Building Your Editing Business
Building your editing business requires finding clients. As a newer editor, this can be challenging, so where do you start? I suggest you begin by asking yourself a few questions.
Building Your Editing Business: Decide Who You Are as an Editor
- What is your purpose? Mine is to help women find a way to tell their stories.
- What kinds of clients does your purpose suggest you should target? I target women who are transitioning from nonfiction to fiction or creative nonfiction.
- What do you want from your business? I want to work on interesting manuscripts written by professionals who can pay professional fees.
- What kinds of clients does your “what I want from my business” answer suggest you should target? For me, people who are already professionals and who see the value of editorial help.
- What is your area of specialization, and why? I specialize in teaching women nonfiction writers to write romance because this is where my skills and experience lie, and it is what people ask me to do.
Inventory What You Already Know
- What is your overall business goal?
- What are some overall marketing strategies you could use to get clients?
- What are some skills and experiences you have that might help potential clients solve a problem?
- What are five or ten things you can do in the next two months to gain additional editing experience?
- Who are some people you could get to know who could help you build your business?
- What types of services are you offering/planning to offer potential clients?
Put It Together
- Who are your target clients, and where are they likely to be found?
- What is one thing you can do this week to network with colleagues and/or potential clients?
- Identify an indirect way of finding clients (such as teaching a class) that appeals to you. What are some steps you need to take to get the ball rolling?
Tips for Editors & Writers
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Dealing with Imposter Syndrome and Related Problems
Newer editors often tell me something along the lines of “I feel like I have Imposter Syndrome. I don’t feel confident about approaching publishers or other potential clients.” So, clear your schedule and make a cup of tea because I want to talk about these challenges, and I have a lot to say! You’ve probably
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Setting problems: lack of concrete locations
Writers often use setting like a painted backdrop to their stories, rather than as an integral element of their storytelling. As developmental editors, we can help them make the setting come to life. If we think of Wuthering Heights, we think of the Yorkshire moors. When we think of Moby Dick, it’s a whaler on
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How Setting Can Reflect Character
Authors have a tendency to prefer focusing on character and/or plot at the expense of setting/world-building. (The exception is some SFF writers, who focus on setting and forget about plot and character.) So as editors we will often call that out and say something like, “Add a little description here. Otherwise it’s like Miles and
