Editor Insight: Khelsea Purvis
I asked several experienced editors if they’d give some suggestions for newer editors about the all-important issue of finding clients and dealing with the ups-and-downs of freelancing.
Khelsea Purvis (website here) has been freelancing for about eight years, part-time. She works mainly as a story editor for children’s books but also edits other types of content. She provides manuscript critiques and developmental editing services, plus options like clarity coaching, a synopsis review, and a blurb-and-bio boost (which is such a great idea I wish I’d thought of it!). She also does proofreading occasionally but it’s the story editing that takes most of her attention.
Below is our brief Q&A:
- How do you typically find clients? Through social media, content marketing, etc.? These days it tends to be by word-of-mouth or recommendation. For example, I am listed as a featured editor in How To Self-Publish a Children’s Book by Yvonne Jones, so a lot of authors find me through that book.
- What is your top marketing tip for newer editors? If you’re involved with any online communities, you should use them to your advantage.
- What is your top tip for handling the ups and downs of freelancing? This is no different from any other aspect of life. Make sure you understand that the pendulum always has to swing in the opposite direction at some point, so keep yourself mentally prepared for that regardless of which way it’s swinging. Also, try to diversify your skills whenever possible to always have options available to you.
One of the things I wanted to emphasize from this Q&A is the importance of Khelsea’s remark, “If you’re involved with any online communities, you should use them to your advantage.” One of the best ways for newer editors to market is by starting right where you are – places where you already have a presence, including online social media platforms.
When I first started editing, I already belonged to a community of freelance writers and it was there that I found my first indie author clients (I also did, and do, a lot of editing for book publishers). That was also where I found and formed the core of my current network of colleagues, who have been instrumental in my success.
It would have been much harder to start entirely from scratch. So, don’t forget to look around at what you’re already doing and see if you can turn that to your advantage, as Khelsea advises.
~~~
Jennifer Lawler has been a freelance editor for more than twenty-five years and has been teaching editing skills for more than fifteen years. She is the founder of Club Ed, LLC.
