Starting Your Career as a Freelance Editor by Mary Embree

Author:Mary Embree
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allworth
Published: 2012-02-29T16:00:00+00:00

An editor who is dedicated to her profession will encourage the author every step of the way and nurture the writing as though it were her own work. And, since we have chosen this noble profession of editing, I don’t think that is too much to ask of ourselves.

A Relationship of Professionalism

One last thing about the author/editor relationship. Remember at all times that this is a professional relationship. It is tempting at times to discuss personal matters with your client but it is not wise during the time that you are working with the client, whether of the same sex or of the opposite sex. If you were to forge an intimate friendship with your client or become involved romantically it would change the dynamics of the relationship. You would no longer have the objectivity to work together in the same way. Just as a physician should not become personally involved with his patient, nor an employer with her employee, nor an attorney with his client, an editor should not become personally involved with her author/client. It is unethical for many reasons. A physician, employer, attorney, editor and others in a position of authority must be responsible for keeping the relationship on a professional level.

You can be friendly with your clients and even occasionally get together away from work in a group setting such as a party at their home. Many of my clients have become friends but while I was working with them I kept the relationship more formal. This policy is not only best for the client, it is best for the editor as well. For example, on rare occasions I have accepted a dinner invitation with a client and his or her spouse, but I was unable to relax and enjoy an evening of friendly casual conversation. Inevitably, the client turned it into a discussion of her book and I felt like I was working. For me, it was more like a consultation.

I don’t enjoy lunch or dinner meetings because I don’t feel that I can direct my full attention either to the meal or to the business at hand. I was taught not to talk with my mouth full. So, not only am I not enjoying the meal, I’m not doing a very good job of consulting either.

So how do you keep your editor/client relationship professional? Here are some suggestions.

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