Looking to earn extra money from home by writing or editing online? With the rising popularity of remote work opportunities, more doors are opening for freelancers to leverage their writing and editing skills to create flexible side income or full-time work. This comprehensive beginner’s guide covers the key steps to start making money with online writing and editing jobs.
Research Different Types of Online Writing and Editing Jobs
The first step is getting familiar with common types of remote writing and editing jobs, including:
- Freelance writing - From blog posts, social media content and emails to whitepapers, eBooks, and web copy, freelance writers create content. Specific expertise in areas like marketing, tech, business, health and more are valuable.
- Creative writing - Freelance opportunities exist for genres like fiction, poems, scripts, speeches and more. Options range from magazines, self-publishing platforms to marketing work creating imaginative descriptions. Technical skills like research, world-building and character development help.
- Editing and proofreading - Editors and proofreaders carefully comb through client documents, marketing materials, business proposals, manuscripts and other written content for errors in spelling, grammar, consistency, clarity, accuracy and style adherence. Attention to detail is critical.
- Transcription - Convert audio content into written transcripts. Common transcription areas include meetings, interviews, focus groups, phone calls and web videos, but opportunities span legal, medical, market research, media and academic spaces as well. Excellent listening and typing skills required.
Explore job boards like ProBlogger, Flexjobs, SolidGigs and RatRaceRebellion for current opportunities across editors, writers, proofreaders and more. Search in your niche areas of interest and skillset.
Determine Requirements and Develop Skills
While requirements differ between roles, most online writing and editing jobs have common skills desired:
- Strong writing and grammar capabilities - At a minimum, employers want clear writers with good grasp of grammar rules. The higher the fluency and style, the better.
- Research skills - Writing and editing often require investigating sources to verify data, find examples and ensure accuracy. The ability to dig deep and synthesize information is needed.
- Knowledge of style guides - Whether AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style or other industry-specific guidelines, editors and proofreaders must know reference styles inside out to check content rigorously.
- Technical skills - From mastering writing tools like Google Docs to learning editing software like Grammarly, MS Word, style guides and more. Comfort with technology is a must.
- Time management and organization - Between deadlines, accurate budgets and reporting, writers and editors juggle a lot. Being efficient, productive and organized is essential for success.
Start honing any skills currently lacking. Take online courses, practice editing sample documents, strengthen typing skills and build a portfolio. Investing in development helps you stand out later.
Curate an Online Writing and Editing Portfolio
Show don’t tell. Having a portfolio that shows exactly what you can deliver is vital for online writing and editing jobs. Include 5-10 polished samples across formats like:
- Published articles and blog posts - Provide links to your best published writing samples showcasing research, writing skills and topics addressed.
- Editing samples - Include 3-5 samples documenting unedited content side-by-side next to your edited version. Display tools used and issues addressed via tracked changes and comments.
- Infographics, data sheets or presentations - Visual content writing resonates with some brands. Especially relevant for content writers.
- Case studies, white papers or eBooks - Show in-depth writing on technical topics for specialized business audiences. Ideal for technical writers especially.
The more niche experience you can showcase, the better. Provide samples delivering value to target sectors like health, tech, higher education, legal, government, manufacturing, nonprofit and more. Demonstrate versatility tackling different types of assignments with tailored style and voice.
Create a Specialized Online Writing and Editing Resume
When applying for online writing and editing gigs, make your resume shine:
- Feature a keyword-optimized profile or summary showcasing your specialty areas, skills and achievements tailored to writing or editing specifically.
- Within your experience section, interweave relevant keywords and measurable wins. How many documents have you edited monthly on average? What topics have your written articles achieved high traffic or social shares in? What quantified business impact have your writing or editing initiatives driven?
- Structure experience to highlight published clips, key types of documents edited, writing projects delivered, previous clients and critical tools or style guides mastered.
- Showcase measurable results and impact beyond responsibilities. What traffic, leads or revenue have your writing skills generated? How many documents have you simultaneously managed under tight deadlines? What productivity tools or systems have you developed to enhance editing efficiency?
- List niche writing and editing training programs completed, industry credentials earned, or professional associations joined if applicable. These can provide credibility.
Tailor resumes, cover letters and application responses for each niche area or position you apply for. Target specifics whenever possible.
Prepare for Common Writing and Editing Assessments
The application process for writing and editing roles often includes upfront assessments to directly evaluate critical hard skills. Common ones include:
Writing Tests
- Timed writing assignments with parameters like word count, audience and topics. Tests ability to research quickly and write coherently.
- Editing assessments providing unedited samples paired with style guides. Gauges accuracy spotting issues.
Technical Assessments
- Copyediting exams focused on grammar proficiency and mastery of style guides like AP or Chicago Manual of Style.
- Proofreading tests assessing accuracy catching typos, consistency errors, spelling mistakes and formatting issues.
Practice these test types in advance to build speed, accuracy and confidence. Leverage online practice resources and samples whenever possible.
Actively Grow Your Writing and Editing Side Income
The learning curve launching an online writing and editing business can feel steep. Set realistic first goals around signing first clients or achieving a set monthly income target based on hours worked. Reinvest earnings back into your freelance business as possible to keep momentum going:
- Expand portfolio - Add new writing clips or editing samples showcasing additional topic expertise, content types and industries.
- Pursue niche credentials - From social media certification to legal proofreading courses, specializations open doors to better paying work.
- Invest in productivity tools - Whether it’s project management systems, grammar checking software or transcription services, tools create leverage.
- Grow professional network - Attend writing association meetings locally or engage writing groups on social media. Connections often yield referrals.
Stay vigilant against burnout with adequate work-life balance too. As your calendar fills, revisit rates while carefully screening new clients to ensure a quality continued experience sustaining what you’ve built.