Some frequently asked questions
What should I know before I agree to edit someone’s academic thesis?
There are formal guidelines about editing theses. You should read them and make students aware of them before you even agree to start work.
Can you help me with copyright information?
While CSE does not provide advice on copyright information we do run professional development workshops on copyright for editors and have provided some links to useful resources on this page.
Where can I find CSE newsletters?
Login to your CSE account to access the full archive of our newsletters. If you are not a CSE member you can join our organisation for access to all our resources or read recent issues here.
What does my client need to know about editing?
Editing involves a lot more scope and skill than clients might realise, especially if they have not worked much with editors before. See our commissioning checklist to help you and your client agree on the details of the job before you start.
How much should I charge?
Setting a price on an editing job can be tricky – is a lower price better value for money than a higher price, or should the experience and reputation of the editor be taken into account?
Experienced editors who are good at what they do tend to know the value of their own work and have no such qualms – if a quote is refused on the basis of price alone, there is always more work around the corner from someone who is willing to pay a fair price for good work.
Beginning freelance editors can have trouble finding a balance between undercharging and pricing themselves out of a job. Charges need to cover the costs of running a business (insurance, professional development, rent and equipment and software) and the cost of living (mortgage and rent, food, clothing and other essentials). It is well worth seeking advice from relevant professionals, such as an accountant, to make sure you run your business legally and profitably. Useful resources on industry rates include IPEd's suggestions for editing rates and the MEAA's freelance rate tracker.
Useful links
- Australian Copyright Council
Supporting a creative Australia by promoting the benefit of copyright for the common good - Australian Society of Authors
The Australian Society of Authors is the professional association for Australia’s literary creators. - Australian Society for Technical Communication
Working together to promote the interests of technical communicators. - Chicago Manual of Style
Completely searchable and easy to use, The Chicago Manual of Style Online provides recommendations on editorial style and publishing practices for the digital age. Now offering the full contents of the 16th and 15th editions, it is the must-have reference for everyone who works with words. - Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd)
The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) exists to advance the profession of editing, by planning and implementing activities that support Australian and New Zealand societies of editors and their members, and editors in general. - Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK)
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) is a professional organisation based in the UK for editors and proofreaders – the people who strive to make text accurate and readable. - Society of Indexers
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZSI) aims to represent the interests of indexers and to provide training and other resources to all Australians and New Zealanders involved in indexing.
Copyright information
This list of useful copyright links was prepared by Gabrielle Mackey.
Copyright Act 1968 and Copyright Regulations 1969
http://www.comlaw.gov.au
(type in Copyright Act 1968 or Copyright Regulations 1969 in ‘Find Current law’)
World Intellectual Property Organization (Geneva, Switzerland)
http://www.wipo.int
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade – Treaties database
For international treaties to which Australia is a party see
http://www.dfat.gov.au/treaties/index.html
AUSFTA: http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/us.html
Attorney-General’s Department – Copyright Law Branch
http://www.ag.gov.au/copyright
Australian Copyright Council
http://www.copyright.org.au
Copyright Agency Limited (CAL)
Represents authors, journalists, visual artists, surveyors, photographers and newspaper, magazine and book publishers.
http://www.copyright.com.au
Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA)
Represents a substantial number of music copyright owners.
http://www.apra.com.au
Screenrights
Represents owners of copyright in films, sound recordings and works included in audio-visual products.
http://www.screen.org
The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA)
Represents the major producers of sound recordings.
http://www.ppca.com.au
Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners’ Society Limited (AMCOS)
Represents music publishers.
http://www.amcos.com.au
VISCOPY
Represents many visual artists.
http://www.viscopy.com.au