The Need

I’ve noticed a trend on oDesk and other contract writing sites. The trend is to hire as cheaply as possible and then either the buyer edits the material into something usable or hires someone else to do it. (And when they get someone else to take a second look, you can bet the posting will include the phrase, ‘easy job’.) In other words, some buyers set out knowing they won’t get a good product out of the box and hire writers based only on the lowest hourly rate. Editing is part of how they are thinking about the job.

Feeding into this same trend are first-time or amateur authors (of web sites, sales letters and content) who realize, after struggling with a project, the results aren’t what they imagined. They are also looking for editing services.

Finally, a still rare but growing area is ‘freshening’ a website. An older site has gone stale over time; the company or product has evolved or the website just gets a worn-out feel. Although I consider a new set of clothes rewriting, these jobs are seen by some buyers as simple editing.

Can you do it?

It’s very likely that you already do.

I want to point out that ‘editing’ as used here means a skill set that includes rewriting, formatting, and reshaping the tone or spin of content. At oDesk, the term can mean anything from proofreading to an entire rewrite where the final piece looks nothing like the original material. With that in mind, my claim that you already do it should be obvious. Because you edit your own work before you submit it.

You already look for run-on sentences, grammar and punctuation errors, misspellings and poor usage… You do do that, right? Right?

Still not convinced you should bid on editing jobs? Take a look at this cut and paste (part of a cover letter put up on a message board). Read it and think about how you would ‘fix’ it. It’s fairly typical of an ESL (English as a Second Language) writer.

I am one of the serious bidders for the project. With me working on your project you can be rest assured about the quality. I will always keep you informing about the progress so that you can be in loop and relaxed. I am really enthusiastic about the project. We believe in work quality, customer satisfaction and timely delivery of projects for better relations wit customers, Achieving 100% customer satisfaction and proving our best services

I cherry picked that example to make a point. There is a great deal of written material out there that needs help. And you can provide that help.

Can you get a good price?

Yes, if you can inform/lead/educate the buyer. You need to get them past the this is a simple job mindset. And you can do this without being snide (Oh, if it’s such a simple job, why the hell don’t you do it yourself?)

Focus on the end product. This is, after all, the buyer’s primary interest. Don’t complain, just explain. This helps you get hired. You have to get them to understand what you are actually doing for them. If they aren’t writers themselves (which, if they are hiring an editor, they usually aren’t) it’s not easy. Which brings me to:

The Gold Standard

1. Get a copy/sample of the material before you commit to a fee or a number of hours.
2. Take that sample and edit it.
3. Send it back as part of your cover letter.

Why is this so important?

• It tips you off to how much work actually needs to be done and allows you to estimate your time commitment.
• It shows the buyer just what she is paying for and what the final product will be like.
• It gives you a chance to explain the process, the what, why and the how.
• It gets you interacting with the buyer and past the first date awkwardness.

I’ve tried to show you the why you should consider editing for money. In future posts I’ll focus on the mechanics. But one final tip: Never, ever be derogatory instead of calm and factual about an original piece. You don’t know when they wrote it themselves and have an emotional stake. Try to stay professional with your critiques and corrections.

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