How to Create an Editorial Style Guide for Your Business

Traits of the top 1% of freelance writers I've studied: • They never stop reading • They always pitch to publications • They are always clear about getting paid for their work They all have their own quirks—but every single one of them had these 3 traits.

📚 8 Essential Tips to Reduce Self-Publishing Costs Without Compromising Quality 📚 If you’re taking the self-publishing route, keeping costs manageable is key. Here are eight smart strategies to help you save while still producing a quality book: 1️⃣ Partner with a Skilled Editor Finding an affordable editor is easier today. Freelancers, sometimes newer to the industry, can offer quality work at a lower rate. 2️⃣ Use Discounted Editing Software Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway offer free trials and affordable subscriptions, helping you polish your work at a fraction of traditional editing costs. 3️⃣ Leverage Friends and Family Ask those skilled in editing, proofreading, or formatting for help—it can make a difference! 4️⃣ DIY Formatting Use affordable software like Vellum or even free templates to format your book yourself. 5️⃣ Get Low-Cost Cover Art Free design platforms like Canva offer customizable templates, making it possible to create an attractive cover without breaking the bank. 6️⃣ Select the Right Publishing Platform Research platforms carefully for royalty rates, fees, and distribution options to find the best fit. 7️⃣ Avoid Copyright Issues Stick to original content and royalty-free images to steer clear of legal costs. 8️⃣ Study the Competition Look at top-selling books in your genre for ideas on cover design, pricing, and description. Keep costs in check and watch your self-published book shine! 🌟 #CostSavingTips #IndieAuthors #BookPublishing #WriteAndPublish #PublishingTips #AuthorJourney #BookMarketing

5 signs you're ready to start freelance writing: 1. You can write 500 words without overthinking 2. You're willing to learn business skills 3. You have 10 hours/week to dedicate 4. You can handle rejection 5. You want control over your income Do you know what's NOT on this list? Being perfect. So what's stopping you?

I don't often talk about the part of our business that has been focused on books. It's not infrequent that we get inquiries from people who think they may need help writing a book. If you are in this situation, here are a few qualifications you need to consider. 1. Hiring a writer is like finding a life partner. Hire someone you know, who has a passion for the story you want to tell. Hire someone who has written books, don't just hire any old writer. 2. Hire someone who has ghostwriting experience. This is an art unto itself. 3. Hire someone who can help you shepherd your book into the editing process, who can get granular with details, who can help you tell the most fascinating of stories. 4. Hire someone who has a nationwide network of freelance book editors and proofreaders. You may not think so, but you're going to need this. 5. Hire someone who knows the rhythm of a book timeline, who can set realistic goals with you and can partner with you until the very end. 6. Hire someone who has worked with other publishers, who has connections in the industry. Maybe even hire someone who has created a company that has published some books. We have plenty of contacts in the publishing industry, and we are not shy about using them. I've seen too many people have their hopes dashed when a writer doesn't measure up. Writing books is both an art and a science. At R.S. Rock, we only work with people who understand the fragile nature -- or are willing to consider it -- of the writing and book publishing business. We want you to be satisfied with your book, and we want your book to be a success!

Another day, another wonderful review of my freelance service! What can I say? I'm good at what I do. I don't just review novels; I review any type of content to see how it can be improved. If your content isn't converting as much as you hope, drop me a line and I'll not only tell you why, but work with you to get it converting. Alt text: a screenshot of black text on a white background which reads: "Robert is the best beta reader I've ever worked with for literary fiction. He doesn't just read passive, he knows exactly what readers feel and manages to pin it down in writing with remarkable clarity. He goes beyond surface feedback to analyze the emotional arc in detail, something most readers can sense but rarely explain. His professionalism, honesty, and insight make his feedback invaluable. Highly recommended."

Freelancers don’t need more words; they need the right ones. Hemingway’s way was simple: cut the fat, keep the muscle. Say what matters, and let silence carry the rest. Clients remember clarity, not clutter. See Hemmingway's advice to become a better writer here and use Share with others too 👍 #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #writers #writingtips #GigsnetTribe #gigsnetworld

Copy Editor vs Proofreader: Six Tips to Help You Choose Choosing between a copy editor and a proofreader can be tricky. Here are six tips to help you pick the right one for your project: 1. Check Their Offer Review the editor’s or proofreader’s services carefully. Clarify what they’ll provide and ask for examples of their work to ensure they fit your needs. 2. Look at the Contract Make sure the contract outlines the services, timeline, and cost. Don’t sign until you understand all terms and ask questions if anything is unclear. 3. Compare Training and Experience Evaluate their expertise. Copy editors often handle deeper edits, while proofreaders focus on surface-level issues like grammar. Choose based on the level of editing your project requires. 4. Talk to Previous Clients Ask for references or testimonials from past clients. This feedback will help you assess the quality of their work and if they’re a good match for your project. 5. Avoid Conflicts of Interest Ensure the editor or proofreader doesn’t have a personal connection to your work. Objectivity is crucial to providing unbiased, professional feedback. 6. Do a Trial Run If you’re unsure, test them with a small sample. This will give you a sense of their style, quality, and reliability before committing to a larger project. #CopyEditor #Proofreader #EditingTips #ContentCreation #Publishing

READ. YOUR. CONTRACTS. UNDERSTAND. YOUR. CONTRACTS. NEGOTIATE. YOUR. CONTRACTS. The practice of publishing an edited piece without a freelancer's approval is both extremely common and potentially extremely risky for the writer depending entirely on the contract. Editors rarely if ever know what's in the contract you've signed because it was drawn up by the legal department, so they don't know that—depending on what's in the warranties and representations sections as well as the indemnification section—publishing changes without the writer's approval if the contract places the legal responsibility for factual accuracy on the writer is extremely risky for the writer. Freelance writers, you are running a business and working in an industry that exposes you to legal risk. It's on you to understand your contract, negotiate it, and manage the editing process in a way that doesn't expose you to legal risk. Client's won't do it for you—it's not their job and most editors can't read a contract either.

Advice for Freelance Writers: Say yes to challenges. Say no to exploitation. Say nothing when the client asks, “Can you just add 500 more words for free?” 😄 😐 #freelancewriter #contentwriter #b2bwriter

Today marks my first anniversary as a freelance beta reader, copyeditor and proofreader. This follows completing 𝐵𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 with Knowadays in 2023 and volunteering with Distributed Proofreaders for over a year. I wanted to say a massive thank you to Dan Bentley for giving me the confidence I needed through his business coaching, to Michelle Baum for helping me to optimise my LinkedIn profile and to Peter McCollum, Terry Hornby, Ryan Null, Miguel A. Reyes-Mariano-aka Leu Seyer and Brian Terence for taking a chance and working with me. Please go and have a read of their books. Last, but not least, a massive thank you to all my edibuddies, your help has been invaluable. I’ve made some great friends and worked on fantastic books. Here’s what I’ve learned in that time. A supportive community of editors is invaluable. It is normal, even expected, to look up things you’re unsure about. Trust your instincts, even if you think you should know something, it is far better to double-check than risk introducing errors. If possible, leave enough time to read a manuscript through at least twice. Be clear on why you’re leaving a comment for an author. In the coming year I’m planning on creating a website and undertaking more training. #Editors and #Proofreaders what advice would you give to someone starting out today?