Editor: Lakeisha Bell Cadogan Number of years in editing: I have been proofreading and editing for years, but I officially launched my business in June 2020.
Tell us a little about yourself, including how you got started as an editor?
Like many, I was a big reader growing up. I vividly remember the day my mom took me to the local library to get my first library card. Prior to 2020, I never really thought about editing as a job. For years I had been proofreading and editing essays, research papers, letters, etc., for my family and friends. As a corporate executive assistant, editing your work and the work of others was simply part of the job. When doing my 2019 yearly reflection at the beginning of 2020, I realized how tired I was of the 9-to-5 life. I really wanted a work-life balance and my corporate job did not provide it. This led me to begin researching work from home jobs. Proofreading and copyediting seemed like the easiest way for me to get started since I already had the basic skillset. I invested in a really good course to sharpen my skills and enhance my natural ability to edit. After taking the course, I really felt like I could do this and do it well. I was excited to start my freelance journey.
What is your area of focus and why did you select this niche?
For fiction, my areas of focus are: mysteries/thrillers, fantasy/magical realism, historical fiction, and wholesome romances. These are some of my favorite genres to read, so naturally, I enjoy editing them too.
I also focus on nonfiction as I believe those stories are equally engrossing and captivating. Personal development and business are the specific niches I'm interested in because I love learning new things.
Walk us through a typical workday. How do you manage your time?
Now that I'm homeschooling my kids, I've changed my schedule quite a bit. My weekdays now are structured around our homeschool hours. My weekends are much more flexible. I'm up early and always start my day with a cup of tea and a devotional. These two things are non-negotiable! After that, I'll check my email and my planner to see what I have going on for the day.
Between 8 - 9:30 a.m., we are having breakfast and then cleaning up the kitchen. We typically begin school around 10 a.m. I'm all about the slow mornings! By noon (or 1 p.m. at the latest) we are finished and will have some lunch. After that, my teenage sons go off and do their own thing, while my daughter (she's seven) will play or break out the paint and brushes. Whatever she chooses, she's always in my line of sight.
I typically begin working on my editing projects or marketing my business around 3 p.m. You'd be amazed by how much you can accomplish by doing one or two Pomodoro rotations! By 5 p.m. I shut things down for the day unless I have a deadline to meet or evening discovery calls. If that’s the case, then I will put in another hour or so after dinner and getting my little one settled.
What is your favorite thing about being an editor?
My favorite thing about being an editor is that I literally get to read books all day and connect with amazing writers. It's truly a bookworm's dream life.
What is your biggest challenge and how do you work through this?
My biggest challenge is imposter syndrome. I know that I am more than capable of doing my job and have received wonderful feedback from clients, but sometimes I still allow the fear of what people will think hold me back from going after my goals. I work through it by taking inspired action. I do it scared.
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently editing a historical fiction novel that has elements of magical realism. It's a beautiful story and I'm sad to be almost finished.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their career as an editor?
Do it! If you love reading and roll your eyes each time you see a grammatical error in a book or a blog post, then an editing career could be a great fit for you. Also, take a training course to sharpen your skills. My grandma used to say, “If you’re gonna do something, then you might as well do it the right way the first time!” Being able to spot errors is a great start but learning the editorial industry will take you much farther in your business journey.