So, you’ve got an English degree. Or maybe you’re working towards one. And you’re wondering—what can you actually do with it?

Beyond crafting an impeccable CV to hand in at McDonald’s (just joking, don’t panic), there’s a solid little niche waiting for you: Editing. Proofreading. Tidying up other people’s messy words while secretly judging their punctuation (admit it, it’s fun).

Here’s the thing, freelance editing doesn’t require years of experience.

Honestly, you can start before you even graduate. If you’re still at uni, classmates are always desperate for help with their essays, dissertations, or cringe-worthy grad school applications. You’ll likely find them waving half-baked drafts in your face, pleading for salvation.

It’s good practice and, occasionally, decent pocket money (though sometimes it’s just, “I’ll buy you a coffee”). But hey, caffeine is currency, right?

Once you’ve built up a bit of a repertoire or at least learned how to tell someone their writing is pants tactfully – there’s a bigger world out there.

Indie authors, small business owners, and even bloggers who write like they’re still stuck in 2009. All of them need editors, even if they don’t know it yet.

So How Do You Find These Elusive Clients?

Jeremy Anderberg (an editor with actual wisdom to share) left a cheeky little nugget of advice on a blog I stumbled across. He reckons his clients have come from three.

Yes, just three sources:

Twitter. Yeah, the bird app isn’t just for doomscrolling. Turns out, people often tweet things like “Help! Need an editor ASAP!” Search, reply, boom. Connection made.
Craigslist. Slightly dodgy? Sure, but hidden among the random ads for free sofas and missed connections are listings for writing and editing gigs. It works.

Indie Author forums. A treasure trove of aspiring novelists and poets who – let’s be real – probably need your help. Jeremy says he found where they hang out and just showed up. Imagine it like crashing a party where everyone’s drunk on their own metaphors. Brilliant, right?

Here’s a little Bonus Tip from me: Don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth.

The oddest clients can come from the most random places – a mate of a mate, a weird guy you met at the library, someone you didn’t even like in high school but now they’re self-publishing a book about vegan gardening.

People talk, and if your name floats up, work trickles in.

Oh, and when you’re diving into this, don’t expect it all to be glamorous.

Sometimes, you’ll be editing a novel that feels like it was written by a toaster or a blog post riddled with ellipses…everywhere. But other times, you’ll read something so raw, so good, it almost makes you cry.

Or maybe that’s just me.

Either way, editing is a hustle that keeps your brain sharp, your coffee cup full, and your bank account slightly less terrifying.

Check out the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). They’re top notch if you’re serious about raising your game and excelling in the editing industry, their training and style guides are worth every penny.

Give it a go – what’s the worst that could happen?