Free Samples: Do You Provide Them for Your Editing Work?

Work Working in Taiwan
21

[quote=“Mucha Man”]Reading this most interesting thread, I am getting the impression that you guys are getting paid way more for editing a page than I am for writing one. :stuck_out_tongue:

Bcup, congrats on the book. Always a giddy moment no matter what the content.[/quote]

Well, it’s a ‘different’ set of skills. I get a Word doc with half-done stuff full of spelling mistakes. I make it into what is on the page. A manuscript is useless on its own - it’s a joint production, and in ELT, the line between writer and editor is blurred more that for other stuff, for sure.

Yeah, it’s cool. I did a little book a few years ago (about English learning), and it was nothing in particular to be proud of, but it was beautifully illustrated (not by me), and I still have a little look at it, if my eye falls on it on the shelf.

22

Can you give me a free sample? . . .

say . . . three pages worth?

23

Sorry, I’m far too idle to do much freelance work.

24

Uh, I’m talkin’ about a free sample of the beautifully illustrated little book that you’re not too proud of.

What are you talkin’ about?

25

[quote=“zender”]Uh, I’m talkin’ about a free sample of the beautifully illustrated little book that you’re not too proud of.

What are you talkin’ about?[/quote]

It don’t matter what we’re talking about - `i still don’t do small jobs. Unless I’m desperate for cash.

26

As the OP, I thought I’d share my email to the ‘client’…

[quote]One of the reasons I like to meet clients before I begin work on anything is to understand the context in which a piece of writing is being done, what expectations there are for writing standards, and what the purpose of the writing actually is.

For editing of papers, editorials, academic papers, press releases, etc., I normally charge on the basis of per hour or per 100-words. In this instance, I will charge $1150 per hour for the work that needs to be done. I anticipate that it will take 2~3 hours to rewrite the content to a suitable standard for what is intended to be a press release.

If you think this would be suitable for you, let me know and I will get to work. I should be able to turn the paper around within 24 hours on this basis from the time I’m given the assignment.

I would be happy to provide writing samples of recent work (editing and writing) that I have done if you need further references.[/quote]

I neatly avoided the issue by throwing it back on the client without calling into question her motivation. I didn’t say that I wouldn’t do a sample, but I mentioned that samples were available.

I must admit: she contacted me via myu.com.tw and I realized a few days ago (after NOT receiving a reply to my offer) that it must be pretty cheap way to get copyediting done.

Having been bitten once or twice seriously before with ‘vague’ promises of future deals, I only take things at face value now. IOW, if you aren’t specifically commissioning me to do work with a pay rate/contract/etc. type deal, I won’t do it. I don’t care what you’re promising me tomorrow… if today’s deal isn’t right, tomorrow’s deal won’t be any better.

I’d suggest to fellow members : be careful doing things ‘for free’. Unless you have a real reason to do things for free (ie. absolutely no experience)…, don’t. You’ll likely regret it.

BTW, I’d have only provided the first 1/3 of the document until the ‘client’ decided to meet me.

Kenneth

27

I’m also finding this thread pretty interesting. So it sounds like some of you guys end up editing papers for submission to scientific journals? I really didn’t know that people did that, although I guess it makes sense for people using a second language. So how much rewriting will you do? And about how much would it cost for the maximum service on a, say, 8000 word document that starts at a medium level of Chinglish? Just curious…
Anyway, thank you for saving the rest of us from the Chinglish :slight_smile:

28

I was starting to wonder the same thing.

I have one main editing client and they send me piles of work each winter. It’s well-paid and mind-numbingly dull, so I don’t go looking for more. I never did a sample for them, and only provided a resume about two years in, when they said they needed one for their records. Other bits of editing have come from people I know in government departments, so there’s been no need for samples etc.