Why I Love Editing for a Living
by Susan Cunningham
I was first paid for writing back in early 2012.
I had already written a novel a few years earlier, sent it down the traditional route to about eight publishers and agents, then decided it wasn’t going to happen and shelved it.
So when I lost my job, my husband convinced me to release the book as an ebook on Amazon. I had no idea what to expect, had no platform, didn’t even know what a platform was!
All My Writing Success Initially Came from Twitter
I had a cover my husband had thrown together in half an hour. I made so many rookie mistakes. However, I spent a lot of time on Twitter and virtually all of my success came from there.
I interviewed authors on my blog, wrote articles, helped other authors with various writing questions, beta read for other authors and made great friends in the writing community.
Not long afterwards, my first book Sign of the Times went to number one in the Amazon free chart.
How My First Baby Led to My Editing Career
With regards to editing, that happened a little later.
I had my first baby in March 2013 and there was no way I could return to my international sales career, which involved traveling incessantly, so I thought long and hard about what I was good at, and my husband pointed out I was good at nitpicking!
So, proofreading, editing and translation (the latter because of my degree and my background) made the most sense. I did a Chapterhouse course in proofreading and simultaneously edited a few books.
Most of my business came out of recommendations or fellow authors I had helped since joining the writing community in 2012. Perfect Prose Services has blossomed more each year.
I now have a 3- to 8-month waiting list with several clients having fixed slots each year. I love my job! I offer developmental editing, copy-editing and proofreading, plus Italian and Spanish translation.
My Niche in Fiction Writing: Characters People Care About, and Travel
I write contemporary fiction, basically stories about regular people. I am told that I am good at creating characters people care a great deal about and whom they can relate to.
I also intend to write some children’s books at some point, if my 5-year-old doesn’t get there first. She has already been asked to give an author talk for the books she writes!
My novels also often contain a travel element. I have visited 56 countries at last count, some of them several times, so I have a vast arsenal to choose from.
And I love food, and I think that comes across in my books. Readers always tell me they are hungry whilst reading my books!
Why I Love Editing for a Living
As for editing, well, I edit fiction and non-fiction, and although I don’t have a specific genre niche, I do seem to edit a lot of fantasy, which I love!
I want my authors’ books to be the best they can be. When they release their books, I am like a proud mummy watching them do well and fulfill their dreams!
Getting my hands on a new story, devouring it, thinking of scenes where it could be expanded, identifying areas that need pruning or characters that are waiting in the wings ready to be nurtured further, I adore.
And the nitpicky me loves all the copy-editing: choosing the right turn of phrase, when a client mixes two ideas, spotting continuity errors, noticing repetition. I just love making a great book even better by polishing it.
Developmental editing is definitely my most lucrative type of project. I charge by the hour for that as it makes more sense for everyone. Also called substantive editing or big-picture editing, it’s by far the most fun!
How I Get Repeat Customers in My Editing Business
To be honest, I don’t do enough marketing, and I’ve been lucky enough that I haven’t really needed to as I have been very busy since I set up Perfect Prose Services.
However, that’s not to say I don’t want to or intend to, or haven’t done any. When I had a gap in my schedule a few years ago, a 4-week lull coming up, I did a couple of blog posts about common mistakes authors make, when to use italics, ellipses, capitals. A few weeks later, I had too much business!
I like to think that I go above and beyond for my clients, and I have a great relationship with all of them. I have a lot of repeat business. I think I am easy to work with, honest and friendly. I’d imagine those are some of the reasons they stick with me. I also try to help them with marketing queries and anything writing related that I can.
How I Find Readers for My Fiction Books
As for new readers for my own books, that’s a bit more of a minefield. I’ve tried doing Kindle Countdown but I think it’s had its day.
In recent years I haven’t found sufficient time for writing (I now have two young children!) but I hope that will change in 2019. I have a scheduled writing day now – Tuesday – and I will conserve some of that time for marketing also.
I tend to find new readers organically. I don’t just write books, or edit books, I live books. So, when I am not reading, writing or editing, I am on forums discussing books! I love those moments when I’m chatting on Twitter with someone about a review they’ve written of a book I fancy reading and then they tweet, Oh, I just saw on your bio you’re an author. I love the sound of The Dating Game and have just downloaded it.
Before I had my editing business, I would arrange giveaways, do book tours (still do sometimes), regularly participate in blog hops with other chicklit/romance/contemporary women’s fiction authors, but the simple fact is I have to prioritize my time. Hopefully when I bring out my new releases later this year, I will be able to get back into the swing of all that.
How I’m Expanding My Editing Business to Gain More Clients
I already offer translation services and I would like to be able to offer writing courses and workshops quarterly in Scotland (location to be decided!), possibly starting late 2019.
I’ve also toyed with the idea of ghostwriting and mentoring, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I have been asked to write a book for someone already, which would cover the start of the ghostwriting, and some clients are not quite ready for a developmental edit, but need more structure and chivvying along, so mentoring is a natural progression.
Time Constraints Make It Difficult to Stay Motivated with Writing
I am well known for my tenacity and it helps that I love my editing role. It also benefits my own editing.
With respect to writing, yes, it’s much harder to stay motivated, especially with my time constraints, as clearly, like everyone, I have bills to pay, and when I am busy editing others’ work, my own writing falls behind – hence the new Tuesday dedicated writing day.
However, I feel energized this year about my writing and by the summer I aim to send out two new novels to publishers and agents. But generally speaking, I am a very driven person and that helps me never give up.
Advice for a Young Writer: Diversify as Much as Possible
Firstly, don’t give up the day job, not at the beginning anyway. It’s a known fact most authors don’t make a lot of money and often do other things to supplement their income.
I would also tell them to diversify as much as possible. Magazines are always looking for freelance writers, although I don’t have much experience in this area. I’d also advise they buy Writing Magazine, which lists many opportunities and gives great advice overall. I’d suggest soul-searching to see if they have an area of expertise they might be able to write about, particularly non-fiction, which can be very lucrative.
And lastly, I’d probably say, realize it takes an awful lot of hard work. Don’t be under any illusion that you write the book or article and it will get snapped up. Writing is the easy part. Marketing is so much of writing these days. It’s a long-haul endeavor.
But, never give up – dreams can come true!
– – –
Susan Cunningham lives near Glasgow, Scotland with her husband, their two children and their new Labrador puppy. She is the author of four novels under Susan Buchanan: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on books five and six: The Proposal and Just One Day.
Susan is also a developmental editor, copy editor, proofreader and translator. Her company Perfect Prose Services caters to all genres, although fantasy seems to have sought her out!
When not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs and pooch, she loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order! For more information about Susan and her work, please see her website and blog, or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
Sign of the Times: Twelve people. Twelve star signs.
Sagittarius – Holly, a travel writer, visits Tuscany to research her next book. Seeking help when her car breaks down, she gets more than assistance when Dario, a vineyard owner, puts temptation in her path. Disappearing without explanation, he proves elusive. Bruised, Holly tries to put it behind her until a chance encounter brings her feelings to the surface again.
Capricorn – Holly’s fiancé, Tom misses her while she is in Italy and turns to an internet chat room for solace. His construction business is under threat, but could foul play be at work?
Gemini – Holly’s sister, Lucy, a serial man-eater finally meets her match, which puts her long-term relationship and career in jeopardy. Cheating she discovers, can have devastating consequences.
Libra – Holly’s uncle Jack, an eminent prosecutor, juggles a difficult teenage son with his high profile career and finds himself lacking. When his son’s school work starts slipping, he decides he needs to take control, but it’s not long before the balls all come tumbling down and Jack finds his family on the wrong side of the law.
One event binds them all…
Available on Amazon and Amazon UK.
The Dating Game: Workaholic recruitment consultant, Gill McFadden, is sick of her friends trying to match-make for her. Up until now her love life has been a disaster and she’s going through a drier spell than the Sahara desert.
She realises she has to act, as work keeps piling up and at this rate she will have retired before she has time for a relationship. Seeing an ad on a bus one day, she decides to visit Happy Ever After dating agency. She quickly discovers men are like buses. They all come along at once. Unsure what her type is, Gill decides to keep her options open. Soon she has problems juggling her social life as well as her work diary. Will she ever strike the right balance?
Before long she is experiencing laughs, lust and… could it be love? But like everything in Gill’s life, nothing is straightforward and she ends up wondering exactly who she can trust.
Available on Amazon and Amazon UK.
