Accidental Freelancer

Test Taking Tips for Editors

2011-02-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

My test-taking anxiety began in elementary school. I could study until the cows came home, know the material cold, and still flunk the test the next day. But as a freelance editor, I’m regularly asked to take editing tests.

I’ve searched online and offline for strategies freelancers can use on these tests, and I‘ve even suggested test-taking classes to editing instructors. Media Bistro offers a class for taking editing tests, and Karen Judd discusses test-taking strategies in Copyediting: A Practical Guide. She advises, “look at an editing test as an open-book test. If you don’t know the answer, use the resources you have on your shelf and find it.” That pointer was eye-opening for me, because I’d been approaching every test the way I would a final exam.

However, I didn’t find much information otherwise, so I asked members of CopyeditingL. The list is maintained by Indiana University “for copy editors and other defenders of the English language who want to discuss anything related to editing.” Four members of the list responded to my query.

Michael Trudeau, copyeditor, proofreader, and owner of Belle Étoile Studios (www.belleetoilestudios.com) was one of the first CE-L members to respond to my query. He suggests:
•Editors should “figure out the client’s rates and pay schedule before taking a test.” He added, “I’ve taken long tests only to discover later that the client pays four months after invoice. What a waste of time.”
•“The fewer questions an unknown freelancer asks an overburdened editor the better. Instead, see if you can answer as many questions about the publisher’s style on your own.” For him, “this means going to the publisher’s website and browsing its titles and going to Amazon to ‘look inside’ its titles.” He said he did this recently and added, “The publisher’s house style guide was not comprehensive, but I found out what I needed to know by browsing through four of its titles on Amazon. The publisher has already sent me a project.”

Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, freelance writer/editor and author of “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer”, and co-owner of Communication Central, suggests:
•Ask the prospective client which style guide they follow. If they don’t have one, tell them which you prefer to use.
•Ask if the test material has already been published. The ideal is to edit published material, not be conned into a free edit of new material.
•Put the test aside for at least a few hours, and review it one more time before sending it back.

Hilary Powers, freelance copyeditor, developmental editor, and author of “Making Word Work for You”, and who can be reached via her website at www.SalamanderFeltworks.com or via e-mail at hilary@powersedit.com suggests:
•Ask the test sponsor any questions you’d ask a client about the requirements of a live job, but: “Refrain from asking, ‘You don’t really publish crap like this, do you?’”
•Put in queries to the test reviewer explaining judgment calls you’ve made.
•Check, check, and recheck. Then check it again. An hour a page is not unreasonable.
•Use all your automated tools, including spell-check, if it’s an electronic test.

Sally Noonan at sallynoonan@gmail.com suggests:
•While taking the test, note additions to or deviations from the house style. Prepare a style sheet if the house doesn’t have one.
•Choose your mode of attack: step by step; numerous passes, correcting and commenting on certain changes with each pass; or one pass, making all corrections or comments in each sentence or paragraph before moving on to the next.

During a recent test, I read every instruction three times. I checked every mark and suggestion at least three times, proofed my comments, and later read the material from back to front for a fresh perspective. My spelling- and grammar-check actually found a few misspellings for me, too. And I must say that leaving comments on some changes added a lot to my confidence. It forced me to behave as the authority instead of the newbie. Now I approach editing tests without fear.

Before agreeing to take an editing test, check out the company, and find out whether it publishes the types of books you’d read for pleasure. Think of editing tests as just one a step in the process of hiring a new client. Don’t contact the company or agree to take an editing test when you think your freelancing career is spiraling downward or you are otherwise stressed out or lacking in confidence.

Allison's Take On Finding Your Niche

2011-02-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

Allison Parker wrote a blog post on the thoughts she had while being interviewed for her part of my Finding Your Niche series. You can read her thoughts at:

http://www.acparker.com/blog/posts/finding-your-niche/

Finding Your Niche, Part Three

2011-02-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

In the first part of my Finding Your Niche series, Laura Poole, founder of Archer Editorial Services (www.archereditorial.com) and co-founder of Editorial Bootcamp (www.editorialbootcamp.com), answered my questions. Laura has more than 15 years' experience in the publishing industry, specializing in scholarly nonfiction for such clients as Oxford University Press and Duke University Press. On Twitter, she is @lepoole. In the second part of this series, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, ELS, answered my questions. Katharine is a medical editor with a specialty in editing manuscripts written by non-native speakers of English. Her editing has helped researchers in 20-plus nations get published in more than 30 medical journals. She is also creator and curator of the Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base, which is housed within her Web site, at www.kokedit.com. On Twitter, she is @KOKEdit. Both presented interesting perspectives and great answers to my questions. In the third part of the series, Allison Parker answers my questions. Allison is a published writer and freelance editor for literary, academic, and culinary audiences. Her editorial projects of the moment include development of an economics impact book, copyediting a short-fiction anthology, and coaching writers one-on-one in their craft. She also serves as managing editor of the James Beard award-winning Web site Leite's Culinaria, where she is a contributing writer as well. Allison's most frequent writing themes include ethnicity, parenthood, and culinary topics. You can discover more about her publishing-industry experience at www.acparker.com. On Twitter, she is @acparker.

Hi, Allison. Thank you for agreeing to answer these questions and continuing our conversation about finding your niche. I really appreciate it. Even after the first two parts of this series, this subject continues to fascinate me. Everyone wants specific answers on what he or she needs to do to find his or her specialty, their niche, even if those specific answers don’t exist. You’ll be providing another way of looking at the subject.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. What’s your background?

Professionally speaking, my career began in marketing and public relations, which is where I started looking for work not long after graduating from Bard College with a B.A. in Language and Literature (and after a detour through a year of law school that's best forgotten). I began at a start-up "boutique" agency, as a PR intern, and eventually joined Edelman PR in Chicago, which was a great experience. From there, I moved to the marketing department of the Chicago Sun-Times. In each place, I was very fortunate to have generous mentors—that's an important theme throughout my career—people who encouraged me to pursue my interest in writing and editing. While still working at the Sun-Times, I got involved on a volunteer basis with a literary magazine. I worked incessantly, became a fiction editor for the magazine and eventually their production manager—all still in my "spare" time. That was back in 1995, and it became the springboard for all that followed, including the genesis of my freelance career.

2. How long have you been freelancing? What made you decide to freelance?

If I measure the time I've been working exclusively on a freelance basis (no W2 wages), that’s ten years now. Since early 2001. I did attempt freelancing once before, before I found my job at the Sun-Times, but that was a mistake. I was too young, too inexperienced to compete with freelancers who'd been doing it a lot longer. I didn't have enough connections, for one thing, and it was really tough to get jobs without a track record. In 2001, I had a lot more going for me. I had more on-the-job experience, plus by then I'd gone back to school for an M.F.A. in fiction. I knew a lot more people. My family situation also changed. I was engaged, and being part of a dual-income household made the financial instability of freelancing a lot easier to cope with. I wanted more flexibility in my schedule to pursue my own writing, and freelancing also created the foundation for that eventual balancing act between career and full-time parenthood.

3. A niche is defined by MW as, “a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted, a specialized market.” How many years did you freelance before you decided on a specialty, before you found or decided on your niche?

Well, it really wasn't that clearly marked for me. There wasn't one moment when I decided to specialize in either a task or a segment of industry. It just happened over time, mostly without my directing it—with one very recent exception (an additional niche; more on that below). Basically, I just knew my strong points, knew what skills I could sell—but out of necessity, I also took whatever jobs came my way. Almost all the jobs were book-length copyediting gigs, either for short-fiction collections or for academic monographs, and then developmental editing followed. One thing led to another. So, in one sense, the finding of my niche in the editorial world has been an ongoing, ten-year process. But you could also say the opposite: that my niches found me from the start.

4. What is your niche?

I consider myself to have several. I think a particular skill set can be a niche—for me, that means both copyediting and developmental editing, the latter being my more recent focus—as can the application of skills to a specific type of content. Content-wise, I focus on three areas: literary (mostly fiction), culinary, and academic (humanities and economics).

5. How long have you been freelancing in this particular area?

I have edited literary and academic titles on a freelance basis for ten years—as a copy editor since the beginning and as a developmental editor for the past three years or so. My work as a writer and editor in the culinary field is new, just within the past year, but it's taken off quite rapidly. This is the niche I went after deliberately, the one I've been much more proactive about.

6. What made you settle on this area?

Well, I've always been drawn to literature—to novels and also to academically rigorous subjects such as philosophy—and I think that my natural interests, skills, and my education all prepared me well to work in these areas. When the work came in, I found that I loved it, and the thought never occurred to me that this would not be something I'd develop as an expertise. As for the culinary focus, that's been a longtime passion, and when the recession hit, I felt the time was right to go after it. I had a dip in workload right around the time that I met some people in the food-writing world, so I began calculating how and where I could make my experience valuable in this industry that was new to me, professionally speaking.

7. Is it okay to have more than one niche?

Absolutely! In fact, I'd say that it's more than OK—it's desirable. Even the most experienced freelancers are not without their dry spells, and when you have more than one area of expertise, you have additional options to draw on for income. I think you want to guard against spreading yourself too thin—and your combination of niches has to make sense in terms of who you are, in terms of a story you will tell about yourself and your career. You don't want to end up sounding like "Jack of all trades, master of none." At some point, people stop believing you could possibly do that many things in a specialized (and high-quality) way, and they're probably right to some extent. I feel like I’m at my limit now, when I promote myself with three niches. But it's working for me.

8. What do new freelancers need to know about finding their niche? What do they need to consider?

The wisdom I have to offer isn't specific to finding a niche. It's sound practice for any stage of your career—or for life in general. First: do good work (that's obvious), and do it because you have a genuine interest. No matter how much you imagine yourself specializing in a certain area, it's probably not going to happen for you if you aren't fully engaged and curious, or if you are unable to sustain your interest over time. Second, you have to be confident and also humble when you're on a quest—remember, if you're just starting out or just entering a niche, you have a lot to learn no matter how many years of freelancing you've got under your belt. And you still have to convince someone that you have what it takes. I'm not sure it's much different whether you're talking about a new niche or just a new piece of business. It takes sweat and moxie. Finally, it's critical to build and maintain quality relationships with all sorts of people if you want to make things happen. Find out how to connect with people who are already in a niche you are considering. Ask lots of questions.

9. How soon should freelancers begin looking for their niche?

I don’t think there's any one rule for this. It depends on a lot of factors: the marketplace, the amount of experience you have. I think when you're young or just starting out, it makes sense to generalize, just to get more projects and references, to open as many doors as possible, and to give yourself the chance to explore. But for every person who takes this approach, there's probably someone who decides to work in a certain area right away and goes full steam ahead from the start, and they're successful that way.

10. Is it important to establish yourself as a freelancer first, to get some clients, or should you jump right into a certain area? What is the better way to go? Why?

I think I pretty much answered this already, the answer being: there is no one "better" way to go. What's right for one person won't necessarily work best for someone else. A person with a well-rounded liberal arts education might do better as a general practitioner first, while someone with highly specialized training (a technology focus, for instance, or an advanced degree in one of the sciences) can more easily sell their services in a niche market right away. Either way, I think it is important to just get out there and bring in business, to learn how to market yourself and see how you feel about a freelance life in general.

11. What should freelancers know about themselves? For instance, I have been freelancing four years now and I still don’t know what my niche is. What do I need to think about?

Know what motivates you, what excites you. Ask yourself: where's your passion? The proliferation of blogs and online businesses has proven beyond a doubt that you can plant a stake in the ground anywhere and make something grow. But maybe this is a good time to clarify that I think it's perfectly fine to not have a niche, too. Some people's "niche" is really just their skill set, and they apply it broadly. Consider this, too: there's that saying about variety being the spice of life, and for a freelancer, I think that's particularly true. Do you crave variety? Maybe a niche is not really the way to go. Maybe you need to ask whether you really are fired up enough about something to make it your exclusive focus. For that, you need passion. You need to find the thing that, when you do it, you lose yourself in it; time flies by because you're fully immersed. If you don't have that kind of interest in something specific, maybe looking for a niche is not really for you.

12. After you’ve established a niche, is it okay to change niches? Would it be better to add to your niche, or should you settle on one area? Why?

Again, I think it's OK to change, definitely. But you have to be insightful about it, purposeful. And you have to realize that there will probably be tradeoffs—there's a certain amount of starting over involved, just to gain a foothold in something new. Are you ready for that psychologically, financially? It's like people changing careers. It's done all the time, and brilliantly. In fact, I love it when people make changes, if they're smart about it. You have to know what's motivating you. If you're making changes only because you want to escape from the old, rather than having a strong drive that compels you toward something new, then I worry. Or if you change too often, that just seems flighty or flaky. I think the best way is to transition. Find a way to do both for a while—old and new—and then see what you can make happen. Maybe you'll want to give up the old niche, or maybe you'll gain more appreciation for it and decide the new one wasn't as interesting to you as you'd imagined.

13. Is there anything you want to add? Have I forgotten an important aspect?

I don't think so. Your questions are all great. It's wonderful that you're thinking deeply about this issue—and that you got me thinking, too!

14. Final words?

Only that I wish you the best of luck on your journey—you and everyone else who reads this. Whether you feel you've found your niche or not (and whether or not you even need a niche) I hope your work brings you deep satisfaction.

I hope you have enjoyed this series and these three conversations as much as I have. As you can see, there is no single answer to my questions. I also hope that these three talented and fascinating women have inspired you think about your niche and the journey you’ll need to take in order to find it. If nothing else, I’m sure that this series will spark a conversation.

Finding Your Niche, Part Two

2011-01-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

In the first part of my Finding Your Niche series, Laura Poole, founder of Archer Editorial Services (www.archereditorial.com) and co-founder of Editorial Bootcamp (www.editorialbootcamp.com), answered the thirteen questions I asked three editors about finding your niche. She presented an interesting perspective and provided great answers to my questions. In this post, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, ELS, answers the same questions. Katharine has been in publishing for 27 years, the first 11 as a production editor for various publishers, and since then as a full-time freelance copyeditor. She is a medical editor with a specialty in editing manuscripts written by non-native speakers of English. Her editing has helped researchers in 20-plus nations get published in more than 30 medical journals. She is also creator and curator of the Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base, which is housed within her Web site, at www.kokedit.com. On Twitter, she is @KOKEdit.

Hi, Katharine. Thank you for agreeing to answer these questions and continuing our conversation about finding your niche. I really appreciate it. Even after the first part of this series, this subject continues to fascinate me. Everyone wants specific answers on what he or she needs to do to find his or her specialty, their niche, even if those specific answers don’t exist. You’ll be providing another way of looking at the subject.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. What’s your background?

I’ve pretty much always been in some area of publishing. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and my first professional job was as a newspaper reporter in Texas. From there, I went on to work in-house for a small niche publisher in Colorado, then for a very large mainstream trade publisher in New York, then for a small medical publisher in New York, and then finally I became a freelancer.

2. How long have you been freelancing? What made you decide to freelance?

I’ve been freelancing full time since early January 1995, two weeks after my second child was born. I have three children, now 27 (a daughter), 16 (a son), and 9 years old (a son). I spent all of my daughter’s early years commuting to work for publishers, 1.5 hours each way by train to Manhattan. I missed her so much—and wasn’t the one who was there when she reached a lot of developmental milestones—so I decided that once my first son was born, I would try freelancing so that I could be more available to him than I was to my daughter. Though there were plenty of crazy-making days as he was growing up, it worked so well that I continued freelancing full time when my second son was born several years later. I have fond memories of breastfeeding baby boys while editing and of taking breaks from work to cuddle toddler boys and read stories to preschooler boys. I’m still freelancing full time as they are moving more and more out into the world, and it’s wonderful to be available to ask them, when they come home from school, how their day went. What made me decide to freelance? Hugs and kisses from sweet children.

3. A niche is defined by MW as “a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted , a specialized market.” How many years did you freelance before you decided on a specialty, before you found or decided on your niche?

When I first started freelancing in 1995, most of my work was for mainstream trade publishers and university presses, editing manuscripts for novels and for biographies; books for the general public on health and on travel; and books on business, music therapy, psychology, literary criticism, the environment, etiquette, and lots more.

But some of my work was for medical publishers, editing journal articles and textbook manuscripts. That portion of my work grew, I think mostly because I always gravitate toward better-paying clients, but also because I find medicine fascinating. By about 2006, most of my work was medical editing.

4. What is your niche?

I am a medical copyeditor, working both with publishers and directly with authors. I specialize in substantive editing of medical-journal articles for non-native speakers of English.

5. How long have you been freelancing in this particular area?

I’ve always done some of it, but 2005 was when I began doing a lot more of it.

6. What made you settle on this area?

ESL (English as a second language) medical editing is like solving a puzzle: What did the author mean to say? It’s highly intellectually stimulating. It’s very satisfying when an author tells me that his or her article has been accepted for publication after I edited it, and I’m constantly learning about the latest advances in medicine.

7. Is it okay to have more than one niche?

Sure! I had two for years: editing mainstream books for the general public and medical editing. It kept my brain sharp.

8. What do new freelancers need to know about finding their niche? What do they need to consider?

No matter how lucrative a particular niche may seem to you, if the subject matter is something you dislike working with or are bored by, you and that niche won’t be a good match. If your niche concerns material you enjoy and are passionate about, you will want to keep learning and will do a much better job.

9. How soon should freelancers begin looking for their niche?

It’s important first to ensure that your skills are at the level necessary for you to do great work, so pay your dues first through continuing education and accepting every reasonable project offered. Plus, it takes time to realize what your passion is, so try a lot of subject matters.

10. Is it important to establish yourself as a freelancer first, to get some clients, or should you jump right into a certain area? What is the better way to go? Why?

Yes, do establish yourself as a freelancer first. If you jump into a certain area before you have much experience, you may find yourself “typecast,” working on subject matters that you don’t really love.

11. What should freelancers know about themselves? For instance, I have been freelancing four years now and I still don’t know what my niche is. What do I need to think about?

Not everyone needs a specific niche. Some people are good generalists, and that’s fine. Your niche, if you’re going to have one, will probably sneak up on you over months and years.

12. After you’ve established a niche, is it okay to change niches? Would it be better to add to your niche, or should you settle on one area? Why?

Sure, you can change niches, but you’re going to have to work hard to get the attention of clients in your new niche and convince them that you’re capable of great work in more than one area. Don’t drop your current niche while you’re building up skills and experience in a new one.

13. Is there anything you want to add? Have I forgotten an important aspect?

Always, always keep learning. To be an editorial freelancer is to be always searching for new subject-matter knowledge and for new ways to work better and faster and smarter. Don’t keep doing things the same old way just because that’s how you’ve always done them. Periodically analyze your workflow and client-seeking processes, and always be open to new ways of doing things. Don’t cheap out on office equipment, including reference works and software, or on your continuing education. (For example, in 2008, I took the rigorous certification exam offered by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences. I wanted that certification to show my medical-editing clients that they are getting a well-trained editor. That “ELS” after my name indicates that I am a board-certified editor in the life sciences.) And network, network, network. That’s vital for learning about and moving into a new niche.

Allison Parker answers these questions in Finding Your Niche, Part Three

The Career Leap from Proofreader to Editor

2011-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

The following is a guest blog post I wrote for Sharikah Dawud. You can find that post at http://deliberateink.com/the-career-leap-from-proofreader-to-editor

Welcome Cassie Armstrong of Morningstar Editing, a self-styled “newbie” copyeditor who has had the wisdom, generosity, and humility to chronicle her career leap into copyediting. She also provides more resources than I thought it was possible to cram into so few words! Aspiring freelance copyeditors: read, click, and learn. Your career is limited only by how hard you’re willing to work for it.

If you visit my website, you’ll see I offer proofreading, fact checking, copyediting, and manuscript evaluations. From the very beginning, though, I focused on proofreading. For the past four years, I presented myself as a proofreader and marketed myself that way. I thought I was a proofreader because I was able to get proofreading projects, and as I got my foot in the door, I was happy to be identified with any aspect of editing. At first I even assumed proofreading and copyediting were the same.

It’s nice to discover after all this time that I do indeed have the characteristics of a proofreader, personally and professionally. I pay attention to detail, love reading every word of every manuscript, and notice typos, spelling errors, and inconsistencies. Up until I took a proofreading class a year ago, everything I knew came from on-the-job training, other proofreaders and editors, and books.

I also learned that proofreading and copyediting play in different stadiums. And I decided to pursue copyediting. So I researched books, websites, people, and groups to help me make the decision and the leap in my career.

A copyediting class from Media Bistro filled in many blanks, and its self-paced format was perfect for me. Media Bistro offers several other editing and copyediting classes for reasonable fees. The Editorial Freelancer’s Association (EFA)--which I joined--offers an online Copyediting I & II combo, among others. Editorium and McMurry, Inc.’s Copyediting offer classes, too. Several universities also offer editing classes, and even certificates.

I read Copyediting: A Practical Guide by Karen Judd, The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications by Amy Einsohn, and The Subversive Copy Editor by Carol Fisher Saller. The last is worth the price if only for the detailed reading list at the end. All three are fantastic resources, filled with tips and examples. By the end of The Subversive Copy Editor, I knew I wanted to be a copyeditor, but I also knew that wanting to wasn’t enough to make me one.

Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, long-time freelance editor at KOK Edit, is my mentor. She has presented and discussed resources, opportunities, and possibilities for copyediting careers in her book, Getting Started As A Freelance Copyeditor, and her Copyeditor’s Knowledge Base is a repository of excellent resources.

Next, I did a lot of online networking. Besides the EFA, I also joined the lively Copyediting-Listserv ( “for copy editors and other defenders of the English language who want to discuss anything related to editing”), and the regional Bay Area Editors Forum and Rocky Mountain Publishing Professionals Guild. I also opened accounts on Twitter and LinkedIn, where I’ve connected with many copyeditors, managing editors, writers, project editors, and publishers. Launching and maintaining an active website has gone a long way to helping me make connections, establish, and position myself as well.

Just as I did when I was trying to land my first proofreading client, when I put on my copyediting hat I examined my favorite books, interests, and hobbies so I can market to those types of publishers. I make lists and visit bookstores looking for publishers of interest, noting which genres I gravitate to and the books that catch my eye. I read The Literary Marketplace and Writer’s Market at the library as if they’re bestsellers. Both are invaluable and provide excellent information about publishers.

Online, John Kremer’s Bookmarket does a great job of listing publishers in different genres, and Publishers Weekly and newsletters from Media Bistro are regulars in my e-mail. I google and visit publisher websites, and follow several on Twitter. I consider it treasure hunting, and time flies.

While it’s a cliché, I think a career in editing—and any other field—really is all about the journey, not the destination. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but right now, for me at least, the only way is up.

Finding Your Niche, Part One

2011-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone dreams of working in a profession where going to work every day is a joy, not a drudgery. Editors are no exception. Like teachers, doctors, and writers, editors often specialize in one area. That specialization comes after an editor has proven herself as dependable and competent and has made a name for herself. Establishing yourself as an editor takes time. Finding your specialization might take even longer. After four years, I’m not at the specialization stage. I’m still in the proving myself and building my client list phase.

Being a relative newbie hasn’t stopped me from thinking about my specialization or niche. Merriam-Webster defines niche as a place, employment, status or activity for which a person or thing is is best fitted (finally found her niche). I have to admit that at this point, I don’t know what my niche is, but I have given it a great deal of thought. I’ve also had several conversations with editors about finding their niche and read a lot on the subject. Because of the conversations I’ve had with editors, I decided to write a blog entry on finding your niche. That entry grew to three blog entries. There was just too much information for one post.

My next three blog posts are the results of my conversations with three outstanding and well-respected editors, Laura Poole, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, and Allison Parker. All three women specialize in different areas of editing and have different niches. I asked all three the same fourteen questions. Each has an interesting perspective, and each has a lot to say about the topic. I know you’ll learn a lot from the question and answer conversations that follow.

We’ll begin our discussion with Laura Poole. Laura is the founder of Archer Editorial Services (www.archereditorial.com) and co-founder of Editorial Bootcamp (www.editorialbootcamp.com.) She has more than 15 years' experience in the publishing industry, specializing in scholarly nonfiction for such clients as Oxford University Press and Duke University Press.

Hi, Laura. Thank you for agreeing to answer these questions. I really appreciate it. This subject fascinates me, and I know others are as fascinated as I am. Everybody wants to know what he or she needs to do to find his or her specialty, their niche. You’ll be shedding some light on the subject.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. What’s your background?

I’m a lifelong avid reader. I have a bachelor’s degree in English. My last year in college, I did a work-study at Duke University Press, where I was introduced to the world of publishing. I fell in love with it! I learned how to do some desktop publishing in Quark, as well as basic proofreading, and I picked up some freelance work here and there when the internship ended and I had no job lined up. I eventually got a job in desktop publishing for a pharmaceutical training firm. I badgered my way into a promotion to Assistant Medical Editor. I kept doing freelance on the side, and eventually quit my job to pursue that full-time.

2. How long have you been freelancing? What made you decide to freelance?

I quit my job in May 1997, and I was freelancing on the side before that, starting in 1995, so... 15 years and counting!

3. A niche is defined by MW as, “a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted , a specialized market.” How many years did you freelance before you decided on a specialty, before you found or decided on your niche?

I began my business in 1997 by deciding I wanted to specialize in copyediting only. I already knew I would only do nonfiction. I still did proofreading, and occasionally desktop publishing when necessary, but I started going after only copyediting jobs. I developed a few niches depending on the clients I had: computer books, travel books, and some medical/pharma stuff. After 4 years or so, I decided to STOP doing the computer books, because (1) I didn’t like them, (2) some of them were beyond me, and (3) it was not my best work. This resulted in me “firing” two clients.

In the past 10 years or so, my business evolved naturally into doing more and more difficult work, to where I almost exclusively edit for university presses and scholarly publishers, so I call my niche “scholarly nonfiction.” This is the most prestigious level of editing and publishing, and the work can be very difficult. I definitely would NOT have been ready for this right off the bat! But now I am, and I’m good at it. I have “topic specialties” here in medical/pharma (again), anything with math in it (variety of textbooks, economics, statistics, more), and “tricky projects” (as one project editor says).

4. What is your niche?

Scholarly nonfiction

5. How long have you been freelancing in this particular area?

Hmm, including ramp-up time to get to this level, about 10 years or a little more.

6. What made you settle on this area?

1)The pay is very good for a good editor.(2)I like the challenge.(3)I’m good at it, and that’s incredibly satisfying.(4)My clients (publishers) pay well and trust me.

7. Is it okay to have more than one niche?

Yes, I think so—as broad a niche as “nonfiction” has really served me. I have several “topic specialties” within nonfiction that makes me appealing to certain publishers. I’ve not heard any complaints on this, and I like having at least a little variety in topics.

8. What do new freelancers need to know about finding their niche? What do they need to consider?

Be open to the evolution of your work. For instance, my “math” specialty really surprised me. I have a humanities and a science background, but never really cared for math. However, I am not intimidated by it, and I somehow can just “read” it like text. My clients have been quite happy with it, and I have been surprised and pleased. This niche, although not developed or nurtured by me, presented itself within the evolution of my business.

Also, be ready to cut out the kind of work that isn’t your best. When I decided not to do computer books, that was a difficult decision—it was sort of easy money for me, but I didn’t enjoy it, and I didn’t always feel like I did a good job. Cutting out this work paid off, in the long run, though one client was very sorry to see me go. I was then able to focus more on the kind of work I wanted to do, and I had more time for it because of that. I’ve done a similar thing by no longer working for a vanity press (just couldn’t stand the bad writing!).
It may seem that you would get more business doing “everything,” but you actually get more work (and more respect) if you specialize a bit.

9. How soon should freelancers begin looking for their niche?

As soon as possible. It makes targeting your best clients much easier. Even just deciding if you want to do fiction or nonfiction is a great first step.

10. Is it important to establish yourself as a freelancer first, to get some clients, or should you jump right into a certain area? What is the better way to go? Why?

There are merits to both approaches. Establishing yourself as a freelancer first can be appealing when going after new clients. See what you’re good at, what you enjoy the most—that will help narrow down the kind of work and client to go after. Then, you are already established as a freelancer and can go after some specialty, niche clients. However, there is something to be said for clearly stating your niche and going after ONLY that. It establishes you as serious, credible, focused, and professional, plus you get to do the work you want to do right away.

11. What should freelancers know about themselves? For instance, I have been freelancing four years now and I still don’t know what my niche is. What do I need to think about?

What projects you enjoy working on the most (and least). On what projects you do your best work (and work you’re not proud of). The kinds of projects repeat clients bring to you. Who your ideal client is. The kind of work you want to do and aspire to do. Where you want to be in 5 years. How much you want to charge (more important than you might think for defining a niche!!). Your experience and interests (include hobbies and things you enjoyed studying in school).

12. After you’ve established a niche, is it okay to change niches? Would it be better to add to your niche, or should you settle on one area? Why?

I think it is ok to change niches, but an evolution might work better than an abrupt change (or at least, that’s how I’d approach it). For instance, I do a lot of scholarly books and some textbooks. Say I wanted to get into desk references (encyclopedias, other very large reference volumes on single topics). I would probably have more success moving into this niche by checking my history to see if I’ve already done something like this, perhaps getting a recommendation from the client, and actively seeking more such work—without cutting off my existing work flow. I also might be open to taking a class and just asking for similar projects before I “weed out” anything that doesn’t fit that niche. This gives me time to grow and learn and get my base settled.

I have added to my niche, rather than limiting myself to one area—it keeps it interesting. I have cut out some areas (computer books, vanity press, and I no longer really do travel books, though I miss them). I tend to identify “topic specialties” rather than different niches.

13. Is there anything you want to add? Have I forgotten an important aspect?

Hardly anyone is a “generalist” these days, and it makes you MORE attractive to clients to have some sort of niche, as you can then be seen as an expert or at least experienced in some area. You can really get your foot in the door by having a niche.

You can also have a client niche: not just topic, but the kinds of clients you serve. Generally, I work with large scholarly publishing houses (for a number of reasons), rather than individual authors. This pays off in multiple ways for me: (1) publishers have more money and more work than an individual author will. (2) Publishers talk to each other, and my name gets passed around via word of mouth quite a bit. (3) Publishers really respect my work and won’t argue with it (the way an author sometimes will). (4) Publishers have similar systems for working with freelancers. There are many more reasons, but suffice it to say I’m quite happy with this client niche.

14. Final words?

A niche can be broader than you might think and still be useful. For years, I got by on “nonfiction copy editor” as my niche. Narrowing your niche after a while is also good, as it helps you target the right projects and customers. Look for professional groups that might support a niche, such as the American Medical Writers Association, Women in Scholarly Publishing, Int’l Society for Technical and Managing Editors, Society for Technical Communication, Council for Science Editors, and so on (there’s LOTS of these groups). You can learn from these groups about specific topics and techniques that can help you. Get familiar with any specialty style guides in your niche. For instance, when I did travel guides, it helped immensely to have a Geographical Dictionary and a Food Lovers’ Companion. For scholarly editing, I MUST have a copy of Chicago Manual, APA Style, and Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary.

Next: Katharine O’Moore-Klopf answers the niche questions.

Keeping My Customers Satisfied

2010-11-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

When freelancing, one size does not fit all. Each client may require something the other doesn’t. It’s in your best interest to know what your client expects. Give them what they want.

While this may seem obvious to you, it wasn’t obvious to me when I started editing. I’ve learned that clients are like children. They’re individuals with individual needs and differences. It’s your job as a freelancer to learn how clients differ and do the job they want you to do, nothing more. After all, that’s what they’re paying you to do.

In four years of freelancing, I’ve had clients who were very hands on. They anticipated their freelancer’s needs. They provided style sheets and detailed instructions for the projects I proofed. They anticipated my questions and answered those questions before I asked them. These clients are my ideal. They are a joy to work with. They don’t mind me asking questions when I need more information. In fact, they welcome the questions and communication. They are a joy to work with and we work well together.

I’ve also had clients who didn’t provide any instructions at all. They assumed that I knew what they wanted. They assumed I could read their minds. They became annoyed when I asked for instructions because it meant that they had to communicate with me more than they wanted. A lack of instructions meant that I had to guess at what the job required, at what was required of me. Proofreaders shouldn’t have to second-guess. If you have to second-guess, if you ask the questions without getting the answers, you might want to fire the client. Firing a client who is difficult to work with will be better in the long run than continuing a miserable working relationship. While firing the client might be the better choice, I understand the need to continue the working relationship. If money is tight and projects are nonexistent, you may have to continue working with difficult clients until you can afford to fire them.

Just as clients aren’t one size fits all, editing projects aren’t either. Make sure you understand what your client wants you to do before accepting a project. If this means asking detailed questions before accepting the project, then ask the questions. If it means e-mailing the project editor or managing editor for specific instructions, then write the e-mail. Asking for specifics or clarification before beginning a project, or during the project, is better than guessing. Guessing harbors resentment on your part. The project will end favorably if everything is spelled out before you sharpen your red pencil.

Editors seem to be literal people. I’m not sure if we’re more literal than regular folks are, I admit that I am, but we have to be. The job requires it. My livelihood depends on doing the job my client wants me to do. If I am not sure what the job entails, or if I think one way and the client wants it another, it is in my best interest to ask for clarification, for specifics. I am not paid for my creativity or for doing things the way I think they need to be done. Clients pay me to be literal. They pay me to pay attention to detail and catch errors. In the end, your attention to detail will serve you well. It’s your bread and butter. It will ensure that clients hire you for other projects.

Just as clients differ, proofreading projects also differ. Proofreading doesn’t mean the same thing for every client. If a project editor or managing editor wants me to cold read a manuscript, he or she may want me to look at layout and pay attention to typos and spelling errors. I’ll also read every word of the manuscript. Another client may want me to concentrate on the content and question facts or items that don’t appear to be correct, as well as proof for typos and spelling errors. Make sure you understand what the client wants. Make sure you specify what you intend to do before accepting the project. Put all the cards on the table. Treat each job as individually as you do the person asking you to take on the task. When proofreading, clients pay me to do many different tasks. Make sure you understand what you are being asked to do before agreeing to do it.

Many proofreaders are afraid of stepping over the proofreading boundaries to enter the copyediting arena. If you and your client are on good speaking terms, you’ll know when it’s okay to cross those lines. You’ll learn when a query is expected. Don’t be afraid to do more than the job asks you to do. However, before you do more than you are asked to do, make sure you know what you are being asked to do and complete that task first. If you‘ve been hired to proofread and find yourself copyediting, focus on proofreading. If you are a copyeditor and find yourself proofreading, let the proofreading go. Query things that seem to be incorrect. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions. When you find yourself spending more time on a task that isn’t specified in the project, scratch that itch by making a copy of the chapter. After completing the task you’ve been hired to do, do what you feel compelled to do in your free time. If you want to edit the manuscript, edit it to death. If you feel the need to fact check, do that. Knowing that you will have the opportunity to do what you are driven to do after completing what you have been paid to do will help you focus on the task at hand.

After you have completed the project, some clients may want you to write a letter explaining what you found while editing or proofing the manuscript. Other clients may not want a letter because writing a letter will cost them more money. It will add to the time you spend on the project. I like writing letters because letters help me end projects. It’s my opportunity to show the client what I know, what I discovered about the manuscript. It upsets me when I don’t get the opportunity to write a letter, but I have learned to put those frustrations aside. I write a letter if a letter is welcome. If a letter is not appreciated, the letter isn’t written. It isn’t personal. I have learned to choose my battles.

Appreciate the differences that exist between clients. Some project editors and individual clients are more personable than others are, just as some family members have more personality than others do. Don’t take every comment or every disagreement as a slap in the face. Project editors are busy people. If you don’t hear from them after submitting a project, don’t take that as a bad sign. If you are interested and want feedback, ask them for the feedback. If they have time, they will tell you what they liked and didn’t like. Landing more projects from the same project editor will be your ultimate feedback.

When you do get feedback from the person in charge and it isn’t all positive, take a moment. Separate yourself from the project and from the person making the comments. The comments aren’t meant to hurt or harm. They are meant to teach. Learn from them. Learn from your mistakes.

Showing a project editor or the person in charge that you’re interested in what they have to say is in your best interest. It’s also in your best interest to realize that many things are subjective. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Get to know what each individual managing editor or project editor considers important. Realize that it may take a project or two for you to figure this out. After you’ve figured it out, be sure to give the person in charge what they want every time. After all, it’s all about them and not about you. Their wants are your bread and butter. Keeping the customer satisfied by completing the job to their specifications is what you’re paid to do. Not doing so is shooting yourself in the foot. Nobody shoots themselves in the foot on purpose.

A Conversation with Dr. Freelance

2010-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity recently to interview Dr. Freelance, aka Jake Poinier, principal at Boomvang Creative Group, a Phoenix-based editorial services/advertising/marketing firm, and the erstwhile blogger on a variety of entrepreneurial topics at Jake’s Take. You can learn more about Dr. Freelance, ask him questions, and read his great advice at http://deardrfreelance.com/. Right now, take some time, sit back, and enjoy our conversation.

MSE: Could you tell us about your background? How did you get into freelancing? Do you have a specialty?

DF: I had to answer the question, "What the heck are you going to do with an English degree?" somehow. I had done a bit of newspaper writing in high school and college, which I parlayed into an internship with the New York Times Magazine Group after graduating. I bounced through several two-year editing positions at a variety of magazine companies, as well as the longest 18 months of my life during a stint in public relations.

I'd been in corporate life for almost exactly 10 years when I started plotting my escape. During my time as an editor, I had come to recognize that there were a lot of freelance writers who were only marginally talented yet making a decent living and enjoying a darn good lifestyle. I figured I had the bullheadedness and background to make it a business. One day, I simply handed in my letter of resignation.

A lot of freelancers swear by having a specialty. I'm not one of them. I'm an omnivore, and if I don't have exact experience in some topic or medium, I make it my job to figure it out. (Unless someone might get hurt or killed by my ignorance. For example, I wouldn't accept an assignment to edit a repair manual for Space Shuttle engines!)

MSE: Is it harder for those who want to become freelancers today than it was for you? If so, why?

DF: When I started out in 1999, I was on a tedious dial-up modem and had to mail a 9"x12" envelope of physical samples when someone expressed interest. It was slow and expensive.

Freelancers today have a couple of advantages: better, faster tools and a much richer, deeper "content" environment, thanks to the web. There's also a surplus of information on how to freelance successfully, without as much fly-by-night stigma.

That being said, there is arguably more competition today. Content mills aren't slave labor, because people choose to do it anyway—but it's close. And when new publishing tools enable DIYers to believe they can write, edit and design like a pro, you have to be able to prove that you're a better bet.

MSE: How long does it take for a “newbie” to become successful in freelancing? Is this related to the economy?

DF: The sharpest part of my learning curve was in the first three years. Year one was easy. Year two was a disaster—it was the economic dip that occurred in the summer right before 9/11.

Well, when my phone stopped ringing, I knew I had to do something—I was the sole wage earner with a wife, two kids under 5, and a mortgage. I've always thought that urgency played a role in building my business so quickly in year three. If I'd been doing it part time or had a spouse who was earning a big income, I think my progress wouldn't have been as fast. The newbie who doesn't want to starve or be a lifelong hobbyist needs to figure out what lights that competitive fire, regardless of the economy at large.

MSE: Is it imperative for those interested in freelancing to have a background in publishing?

DF: I can only speak to my own experience, in which it was a huge help to know people, the lingo, how things work and to have a couple of client projects waiting in the wings. But it's clearly not a prerequisite—you can come at it from any field as long as you have the writing/editing skill *and* the ability/desire to work the business side. If you think you can make it just on your skill with words, you're like the 18-year-old girl who goes to Hollywood to get "discovered" as an actress while waiting tables.

MSE: Is there anything you know now that you wished you knew when you first started freelancing?

DF: At the risk of dodging the question, I'm a serendipity lover—I enjoy not knowing what comes next. In fact, that might be my favorite aspect of freelancing. On the other hand, I would have sold all my stocks at the top of the tech bubble instead of riding them down, and I'd be driving a Ferrari right now.

MSE: Do you have any pearls of wisdom that you want to share?

DF: Well, I just had a Dear Dr. Freelance reader comment that he really liked something I said the other day. "Don’t overthink it…you'll get more confident as you (fill in the blank)." I had said it in regard to cold calling, but he thought that it made a pretty good all-purpose mantra.

The truth is, if you can ride out the bumpy patches—and trust me, they'll be there—you'll probably look back a decade from now and be amazed how far you've come.

Patience, Grasshopper

2010-09-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

PATIENCE isn’t one of my strong suits. I have a hard time waiting to reap the benefits of my hard work. Like Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I want it now. I want instant gratification, instant success. This doesn’t happen in freelancing.

I have been working as a freelancer for four years now. During those four years, I have learned that publishers move according to their schedule, not mine. I have also learned that there is a lot you can do while waiting to hear from a publisher.

You can:

Join an organization like the Editorial Freelancers Association at
http://www.the-efa.org/ or an e-mail group like Copyediting-L at http://www.copyediting-l.info/ or regional editorial organizations like the Bay Area Editors Forum at www.editorsforum.org/ or the Rocky Mountain Publishing Professionals Guild at www.rmppg.org/. You can also join Twitter at http://www.twitter.com or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/. Do your research. Go to the library. Look for other potential clients and contacts.

At the library, ask the reference librarian for either the Literary Market Place or the Writer’s Market. Both are invaluable and provide excellent information about all the publishers.

On your first visit to the library, take some time to become familiar with both of these resources. On other outings when you are doing research, work with one of these books at a time. Working with both has a tendency to overwhelm.

While doing research, bring the appropriate tools for the job. I take a small tablet or notebook. I have even taken 3x5 index cards with me. These are great for writing down the pertinent information you find about the different publishers. That information includes the size of the publisher, the types of books they publish, the number of books they publish each year, and the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the publishers and contacts like managing editors or project editors. This information will be invaluable later.

Don’t write anything down during your first trip to the library. Consider it a fact-finding expedition. You can even do research in your favorite bookstore. Browse in your favorite section of the store. Check out the books that interest you and look to see who publishes them. You can do this in any location that offers books for sale or where you can borrow them. This is a great way to discover what you’re interested in and learn which publishers publish those books.

On your next visit to the library or to the bookstore, think about one area that interests you. Look up a few of the publishers that publish books in that area. Make a list of these publishers and take the list with you to the library.

It’s best to limit yourself to an hour a week doing research. You don’t want to become overwhelmed. As I said earlier, there is plenty of time. Consider this type of research a way of expanding your knowledge about the subject matter as well as the publisher.

After finding the specific publisher in either the Literary Market Place or the Writer’s Market, write the specific contact information down on your tablet, notebook, or cards. Take the information home and continue your research. Check the publisher's website. Read their background information and history. Check their recent list of published books. Make sure you actually want to work with this company before you spend any more time trying to get them to notice you.

Check their website to see if they are hiring freelancers. If they are, they will say so.

The publisher’s contact information changes frequently. Don’t get discouraged if the information is not current or up to date. This just means that you will have to do more research. Consider checking out the publishers and looking for more contact information on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/.

If you are a LinkedIn member, check your list of connections. They are a wonderful resource and may be connected in some way to one of the publishers you are interested in freelancing with. They may be able to share names with you that aren’t available in your previous research.

You may also want to check sites like John Kremer’s Bookmarket at http://www.bookmarket.com/. This site does a great job of listing publishers and contacts according to specific types. It’s a great help for writers who want to get their books published. The only downside is the information presented on the site is not always up to date. This is why even with the information you have, it is best to do your research to make sure your information is correct and up to date. Even then, you may find that you have some outdated information. Solution? Do some networking and find out if someone else has some information you don’t and is willing to share that information with you.

Next, decide on the best way to contact your list of potential clients. Do you feel comfortable making a phone call, or do you feel best writing an e-mail or sending a letter? Whichever method you decide to use, remember that you may need to contact these people more than once. In fact, I can guarantee it. No matter which way you contact your potential client, don’t use the same method every time. Vary the routine.

A successful editor, friend, and mentor, Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, owner of KOK Edit, suggests spending an hour a week doing research and marketing to potential clients. Check out her other words of wisdom at http://www.kokedit.com/. She always has wonderful advice about editing and freelancing. You’ll learn a lot.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive instant gratification, see my earlier comments. Remember, you are in this because this is what you want to do. It is going to take time to make this work. Success isn’t instantaneous and doesn’t happen overnight. If you have to, print my previous sentence and put it where you can see it every day.

Take time to revise the information you have. You may want to do this quarterly. Your tastes and likes may also change. You may decide that you prefer one area more than you do another. If you come to this conclusion, act on it. You can change your mind again. It takes time to find your niche. Beginning freelancers are busy finding clients and improving their skills. Finding a niche comes later for newbies.

Revise your cover letter. Update your resume to reflect the skills you are adding to your repertoire. Read books on editing and freelancing. Keep learning!

Don’t contact your potential clients more than every two or three months. Yes, you want them to know who you are but if you contact them more than that, you run the risk of annoying them. This isn’t the way to win them over. You don’t want them to cringe when your information appears on their desk or in an e-mail. You want them to take your call. Don’t pester them! There is a plethora of potential clients out there.

My message for this post is simple. Do your research and read all you can to improve your skills. Take classes. Remember, freelancing is a journey not a destination.

Finally, relish the successes that come your way. Continue to learn as much as you can. Freelancing is an adventure! If you look at your career this way and learn from your mistakes, you’ll be happier. You’ll also continue to grow as a person. In freelancing, it takes more than a minute to win it.

Making lemons into lemonade

2010-08-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

I was extremely busy for the past nine months. I didn't really have much time to breathe. Then unexpectedly I hit a snag. Now I find myself twiddling my thumbs and being bored. Have you ever been in that situation? If you have, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Instead of sitting around and wondering what to do, I got busy.

I stepped up my marketing, have several irons in the fire and have plans to do more.

I decided to clean out thirty years of clutter that seemed to move with us every time we moved.

I am also taking the opportunity to make one of my dreams a reality. I am taking a spare bedroom and turning it into a home office. This task alone will probably take me two weeks, but I'm making progress. It's also great exercise carrying the bags of garbage down to the recycling bin or garbage can every afternoon.

In my desk drawers and filing cabinet, I've found old pictures of my two daughters when they were little, some of their old school projects, report cards, and other incidentals that make me pause and smile. What a way to take a quick trip down memory lane!

It may take me two weeks and a lot of sweat to turn the spare room into an office but it's worth the effort for the view alone. It's also worth donating the books I no longer read to the Friends of the Library and taking all the knick-knacks to a local nonprofit.

I have put new batteries in my Bullwinkle clock, have great plans for the room's decor, and want to find a comfortable chair to sit in while working on the proofreading projects that will pour in.

I also get to take my files out of the basement and put them in my office filing cabinet! And I'm making a dream that I have had for a long time a reality. Something that we often neglect to do.

I have taken some time while cleaning, because I can only clean for two hours at a time, to read The Wealthy Freelancer. It's a good read. And while it doesn't deal specifically with the career of an editing freelancer, the tips in the book are definitely worth the time.

I am also taking time to work on my attitude. If nothing else, the time between projects has forced me to review and appreciate my freelancing life and what I have accomplished this far. I love what I do and know that I will have the chance to work on other proofreading projects.

If this isn't enough, while I have the time and after I make my home office a reality, I'm going to take some classes. I have already enrolled in a few. Guess I'm a card-carrying type A personality!

Instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for myself, I made my lemons into lemonade. I hope you do the same if you ever find yourself with time on your hands.

Typos that exist in blogs

2010-05-19T18:57:00.001-07:00

I just noticed, thanks to the very kind e-mail from a reader, that the short blurb for this blog had a typo. I think that typo has been there since I first started blogging almost a year ago.

Proofreaders should be perfect. Everything they write or blog about should be typo free.

While the last statement is something I strive for, I have to tell you that I'm not perfect. I am human. And being human, I make mistakes. Sometimes I type without paying attention. Just like the rest of you, I have moments where my computer burps or my fingers hit the wrong keys. It happens.

While it has been suggested that I write these posts in word and edit them before publishing, I don't always take the time to do that. Sometimes life gets in the way, or I want to publish something on the spur of the moment without editing it first. This is what a lot of people do. Please forgive me for being human.

However being human in a business that works with words is not always allowed. Unlike a lot of you, I make my living finding the errors or typos that others miss. I have to tell you that it doesn't look good when the typos are allowed to exist in a world that never sleeps. Not finding the typo, even though I look for them before I publish a blog, makes me look like a fool. Or it makes me look like someone who may not be good at what she does. Looking like a fool is not good for business. Not taking the time to catch the typo is not good for business either, especially when typos are your bread and butter.

For this reason I will try to be more diligent when looking for typos in my blogs before I post them. I also hope that when you see an error, you will politely point out the error. After all, we learn by our mistakes.

I am happy that one of my readers took the time to point out my typo. I have already personally thanked her for doing so. The typo gave me an opportunity to edit the header for my blog and gave me the subject for this one. It also gave me the chance to see how many followers I have. And while I don't have many, I do know that my followers take the time to point out the mistakes they see. For that, I am grateful.

Mahalo!

Where did the time go?

2010-03-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, it's been months since my last post. Sorry! All I can say is "life is what happens while you're busy making plans." I have been extremely busy. Freelancing was going great. I had the proofreading projects I wanted. I had time with my grandson and husband. I had time to think about my younger daughter's May wedding. I thought I was on easy street.

Mentors, friends, and posts from various editing groups warned me about the feast or famine cycle of freelancing. I didn't believe them. They tried to warn me that clients come and go. I thought they were talking about what happened to them, not to me. I should have listened.

I'm here to tell you that they were right. I am now in the famine cycle of freelancing. However instead of crying in my beer, I've decided to accept the challenge and find new clients. So for the last few months, I have been marketing like my business depends on it. I have several irons in the fire. Have had great responses to my queries, and I'm happy with my prospects. This doesn't mean that I will stop marketing. What it means is that I have learned first hand that marketing never stops. That you have to make time every week to turn over those rocks and get your name out there.

My quiet time has also provided the opportunity to begin blogging again. I will try to be more active on this blog. I have also been given the opportunity to blog on another blog: Grandma's Home Blogger Place. Here I will have the chance to blog about being a grandma. Something that is near and dear to my heart. I am thrilled with this opportunity. I will have the chance to talk about grand kids, share funny stories, share ideas, and even learn a thing or two.

So even though my life as a freelance proofreader may have slowed a little, my life as a blogger, grandma, and active participant in life seems to be going as fast as ever. Thanks to the followers of my freelancing blog for having faith in my abilities, thanks to Tammy for giving me the opportunity to blog about being a grandma, and thanks to life in general for allowing me to do what I want. Life is good!

Cassie

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

2009-04-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

I’m not one to jump through hoops. I try to avoid them. In my professional career, I haven’t always had the required experience, but I’ve always had determination. And I still had that determination--and then some--when I started to freelance.

When I started freelancing after taking a break from working to take care of my grandson and help my husband acclimate to life after retirement, I didn’t do any planning. It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t succeed as a freelancer. That doesn’t mean I did everything right; it just means that I tried. It never occurred to me that I couldn’t do it. The word can't isn't in my vocabulary.

I don’t want to give you the impression that I didn’t have the skills or experience that I needed for a career as a freelance proofreader. I have the required experience. I have been a writer, researcher, and an English teacher. I just wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared emotionally, and I wasn’t prepared as an entrepreneur. I didn’t know what to expect. I really hadn’t thought about starting a business; I just did it. I didn’t have a business plan. I didn’t set goals. I just decided that I wanted to freelance.

In looking back, it’s amazing that I was successful. I didn’t have a professional business letterhead. I didn’t have business cards. I had chutzpah. When I was trying to decide if there was room for another editor, I went through the Colorado Springs telephone book and looked for the business listings for editor. Three businesses were listed. I thought that since there were only three listings, there was room for me. That was certainly naiveté on my part, but that didn’t stop me.

I made phone calls to all three editing businesses; only one person returned my call. Even so, I was excited because I would have the opportunity to talk to someone who actually worked as an editor. We played some telephone tag before we finally connected. That was okay. I was willing to wait. It was enough for me that I would have the opportunity to talk to someone who was a bonefide editing professional.

Getting the chance to talk to an editor was important because it would give me the chance to ask all the questions a person might want to ask before beginning a new career. I asked why she chose an editing career. I asked how long it took her to become a success, and I asked who her clients were, and what she charged. Yes, I asked her what she charged. I needed a starting point. I needed to know if I could make a living and pay my bills as a freelancer.

Our conversation, even though brief, gave me the courage I needed to continue. The person I interviewed didn’t sugarcoat her answers. She told me that there would be difficulties. She said that it would take work and perseverance on my part, but she said that there was definitely a need for editors. This was all I needed to hear.

After our conversation, I thought all I needed to do was let businesses know that I was ready to proofread. I thought that they would beat a path to my door. The editor I spoke to told me that even though businesses need my help, they would be the hardest to convince. I didn’t listen. I thought I could overcome any obstacle through perseverance. Even today, I believe perseverance is the key to success.

After speaking with the editor, I did a bit of research and composed a list of publishers to call in Colorado Springs. Yes, a list of publishers to call. Remember that at this point, I thought the sky was the limit. I thought that all I had to do was make the call and get the job. I really believed that no one would turn me down. I was right.

My first freelance proofreading job came after I had the guts to call a local publisher on my list. I didn’t have a name. I didn’t know whom to ask for, and I didn’t know what to expect. But I did have the courage to make the call. I decided to make the call because I didn’t have an excuse not to, and I followed through. The important thing here is that I didn’t listen to the little voice in my head tell me that I couldn’t or that I would fail. I made the call and actually spoke to someone in an editing department. I surprised myself, and it turned out well.

From the beginning of the conversation, there was a rapport. I don’t remember the conversation. I don’t remember what was said. I do remember that I hadn’t actually prepared first. I didn’t think about being turned down. I just remember talking to someone about the possibility of freelancing as a proofreader. The next thing I knew, the person I was talking to asked if I could come to the publishing office for a more in-depth interview. I almost jumped through the phone. Of course I could. I arranged to meet with the person the same day.

The interview went well, and I had my first proofreading project before I walked out the door. I was elated. This was my chance to prove myself. I was on my way. In looking back, I was wrong. It was a beginning, but I still had a lot to learn. I earned only a little money for my efforts, and the publisher published only four books a year. There was no chance of steady work, and I really didn’t understand the proofreader’s role in the editing process. I thought that a proofreader did what I had done as an English teacher. I thought they just commented on what the author had written and read the manuscript for grammar and mechanics. I didn’t make a distinction between proofreading and editing. Now I understand the difference, but I didn’t when I first started proofreading.

My first proofreading assignment didn't lead to more projects from that client, but I didn't give up. If anything, it made me want more than ever to continue as a freelancer--because it was so enjoyable. However, as I was looking for another project and client, I took the time to do the research I should have done before the first publisher hired me. I read everything I could check out of the library on proofreading and copyediting. Most of the books were outdated. That didn’t matter.

The first book on editing I read from cover to cover was Copyediting & Proofreading For Dummies by Suzanne Gilad. It was my Bible. It discusses editing on a level that any editing outsider can comprehend. It was basic but it provided some of the information that I should have taken the time to learn before deciding to freelance. I have since discovered other books; one of the best books for proofreaders is Mark My Words by Peggy Smith. Professional proofreaders wrote both books, but Mark My Words goes into more detail and provides exercises as well as quizzes for those who really want to improve their proofreading skills.

I haven’t stopped learning. Even today, I try to review my skills or work an exercise or two in Mark My Words when I have a lull between projects. One of the things I like about freelancing is the opportunity to continue to improve my skills. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I also know that I am better today than I was when I first started proofreading.

In looking back intellectually, I probably would do things differently if I could have a do-over. But acknowledging how I operate, I probably would have started my freelance proofreading career in exactly the same way. As I said at the beginning of this post, I’m not one for jumping through hoops. I learn more by doing.

My first experience as a freelance proofreader gave me the courage to pick up the phone and call the next publisher on my list. After several phone calls and months of waiting, I got that job too. The months in between editing jobs gave me the opportunity to get business cards and a business letterhead and do some marketing.

My second job as a freelancer provided an opportunity for some on-the-job training. It gave me the chance to do some substantive editing, some research, and some analysis and to learn that publishers are as individual as the freelancers they hire. It also reinforced my determination to continue freelancing. Everything that I've experienced in my short freelancing career has taught me more than ever that it isn’t the destination; it’s the journey.

Next: Marketing on a shoestring

All We Really Have Is Time

2009-02-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

When I was younger, in either high school or my freshman year of college, I was always in a hurry. I remember complaining to my dad about a required class that I needed to take. I was annoyed because I thought the class was a waste. I thought it would be a better idea to spend my time taking a class I was interested in, not one that would make me a well-rounded student. I remember my dad asking, “What’s your rush? Why are you in such a hurry? One more class isn’t really going to make a difference. Besides, you will probably benefit in the long run.”

I thought he was crazy. I didn’t agree with him and thought he didn’t understand me. Looking back, I see that he was right. And while he made these comments when I was too young to understand what he was saying, his words are important for those who are thinking about a career in freelancing.

We’re in Such a Hurry

When I started freelancing three years ago, I was in a hurry to make a name for myself. I spent more time thinking about the time I spent marketing my services than appreciating my accomplishments. I thought others would consider me a failure and would judge me by the number of cover letters and resumes I sent. I kept track of the number of replies I didn’t receive instead of the amount of replies I did. I saw the glass as half empty.

In looking back, I should have focused on the positive. I should have been happy with the replies I received. I should have continued marketing to increase the number of positive responses I received, not because I was fixated on the number of packets I sent. I should have beefed up my cover letter, focused on my progress, and been happy with the baby steps.

If my slow start taught me anything, it’s “true and steady wins the race.” It never occurred to me that I would have obstacles to overcome. I didn’t know that the best way to get your toe in the publishing door was by working as an assistant. I never considered the time factor when considering freelancing as a new career. I didn’t even think about how much time it would take to become successful. I just thought it was enough to have drive and determination. I had the entrepreneurial spirit. I thought that was enough.

Use Your Time Wisely

When you are just beginning a new job or even a new business, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Maybe you need to meet new people or maybe you have new tasks to learn. The secret is not to feel like you will never master the new or unknown. The secret is to take one task at a time. Don’t think about what you don’t know. Focus on what you do. Take the time you need to fill in the blanks.

Prioritize

Decide what you need to do first. For me, I talked to successful freelancers. I asked them several questions just to find out how they became successful. I loved talking to them. Each person has a great story. Each one told me that their success didn’t come over night. They shared some of their secrets with me. I learned a lot from our conversations.

Do Your Research

Spend time every week researching. You can research potential clients, successful entrepreneurs, or even research what it takes to be successful. You do not have to spend more time than you can afford, but you do need to spend at least an hour a week. Again, slow and steady is more important than letting yourself become overwhelmed by the amount of research you need to do. Break the research down into manageable tasks.

Take Time to Network

Find groups or individuals that you can talk to. People who are like-minded, people who share your goals. Find a mentor, someone who can show you the ropes. The time you spend networking will definitely pay off in the long run. You will feel that you belong.

Write Your Cover Letter

Take some time to write a great cover letter. Think about what you want to say, make sure to include what you can do for your potential clients. Then, in the final stages, have a successful editor help you edit your letter. Write the letter in stages.

Revise Your Resume

Think about revising your resume. Don’t be afraid to get help writing your resume if you need it. Rewriting the resume may be your hardest task. Don’t get discouraged or give up. Take time to compare your resume with the resumes of other freelancers. As with writing the cover letter, it may be best to write your resume in stages.

Begin Your Marketing

Take time to think about your business cards and letterhead. Decide who you are. Think about the image that you want to present. You don’t need to spend a fortune on your first business cards or letterhead. You can find Web sites that will design them and print them for you. Your design can change over time.

Improve Your Skills

No matter how busy I am during the week, I always take some time to learn something new. I read, work a few proofreading exercises to sharpen my skills, and take the time to learn from those who know more than I do. Learning is one of my lifelong passions. Instead of focusing on what I don’t know, I marvel at what I have learned. These past three years have given me the opportunity to learn because I want to learn, not because I have to learn.

Take the Time to Succeed

Even three years and some later, I still believe that if you have the desire and determination to succeed, you will. As a friend and mentor has told me several times, it will happen if you truly believe in yourself and believe that it will. When I get a little down or depressed, I evaluate my progress and count my accomplishments. I haven’t accomplished all that I want to yet, but I am on my way.

I no longer focus on the amount of time I spend marketing my services or improving my skills. Instead, I keep track of my successes. I have learned to value every step, every small accomplishment. These have become more valuable to me than keeping track of my failures.

Time Is Just a Number

I still have a long way to go. Now, however, I am willing to take the time that I need to become a success. I am no longer in a hurry. I have discovered that each day teaches me something new about me or about freelancing. This, to me, is a testament to time well spent.

As you begin your freelancing career, don’t become a slave to time. Instead, let time work for you. Focus on your accomplishments, not on the amount of time that it will take you to achieve success. If you truly want to succeed in freelancing, you must be more than willing to spend the amount of time needed to succeed. After all, time is just a number.

Consider your family when deciding to freelance

2009-02-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, you’ve made the decision to tackle freelance proofreading and editing. Congratulations!! Give yourself a few minutes, or even days, to let this accomplishment sink in. Just deciding to take on a new venture can be exhausting and stressful. Then after you’ve made the commitment to begin this new adventure, think about how your decision will affect your loved ones.

You also need to look at what you contribute to your family, or around the house, and consider how this decision will affect schedule. Before we talk about the changes that will take place, let’s talk about how your decision to freelance will affect those close to you.

Family is important

Let’s think first about how your decision will affect your relationship with your significant other. If you are dating, it would be best to sit down with your boyfriend or girlfriend and talk about what your decision means to your relationship. You will have to give this a lot of thought before you sit down and talk about it, and you will need to be extremely honest with yourself. The biggest sacrifice is going to be time. You simply won’t have the time to spend with your boyfriend or girlfriend, especially if you are using time on the weekends to research contacts and market yourself. Some people won’t mind, others may find this simply unbearable. Consider the fact that your decision may cause your relationship to end. I am not saying that this will happen; I am just saying that you need to consider everything before discussing your decision with your significant other.

If your family consists of just you and your husband, or wife, take the time to think about how your decision to freelance will affect them. Think about both the positives and negatives. If your spouse is used to a warm meal and a clean house, with dinner on the table when they get home from work, you may have to ask for help in these areas. If your budget can afford it, you may even want to consider having someone come in to help with the cleaning a few hours a week. If your spouse is accustomed to some quiet time or alone time with you, you will have to schedule the time in. You may even have to set up a date night, just to make sure that your spouse knows that they are still an important part of your life.

If your spouse wants you to sit quietly while you both watch TV, but you would rather use that time to do some work, you will have to talk about these changes. This issue won’t be a problem after the initial start-up of your business because your spouse will get used to the working you. However before you dive into your new career, it is important for you to think about the changes that will take place because of your decision to freelance. Your relationship with your spouse depends on it.

After taking time to evaluate how your decision will affect your marriage, sit down and talk candidly about these changes. Before you sit down, contemplate their fears. Have suggestions ready that will answer their concerns. Most of all, listen. Don’t rush the time time you spend together talking about this. Take time to hear your spouse’s concerns. Give them time to consider what you are saying. Let them talk about how the changes will affect them. Then, working together, reach an agreement or a compromise.

Take time to reassure them that they are still extremely important to you. Tell them that you have thought about this and that you don’t take this decision lightly. Tell them what you plan to do, what actions are on the agenda, and ask them for their support. Talk about household chores, making dinner, laundry, and even your time together, talk about how your decision will affect that time. Ask your spouse to help you decide if freelancing is really for you.

I wish I had taken the time to discuss my decision with my husband before I decided to tackle my freelancing career. I think the discussion would have helped with a few of the misunderstandings that my husband and I have had in the past three years. I also think it’s a good idea to discuss your decision with your spouse before discussing your plans with the rest of your family. Your spouse will be able to help you assure the rest of your family that your decision is good for you and for them as well. Your spouse will also help you answer some of the questions your family will ask. They will be your support system from the beginning. A support system is extremely important as you set out on your new venture.

Don’t forget the kids

If you have a young child, you will have to consider how your decision to freelance will affect him/her. A child may not be a problem if he or she is a baby or a young toddler, but the child definitely becomes an issue if he or she is a preschooler. Preschoolers take a lot of time and attention. It isn’t easy to think or even work when a preschooler needs you. While you might think you can manage, it always seems that they don’t need you until you are on the telephone or sitting at your computer. If your family budget can afford it, you may have to consider childcare. You will be amazed at how much work you will be able to do in just two hours time. Since you are new to freelancing, you can decide just how many days a week you will need childcare. Childcare centers offer hourly as well as weekly rates, or you may be able to arrange some time for childcare with your parents or a few close friends, as long as you pay them back in kind for their help. You may also be able to count the childcare costs as a business expense. Don’t take my words as gospel. It would be best to check with your accountant or financial advisor first.

If the child has older siblings, childcare may not be a problem. Brothers and sisters can provide a little help during the day and may love the idea of playing and taking care of the little one for a few hours, especially if they receive praise or small rewards from you for doing so. Helping with their little brother or sister may make the older kids feel important. They can play with their little brother or sister, take care of snacks, or even watch a DVD with them. You might even want to involve the older kids in planning the activities. It is also important for everyone that all of this is taking place at home while you are there working. If anything happens, you will still be able to take care of the problem. It is also important for you to plan to work a few hours every evening after the kids go to bed. You can get a lot done in three or four hours every night when the house is quiet.

While older children can do a lot for you when taking care of the younger kids, their wants, and needs, also need consideration. If the kids are elementary school age, you will have free time during the day to devote to freelancing. Then when they come home from school, you will still have time to focus on them. This block of time that you can devote to freelancing will continue as they make their way through school. You will find that from the time they leave the house until they return, you will have approximately six hours to devote to your freelancing career. A lot can be accomplished in that amount of time every day if you devote that time solely to your business, not cleaning the house, doing the shopping, or any other task that is not associated with freelancing. This means that you can’t watch talk shows, talk endlessly on the phone, or find any other excuse not to focus on freelancing. It will take dedication on your part but if you truly want to be successful, you will use that time to your advantage.

The family meeting

After you have your spouse’s blessing, and have thought about how your decision will affect the kids, it’s time for a family meeting. Your kids will need assurance that their lives will go on as usual, that nothing will change. Older kids will love the idea. It means a little freedom for them. They will like the idea of you being busy and not so focused on them. Younger children will need reassurance that their lives will continue, as they know it. They need to know that you will be there for after school snacks, activities, and bedtime rituals. They will want to know that they can still go to the park, have friends over after school, and have the usual family weekends. If you have a baby or toddler, you will need to consider their needs, but your schedule will have to work around theirs. Thank heavens little ones have early bedtimes.

Use some of your brainstorming from the beginning of this blog to quiet your children’s’ fears. Your prepared thoughts will also let everyone know that you have put some real consideration into this, and that you don’t take this decision lightly. This might be a good time to point out some of the positive changes. However if it seems to be too much for everyone to take in all at once, which is likely, call another family meeting, or discuss a few things at a time during dinner. There is no real hurry here. It is more important that your kids, as well as your spouse, know that you have really thought this important decision through.

Last thoughts about childcare

If you have to set up some kind of childcare routine so you can concentrate on your business, so be it. Small children are forgiving and are happy to see you walk through that door. Don’t beat yourself up if you have to make that decision, just concentrate on the little ones when they come home. Remember, for all of your family it isn’t quantity time, it’s quality time. Learn to live in the moment you spend with them. Learn to focus on your business only during the time you have scheduled for business. This is going to be hard, especially as you begin your business. If you learn to focus on your business during business hours and not during family time, you will accomplish more and your family will not resent your decision to start freelancing.

What will my parents think?

If you need to tell your mom and dad about your decision to begin freelancing, tell them. Don’t worry about what they might think. After all, it’s your life. They will be proud of you as you prove yourself and grow your business. If you’re confident and believe that you will be successful, quietly become a success. After all, you have a lifetime to become what you dream of being. Right now, it’s enough that you have the entrepreneurial spirit. Take some time to celebrate that characteristic.

Next: You have involved your family members in your decision to freelance, now what?

Just who am I?

2009-02-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

Just Who Am I?

Hi. I'm Cassie Armstrong. I have been a professional freelance editor and proofreader for three years. I have been the sole proprietor of MorningStar Editing for more than a year now. Before you think that this is all that I am, I have to burst your bubble. I've had many past lives before beginning my newest adventure. Those include teaching, working retail in a bookstore, being a staff writer with a local business journal, library work, and even a stay-at-home wife, mom, and grandma. I hope you will come along with me as I blog about my adventures, mistakes, successes, failures, and accolades as I learn to navigate in the world as a freelance editor and proofreader. I am not sure what the road ahead holds, but I do know that I plan to continue walking down this road for a long time to come.

Why did you decide to become an editor?

I decided that I needed something to challenge myself mentally. I was a college English teacher, which was something I always wanted to be. Teaching freshman English composition was not a good fit for me. When I decided to give up teaching, I did nothing for almost two years after I made that decision. That was not a good fit either. All I did was drive my family to distraction. So after a lot of soul- searching, I decided to do what I love to do best--work with words. At first I thought that I didn't want to be a freelance writer because I thought I didn't have anything to say. Funny, huh? Here I am writing. I've discovered that I have a lot to say on this subject alone.

After deciding not to write, I knew that I wanted to continue to work with words. This would still allow me to teach. I loved the idea of teaching, and editing would allow me to teach those who are interested in what I do and what I know, and even what I have to learn. Sounds like teaching, huh? It is but without the classroom walls and the task of reading assignments written by students who don't want to write them in the first place. After a lot of evaluation, and searching for my bliss, I decided that there was no other option for me. I felt compelled to continue working with words, to become an editor and proofreader, to read the words written by authors who wanted to write, who had something to say. After all, that was really what I did when I read eighty student English papers a semester. Once I reached my decision, I thought there was nothing more that I had to learn. I thought I knew everything there was to know about editing. After all, I competently commented on all of those student essays.

I thought that by simply announcing to the world that I was an editor and proofreader, I was those things. I thought I would immediately be thanked by those in publishing for making my decision, for deciding to join them. I thought work would come fast and furiously. I thought project managers and managing editors would want to work with me and would give me a shot on the basis of my past lives alone. I thought the only thing I had to do was show an interest in language and be willing to take projects off their hands. I thought the accolades would just pour in. I thought the world was my oyster. I didn't know or didn't want to face, or even think about, paying my dues. I thought those days were behind me. Yes, I was the new kid on the block, but I thought it was enough that I wanted to do the job, that I showed an interest. Was I ever wrong!

Why freelance?

After I made the decision to be an editorial freelancer, the next step was to decide where I wanted to do the job. Did I want to go back to an office and an office atmosphere? Were there a lot of opportunities for me in Colorado Springs? The first question was easy. I didn't want to work in an office. And the market for editorial professionals in Colorado Springs is not as lucrative as the market for them in Denver, or in other large cities. Because of that, I decided to freelance. As a freelancer, I could work anywhere. I could work from home, the back porch, the park, even the library. The choices are limitless.

I wanted to work from home. I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted to pick and choose among the projects, and I thought it would be easy to build a freelancing career while wearing my pajamas. I thought that as a freelancer, I would have lots of time to focus on every project that found its way to my door. I thought nothing would interfere. I dreamed that I would be an overnight sensation. I thought my family would embrace my new endeavor, publishers would beat a path to my door to have me work with them, and I would be an overnight success. I thought I would rake in the big money just because of my ability to recognize good prose. I thought I knew everything there was to know about freelancing. I thought I would set the publishing world on its ear. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out that way.

Come along with me as we navigate the minefield of freelancing and learn how to survive in this fascinating business, especially in this economic climate.

Next: You've made the decision to freelance, now what?