FREELANCE EDITOR & GHOST WRITER, NONFICTION BOOKS
Grammar Factory Publishing (Remote Working)
Do you have a passionate opinion on the use of the Oxford comma? Can you not help but critique (respectfully, of course) the structure of every book you read? Do you frequently annoy even yourself by your nitpicky attention to grammatical detail?
Yes? That’s great news, because we’re hiring…
At Grammar Factory, we help small business owners write and publish books that grow their business and establish them as trusted thought leaders in their field. Our clients are forward-thinking experts with fresh ideas to share, but they’re not professional writers. And that’s just fine, because that’s where you shine.
Since 2013, we’ve worked with more than 300 entrepreneurs across four continents, ensuring the editorial and design excellence needed to publish nonfiction books that deliver business results.
People who join our editorial team love autonomy and flexibility. And they’re passionate about using their exceptional writing and editing skills to help entrepreneurs communicate their message effectively to make an impact through their business.
We work 100% remotely. So, if you have a computer, Microsoft Word, and a reliable, high-speed internet connection, then you’ve got the infrastructure required to join the team and work from anywhere in the world.
In your role, you’ll report to Grammar Factory’s Managing Editor, while interacting with other project team members in our publishing, design, and editorial teams.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll be the primary editorial contact for authors, helping to re-shape their book from a first-draft Word document into a well-structured, well-written, engaging manuscript that delivers the intended reader outcome and is publish-ready.
On nearly every project, your responsibilities will require you to:
- Consult with clients to find out their goals and priorities.
- Edit nonfiction books for structure, content, and language.
- Explain the reasoning behind editorial changes.
- Make detailed suggestions for new content clients should add to their books.
- Create or provide input into related copy, like back cover blurbs, book website copy, social media content, and the like.
And on some projects, you must be prepared to:
- Demolish the entire structure of a poorly constructed book and rebuild it better and stronger.
- Fearlessly slash paragraph after paragraph of repetitive, irrelevant content.
- Painstakingly rewrite dozens and dozens of badly formed sentences.
- Creatively imagine large swathes of missing content and provide clients with a roadmap to creating it.
- Hold your client’s hand as you walk them through the arcane process of creating their first book.
We hope that didn’t scare you off, but the truth is that most of our clients are not writers – they’re entrepreneurs who happen to be writing a book. This means their books may need aggressive, interventionist editing that borders on ghostwriting. PLUS they need a lot of guidance and hand holding when it comes to the editing process – more so than the typical ‘professional writer’ author.
What will make you great in this role
Being successful in this role comes from being an enthusiastic team member who demonstrates:
- Writerly experience with long-form nonfiction – you can rewrite an individual paragraph while staying tuned in to the big picture idea.
- Editorial excellence at the core of your craft.
- Accountability for meeting deadlines and communicating problems early.
- Honest candour in feedback to clients – they depend on us to tell it straight.
- Sensitivity in how feedback is given to clients, so the experience feels positive.
What we’re looking for
- Cred. Degree in a writing/editing related discipline, such as writing, journalism, or English.
- Experience. Ideally, you have written a book before and know how to maintain pace and build a narrative over hundreds of pages.
- Expertise. With structural editing, copyediting, and proofreading of long-form nonfiction.
- Attention to detail. Rarely let things fall through the cracks or drop the ball – pick up on mixed metaphors, for example.
- Communication. Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Accountability. Ability to self-manage, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Your own ‘kit’. Own computer and internet access, and advanced skills with Microsoft Word.
- Systems thinker. Values, thrives, and contributes to an environment where process supports creativity and excellence.
If this sounds like you, please complete and submit the form below and we’ll start the ball rolling.