Freelancer Profile: Lisa Theobald

Lisa Theobald
Boise, ID

Q: Tell me a little about your freelance background (how you got started, how long you've done it, etc)

A: I work for publishers rather than tech companies. I’ve worked for tech companies in the past, but I’d rather work with publishers on books. Far more interesting IMO. I started in the mid-80s when Microsoft was hiring a lot of freelance editors in Seattle. I have a BS in journalism and got tired of working at newspapers, so when I moved to Seattle, I was lucky to get a gig at Microsoft. That’s where I learned about tech editing, starting as a proofreader, then a copy editor, and finally a project editor. I worked at MS Press full time for about 2 years before I moved to California. I worked for Peachpit Press and McGraw Hill Education in the Bay Area as a full-timer, and then moved to freelancing for them when I moved back to the PNW.

“Unless you’re very lucky, you probably won’t be able to make a living by only freelancing for a few years until you get a steady client base. It takes time. ”

Q: What do you wish you would have known when you started freelancing?

A: It’s very difficult to make decent money with publishers, though tech companies probably offer better pay. I’ve worked for McGraw Hill for 15 years and have never had a raise! Other publishers cap out at about $35 per hour. Unless you’re very lucky, you probably won’t be able to make a living by only freelancing for a few years until you get a steady client base. It takes time. Also, you sometimes won’t get paid for a month or, usually, months at a time because you’ll be working on a project and won’t get paid until it’s done. Save up for those between-check times.

Q: What are three key pieces of advice for students considering freelancing? 

A: Three key pieces of advice are:

• Work on establishing contacts within companies. That will help you find the right people to contact about getting work. After you finish your first job with a company, remember that most places have a stable full of freelancers and you’re only one of them. So if you want more work, you have to be pro-active. Don’t wait for them to offer you work; ask for it. And then do a good job.

• Make sure your grammar and spelling are in check. Don’t assume that’s the easy part. It’s not. Most companies ask that you take a test before they will even consider hiring you, and they won’t consider you unless you score perfectly.

•  Style guides! Know how they are put together, how to use them, how to write one. If you’re the first freelance hire with a startup, you’ll be the person putting this together. Some companies don’t even have a style guide, and you can tell when you look at their user guides; they’re sloppy and almost impossible to read. Offer to write a style guide for them. Writing a style guide will make you the expert. Look at established style guides online and learn from them. And KNOW tech style and conventions. Don’t reinvent the wheel!

Q: What were the best parts and the biggest challenges?

A: The best parts are obvious: I work from home, set my own hours, and don’t deal with office politics.

The hard parts are finding and keeping clients. As people move to other jobs, retire, etc., you lose your contacts. An email address that works one week might not work the next. It’s a good idea to get to know a few people who are in position to hire freelancers, if that’s possible.

Also, you’ll take five tests for every job you get and keep; it’s a pain. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Again, be pro-active so that people don’t forget about you.

“Style guides! Know how they are put together, how to use them, how to write one. If you’re the first freelance hire with a startup, you’ll be the person putting this together.”

Q: Can you recommend any resources (websites, articles, books, organizations, etc) for people wanting to start freelancing?

A: Search all the online job sites. If you see an organization looking for full-time workers, offer to do freelancing for them.