Are you interested in joining the Black Editors & Proofreaders co-op directory?
Are you a skilled, experienced editor or proofreader who takes pride in delivering high-quality work with professionalism and integrity? If so, we invite you to apply to join the Black Editors & Proofreaders (BEP) directory—a vetted co-op of editorial professionals committed to excellence in service, craft, and conduct.
This is not a beginner directory. We are looking for editors who can confidently demonstrate their ability to edit at a professional level. That means you must have strong editing skills—not just a love of reading or writing. If you’re unsure what kind of editing you’re qualified to do (developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, or proofreading), or you’ve never worked with publishing clients or freelance editorial projects before, you may not be ready to join just yet.
- Have verifiable editorial experience—whether freelance, in-house, or through your own business
- Be skilled in at least one area of editing (developmental, line, copyediting, or proofreading)
- Personally perform all client work listed under your profile. BEP editors may work collaboratively with or refer work to other editors within a shared business structure, provided every editor performing client work holds an active, approved BEP listing. Work may not be delegated to or fulfilled by anyone outside the BEP directory under any circumstances.
- Respond to client inquiries promptly and maintain clear, consistent communication throughout the project
- Meet deadlines and honor quoted rates
- Uphold strict confidentiality standards for all client materials
- Operate as a registered business or sole proprietor providing editorial services, or be actively in the process of formalizing your business. Editors who operate within a shared business structure under another BEP-listed editor's firm are eligible to apply, provided they meet all other qualifications independently and maintain their own active BEP listing.
Our Listings Represent Individual Editors, Not Teams
Every editor listed in the Black Editors & Proofreaders directory is an independent professional who personally performs all services offered under their listing. We do not list agencies, collectives, or editorial businesses that employ, subcontract, or otherwise delegate client work to other people.
This policy exists because our clients come to BEP expecting a direct, accountable relationship with the editor they hire. When work is outsourced or handed off without a client’s knowledge, it undermines that trust and misrepresents what BEP stands for.
We take this seriously. Editors found to be operating outside this standard are removed from the directory, regardless of the quality of their own work. If your business has grown to include a team, we wish you well in that growth; BEP is simply not the right fit for that model.
If this sounds like you—
and you’re confident in your editing ability—we’d love to consider your application.
Note: We do not accept applications from so-called “one-stop-shop” editors who attempt to provide every type of editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing service under one roof. BEP is an editorial directory, and we prioritize editors who have depth of skill in their specific area of expertise.
Current Openings
- Developmental, substantive, and line editing (fiction and nonfiction)
- Beta reading and manuscript analysis
- Book coaching and editorial consulting
If this sounds like your zone of expertise—and you meet the qualifications—we encourage you to apply.
Basic Requirements
To apply, editors and proofreaders must (at a minimum):
- have a valid business entity certificate in the name of your editorial services firm, whether LLC, DBA, or other legal entity (a Tax/EIN is a plus)
- have a website dedicated to your editorial services business, or a clearly defined editorial services page on a related business site such as a writing or communications company
- be the primary operator of your editorial business or operate under a shared structure with another BEP-listed editor. BEP does not list editors who are members of agencies, studios, or editorial teams outside the directory. All editors performing work under a BEP listing must hold their own individually approved profile. m
- have demonstrated experience in every genre or service area listed in your profile
- personally perform all services listed on your profile. BEP does not permit client work to be fulfilled by anyone who has not been independently vetted and approved for their own active BEP listing. Collaboration within the directory is permitted; subcontracting outside of it is not.
Editors listed under a shared business structure or another BEP editor’s firm should be aware that their listing is contingent on that business relationship remaining active. If you separate from the firm or editor under which you were listed, your BEP listing will be removed and your listing fee will not be refunded. You are welcome to reapply as an independent editor provided you meet all standard requirements at the time of reapplication.
Additional terms apply. Book editors must demonstrate experience with at least four (4) published books. Book coaches and developmental/substantive editors are required to provide three professional references from published projects that include contact name, dates of project, name of project, publication date, and details of work performed.
📊 Directory Reach & Visibility
BlackEditorsProofreaders.com ranks prominently in organic search engine results for key terms such as “Black editors,” “Black proofreaders,” and “African American freelance editors.” This high visibility ensures that clients searching for skilled Black editorial professionals can easily find our directory and, by extension, your profile.
Our directory is also featured in several respected industry resources, including Editors of Color, UNCF.org, KOK’s Copyeditors Knowledge Base, and Black Girls Who Write, enhancing our network’s credibility and reach.
With a robust backlink profile, including nearly 600 backlinks and 187 referring domains, our online presence continues to grow, driving consistent traffic to the site.
Being listed in our SEO-optimized directory increases your visibility to potential clients more effectively than relying solely on an independent website.
Cost
The cost to be listed in the directory is $75 for the first year, plus a one-time $20 setup fee. Renewal for subsequent years will be at the then-current rate.