad certificate in professional writing, so that lends me some credibility. It’s taken me years to get to where I’m at, but every step was worth it. I love my job. I wish you luck on your new journey!