Number of years in editing: About seven years; five as a freelancer.
Tell us a little about yourself, including how you got started as an editor?
I always loved words but never thought of making a living as a word nerd until I was mulling over careers I could take with me wherever I lived.
What is your area of focus and why did you select this niche?
I copyedit and write indexes (back-of-the-book and embedded) mostly for business, education, and health care clients. Nonfiction was not my first choice but provides the vast majority of my income and I learn a lot from the books I work on!
Walk us through a typical workday. How do you manage your time?
I only want to work part-time, so I color-code chunks of time on my Google calendar after estimating how long a project will take
What is your favorite thing about being an editor?
Making a written piece even better than it was when it came to me is deeply satisfying, and writing an index—bringing together scattered information into an understandable roadmap—gives me my OCD fix.
What is your biggest challenge and how do you work through this?
Sitting for too long staring at the computer can be very tiresome. I try to schedule breaks, which my two rescue dogs greatly appreciate, and work around my husband's and daughter's schedules.
What are you currently working on?
I just finished editing a how-to on building authority as an influencer; I'm currently writing an embedded index for a book about reconsidering the way kids learn; I have a property finance index coming up, an editing project on financial planning after that, then a 1,100-page index on compliance. These will keep me busy for the next two months.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their career as an editor?
Joining ACES as well as freelance associations like the EFA is a no-brainer. I would also encourage attending (virtually or in-person) as many conferences, webinars, and networking events as possible to get fully immersed in the business.