Renee has worked in the legal industry for more than 15 years. She started editing about 3 years ago.
What led you to start WordSmith Legal, and how does your editing work shape it?
I’ve worked as a lawyer for more than 9 years, and alongside that I’ve built a freelance fiction editing business. While working in both worlds, I kept noticing a gap. Authors have excellent dedicated legal support through organisations like Arts Law and Authors Legal, but editors, proofreaders, designers, illustrators, ghostwriters and small presses often have nowhere industry-specific to turn. WordSmith Legal grew out of that gap. As a result, my editing work shapes everything I do: I understand how a manuscript moves through the publishing process, what a freelance editor’s week actually looks like, and why a vague scope or a one-sided clause can quietly cost you money. That means I can give practical advice based on how publishing really works, not just what’s technically correct.
Why did you want to offer a benefit to IPEd members?
IPEd has been part of my professional life as an editor, and many of the conversations that led to WordSmith Legal started with IPEd members. Like me, editors often run small businesses on their own, and legal help can feel expensive or out of reach. I wanted to make it easier and more affordable for members to get a contract checked before they sign, rather than discovering a problem after the work is done. Offering a member benefit is my way of giving back to a community that has supported me.
What contract issues do you see most often for editors?
The most common issue is an undefined scope. If the contract doesn’t specify the level of edit, how many rounds of revisions, or what happens when the manuscript arrives much longer or messier than expected, scope creep is almost guaranteed. Close behind are payment terms: no deposit, no clear due dates, and no cancellation or kill fee if a project is dropped halfway through. I also regularly see broad indemnity and liability clauses that make an editor responsible for errors in the author’s own content and, more recently, AI-use clauses that are either missing or very one-sided. Each of these is fixable, but only if you notice it before you sign.
What is the most common misconception editors have about copyright?
That payment equals ownership. Many editors assume that once a client pays the invoice, the client owns everything the editor produced. In Australia, that isn’t automatically the case. Copyright in original material that an editor creates as a freelancer, such as a manuscript assessment report, a style sheet or substantial rewritten passages, generally starts with them, and an assignment of copyright must be in writing and signed to be effective. The flip side is just as important: a contract signed by an editor may assign all of that away, sometimes in a single line. Knowing who owns what, and making sure the contract says it clearly, protects both the editor and their client.
What is one tip editors should apply before signing a contract?
Read it the way you would read a manuscript. Slow down, query anything unclear, and check that it’s internally consistent. In particular, look for 4 things: what you’re being asked to do (scope), when and how you’ll be paid, who owns the work, and how either party can end the arrangement. If any of these is missing or doesn’t match what you’ve agreed, ask for a change. Contracts are negotiable, and a reasonable client will expect questions from a professional.
The member benefit
- 15% off WordSmith Legal’s contract templates
- Contract review at a member rate of $350 + GST, for contracts of 10 pages or less
- Members can find the discount code in the members’ area
The templates and legal advice reflect Australian law. Aotearoa New Zealand members can ask about Australian law, and Renee can advise on New Zealand trade mark law.
This interview constitutes general information only, not legal advice. IPEd does not endorse or recommend WordSmith Legal, and is not responsible for its advice or services.
Learn more at wordsmithlegal.com.au.