See Part 1 and Part 2. When I began editing from home in June 2006 after a difficult layoff, several folks already knew about my editing experience due to my working for two companies for fourteen years (I can’t stress building that resume enough). So getting started at home wasn’t overly difficult—God did it through my work history. One contact wanted me to edit readings for a one-year devotional book called Our Family Time with God (my pay was based on a fee per page count). Another contact wanted me to edit the daily front-page article for SharperIron, a Christian blog. I worked with a schedule of content and submitting authors (I was paid a certain set fee per month). Even still, this wasn’t enough work to bring in the income I needed to support my family, so I prayed hard, took a deep breath, and applied for a position as…
In Part 1 we looked at the skills and education necessary to be a professional editor. In this article we look at where to go next. Let’s assume you’ve passed the test—you’ve got all the necessary skills. (1) You have excellent English skills, (2) you love writing and words, (3) you understand how words work together (that’s not the same thing as #2), (4) you have a colllege degree in communications, and (5) you are constantly learning more about writing, editing, or both to stay on top of your game. Now where this article goes next and how it applies to you depends on who you are: whether you are (1) someone fresh out of college who is looking for an editing job and is willing to relocate or (2) someone who feels he or she has the skills needed to be an editor from home. Because those are two…
Any writer would do well to reflect on those in the past who had a part in molding his or her understanding of the written word. After all, without teachers, where would any of us be? So today I wish to honor a special lady who made a tireless impact on a multitude of Michigan students in her English classes for forty-four years. When I look back at my youth and reflect on those who especially encouraged my early interest in being a writer, after my parents the next major influence was Delores Forsmark, who went home to be with the Lord on September 9th. I felt so sad when I heard the news, and then memories took over from there. “Mrs. Forsmark” taught me English and literature at Genesee Christian High School in Burton, Michigan, between 1983 and 1987 (she taught at GCS a total of twenty-two years). But that’s not…
I had a big editing project to finish this week, and it required 12- to 14-hour days. Sorry, no time for a blog post today. I should be back up and running next week, the Lord willing.
