Editor Insight: Maria Georgiou

I’ve been speaking with a few newer editors about how they find clients and how they cope with the ups and downs of freelancing. This week’s interview is with Maria Georgiou, who has been a freelance developmental editor and beta reader specializing in romance for two years.

Here’s our Q&A:

1. Tell me a little about your background and the kind of editing you do

I have an BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Cyprus. I worked as an English Language teacher for about five years. Then, I decided to change careers and become a fiction editor. I offer developmental editing and beta reading services specializing in romance fiction.

2. How do you typically find clients? Through social media, content marketing, etc.?

I typically find clients through my website. I have a blog attached to my website where I regularly share advice about writing and editing romance stories, so a lot of writers discover my website and my services through my blog.

Also, I typically find clients through social media. I am a member of various writer groups where I network with writers, provide advice about their stories and promote my services. The most successful social media platform for finding clients so far is Facebook. I currently have Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky accounts.

3. What is your top marketing tip for newer editors?

My top marketing tip is to be open-minded, get out of your comfort zone, and try a lot of different things to see what works best for your business. Review your marketing strategy every few weeks and adjust accordingly. There is not one thing that works for everyone. Try different ways to approach your ideal clients. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results!

4. What is your top tip for handling the ups and downs of freelancing?

My top tip for handling the ups of freelancing (or when I have a lot of editing projects) is to make a realistic schedule and don’t overload myself with too many projects or tasks in a specific week. I leave plenty of time to finish my editing projects. Work-life balance and rest are important for me to avoid burnout.

My top tip for handling the downs of freelancing, such as uncertainty for the future or not having an editing project in a specific week, is to maintain a positive attitude and focus my attention on marketing and what I can do to get more clients. Just to clarify, I market my editing business every day even when I am editing projects. When I am not editing projects, I focus my attention more on marketing, getting more clients and making progress on my long-term business goals.

5. Anything else you’d like to share? 

I would love to connect with other editors and writers to learn from each other. You can find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky or email me at [email protected] to get in touch.

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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.