Job Discussion Forums

[Tek]

Hey everybody,

I've been in Taipei for about six months. I am teaching kids right now, just getting my feet wet. I was looking for some editing work. I edited travel brochures when I was in Europe and found that I enjoy the work. Could someone point me in the right direction in finding some work. I'm not sure where to the best place to start is. There really isn't anything in the Taipei Times or China Post. Thanks in advance for your help. -Tek

[MomCat]

Hello Tek,

Some of the adult cram schools offer editing to businesses (David's is one), unfortunately editing work pays at the lowest notch.

This thread has advice on getting work on your own: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=43654

Good luck,
Cat

[dvasas]

You can try www.myu.com.tw

Hope this helps.

[jotham]

[jotham]

[tedkarma]

I got a lot of editing work from my adult private students. One in particular was a pharmaceutical salesman and needed to do favors for his clients (doctors) who were writing papers to further their careers.

The work is out there, but the better parts of it, I think, depend on connections. I was lucky enough to have him fax the papers to me, I would proof them and fax them back. Far easier to use email - but you do what you customer wants/needs.

[SanChong]

I'd definitely agree that it's about making the proper connections with the right people. Editing work isn't very often advertised in a traditional way. It's passed on from friend to friend and through connections.

So, the best way to look for good editing work is to keep meeting people and letting them know what you are looking for. Good, old fashioned networking!

[Welshguy]

You can do well out of editing and commercial writing, salaries of NT 150000 are out there.

Biggest demand is for you technical types writing how to use manuals etc.
Legal services and broking are also good fields (my degree is in law) and editing legal documents etc is well paid.

Writing MBA application essays. Last one I did netted me a �1050 in cash.
The guy who worked for the Taiwanese Govt still reckons I played a big part in getting him into Harvard (well one dosent like to boast but....)

Editing student essays. The wealthier and lazier members of the student fraternity dont mind parting with NT$750 an hour for the service.

Resume writing.

Academic editing.

Davids service - lest said soonest mended.

Public authorities - can also be a good one.

Hooking up with web designers as copywriter or similar, its a big boost when they know the english part of their english language website is done by a native speaker.

So, why am I telling YOU all this

I dont live in Taiwan any more so you're not competition!!!!

Best of luck

W

ps Beware potential clients who ask you to complete a small part of a project as a skill sample. You will get 10% of a peice of work, so off you go and do it and nine other people do the same so they get the peice for free, it looks like its been written by ten different people as well but that dosent seem to bother them in the least. Also with very small jobs you often find that the sample is ALL of the job, needless to say you never hear a word again and certainly never see a dollar for your efforts.

[KaiFeng]

I love everything Welshguy says. He's been serious about this and has made serious money. Momcat generously refers to some of my posts which cover how I did the same thing.

I'd like to build on one thing Welshguy says at the end: "I dont live in Taiwan any more so you're not competition!!!! "

I'm hoping to come back to Taiwan and restart my practice once the kids are out of college, and already have a plan for re-establishing myself in the local market. And to be honest, I'd like to see you guys all charging a lot more than you are, because the more of you out there are racking in big bucks, the easier it will be for me to charge a lot "just like everyone else does".

So, please take Welshguy's comments to heart, and get out there!