Editor: Nancy Smay Company: Evident Ink Number of years in editing: Officially, for sixteen years. My company, Evident Ink, which specializes in indie genre fiction publishing, began in 2016.
Tell us a little about yourself, including how you got started as an editor?
My first job out of school was as a copywriter at a publishing house—which was just a fancy name for "proofreader." I did write copy, but mostly I performed close edits on any copy on the back covers of books, in book catalogs, and on the website (which was brand spanking new and completely coded in HTML—this was a long time ago!) I moved through a varied career, but a huge focus of every job I've had has incorporated content development, editing, and proofreading. Now I run Evident Ink with my business partner, Dawn Alexander.
What is your area of focus and why did you select this niche?
I had several opportunities to line edit for small romance presses, and learned how much I enjoyed the genre in the process. I also launched a pen name at that time, and have gone on to have a dual career as a romance writer and editor. I love the positivity of the romance genre and the close-knit and warm nature of the community. At Evident Ink, we do work in other genres, but we are known for romance.
Walk us through a typical workday. How do you manage your time?
My early mornings (before the sun rises) are for writing. Once my family is up and done with breakfast, and the dog has been walked, my "real" workday begins. I work on a variety of projects, still copywrite and consult in marketing, so I'm generally engaged for a full eight-hour day, if not longer. Editing projects are my "fun time," and they often happen after official work hours and on weekends.
What is your favorite thing about being an editor?
I love helping writers grow their stories and find their voice. Assisting them in uncovering their strength as storytellers is the best part of working with their words. My company focuses on story as an umbrella--through courses and live videos geared toward helping authors at all levels of their careers. We've had NYT bestsellers tell us that our videos have taught them things they've been able to employ immediately, and that is immensely satisfying!
What is your biggest challenge and how do you work through this?
Time. Words are my passion, but charging by the word is one sure way to limit your income potential. If this is going to be a full-time pursuit and support the needs of my family, I know that it's going to take most of my time. This is why Evident Ink is dedicated to diversifying the ways in which we work with clients, adding things like courses and coaching to the mix. Writers need different help at different points in the writing process, and this allows us to move away from a solely word- or hour-based fee structure.
What are you currently working on?
I'm at the tail end of a novel I'm writing in someone else's world, which has been a fun excursion. And in the editing world, we are currently working on building content and developing our courses. Of course, I'm also always working on a client project too, and at the moment that's a developmental edit on a new romance writer's first contemporary romance.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their career as an editor?
Say yes. It was the way I built my client base, and it resulted in taking on some really painful projects. But writers improve, and writers are part of a huge community. Say yes to the projects you know won't be "fun" and the fun ones will follow. Treat every writer with respect, too—it takes a lot of courage to let someone else cast a critical eye on your words!