Paying It Forward: The Mutual Gifts that Come from Supporting Fellow Freelancers
Recently, I shared a meal with a friend and his partner. They were both restaurant workers, he in bottle service and she a server, and while paying I couldn’t help but notice that a) they both carried a lot of cash, and b) tipped generously. I figured that they were likely tipping with their own tips and thought it somewhat of a shame that they were working so hard only to pass those tips on to another service worker right away. But then it occurred to me. My friends were paying what they knew the worker deserved to be tipped, because they themselves know how important that is. They were (literally) paying it forward, knowing the recipient would likely use that tip money to pay their rent, or buy holiday presents, or feed themselves. Their generosity contributes to this sense of coming full circle so that everyone can get by, an admirable give-and-take kind of relationship.
Years later, as I began to edit on a freelance basis, create my website, and develop my business practices, I wanted to drink up as much information as I could from both seasoned and intermediate industry folks. I was sure I’d make lots of mistakes in the first few years of my business (and beyond), and while I knew that was how I’d learn, I still wanted to avoid some pitfalls—if I could.
Finding Editing Resources
Resources were everywhere: articles, books, courses, and more. Some were for people beginning their careers and others for intermediates or seasoned professionals. Some types of content were topical for a current conversation, while others were tech-focused and their usefulness, due to updates and upgrades, had an expiration date. Think updated editions to books or new versions of software. In most cases, though, the content was evergreen, relevant even if it was several years old.
While this list is not exhaustive, here are some categories of resources I’ve had the privilege of benefiting from over the years:
Courses for new skills and services like beta reading and applying conscious language
Conference seminars (both online and in person)
Clubs and organizations, including online communities (such as Slack, Facebook, and Discord groups) and membership associations based around the world
Webinars, where every subject, from time-saving tech tips to burnout prevention, is covered
Downloadables (templates, pdfs, “cheat sheets”, etc.)
Business coaching
Blogs whose writers offer personal anecdotes or insights like what they include in their style sheets
Newsletters, some of which potentially contain job leads
Books on everything from grammar to word origins to selling to clients
Podcasts pertaining to editing, writing, and publishing
Every one of those resources has been applicable to me as a freelance editor, but they can be as nuanced and tailored as their creators. I’ve personally found various resources useful as they relate to editing, running a freelance business, running a freelance business as a Canadian or as someone who is neurodivergent, and so on.
Look Beyond Editing
Editor-specific resources are helpful, but so are resources targeting freelancers in general. This could be areas like figuring out your prices, or templates for onboarding emails, or how to have tough conversations with clients. Learning this stuff can bolster your confidence in how you conduct yourself, something that is so important as a freelancer. As the face of your company, it can be hard to keep a smiling, authoritative presence while internally battling a chronic case of impostor syndrome.
While I paid for my formal training and earned the accreditation to pursue this career, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the kindness of countless independent creators—editors, sensitivity and beta readers, formatters, indexers, designers, agents, publishing professionals, and freelancers—giving their time and expertise.
And it’s not always content they’re compensated for. Many create reels and TikToks, blog posts, podcasts, and templates that don’t require a fee or subscription to access. These act as a little boost of knowledge to those who may not be financially able to spend hundreds of dollars a year on continued professional development in addition to their business and personal expenses.
A side benefit for the creator is that informative extras like blogs and downloadables act as a sort of marketing tool speaking to their main services, giving them credibility as expert professionals as well as a reputation of helpfulness and generosity. There are also often ways to tip the creator, a concept I love, whereby folks can pay the creator what they’re able, and those who can’t needn’t feel obligated to do so.
There’s been much talk in freelancing communities of passive income being a solid way to keep afloat during quieter months. You create the offer or deliverable once and, after consistent marketing efforts, sell it on repeat. Some popular examples include courses or webinars that teach a new skill, or informative books and downloadables. As the resource’s creator, you’re able to update or market the material whenever you feel you need to. Whether or not it becomes what you’d deem a big success, it never hurts to try!
The Great Exchange
After a few years in the editing community, I wanted to give back by delving into the treasure trove of information my peers were contributing, and then sharing their awesome work with other colleagues and how it helped me. It was a great exchange—the investment of my money or time for their invaluable information, and I began to realize why it was so important for the creator who made it. Offering free resources allows the creator to give back to the community, and to impart their knowledge to grateful fellow freelancers, while paid resources give them that valued passive income that can allow them to:
Pay their bills
Make a profit during a potentially low-income month due to a rough bout in their personal lives or in finding clients for their main services
Be able to finance courses or resources from other freelancers
Have the financial flexibility to allot time to create free resources
Though contributing to passive income may not be the most conventional method of supporting someone, it does keep money circulating, so that those who need to keep it can and those who want to gain new skills and information can pass it along. Like with tipping in the restaurant industry, sustaining fellow colleagues by investing in their knowledge, offering your experience and mentorship with advice in platform comments, or by crafting and distributing free resources yourself are all means of holding one another up in a very valuable way.
Meaghan Steeves is a copy editor and writer based in Nova Scotia. She loves her small dog and spends her free time reading, baking, and watching true crime documentaries. You can find her on her website or on Instagram at @choicewordsedit.
