The Independent Editor Podcast

In our third deep dive and final episode of the season, we explore what at Book Architecture we call a Phase Three: Marketplace Assistance and Publication Support. Here we talk through what happens to a manuscript after it has gone through copy editing and is, for our intents and purposes, completed. The two paths that lie ahead are traditional publishing or self-publishing, and you can play a key role in either route. Better yet, your ability to assist doesn't stop there. We touch on many of the other complementary services an independent editor can offer post copy editing and issue an important reminder that if you're attuned, the possibilities are nearly limitless.

Today, we're talking contracts. What needs to be addressed in an independent editing contract? What protections should be in place? Does every deal need one, no matter the size? To be clear, what we're offering here is not legal advice, nor is it the single right way of doing things. Our aim is to speak simply and peel back the curtain on how things are done around here in the hopes that it proves helpful to you. With that out of the way, let's get to it.

In our second deep dive episode, we plumb the depths of what a Phase Two can entail. Where a Phase One is about manuscript evaluation, a Phase Two is about manuscript revision. Which is great news because, in Stuart's words, "Creation is fun, but it’s somewhat junior; revision is where all the interesting things happen." In this episode, we cover how and when to transition a Phase One client into a Phase Two, and discuss in detail the two distinct paths that a Phase Two can follow. 

When it comes to money, we’ve made how we feel about listing prices online or quoting over the phone quite clear; what we haven’t addressed, however, is how to price your services-- which is exactly what we’re going to discuss today. In this episode, we introduce the initial question to consider: How much do you want to make in a year? From there we cover how to break that goal down into monthly installments, how to take into account what the market can bear, how to accurately estimate the amount of time different projects will take, and how to avoid the temptation to price dive while negotiating with prospective clients. 

Welcome to our inaugural deep dive episode, in which we will exhaustively explore a specific facet of the independent editor’s suite of services. Today, we’ll take a look at the first phase of developmental editing: the written critique. When a client approaches you, they may have other ideas for how you can work together but this is really the place to start, which is why we call it a Phase One. What does a Phase One look like? How do you charge for it? Where do you and the client go next? Here, we answer all these questions and more. 

How do you feel about sales? Accepting that they are a crucial component of the independent editor business (and that there is nothing unsavory about that) is the first step towards establishing a robust and well-functioning sales process that will set you up for prolonged success. In this episode, we therefore begin by discussing the concept of sales as a whole, before getting into the nuts and bolts of how to get a prospect on the phone to seal the deal. 

When people search you out, what do they find? Are you their person? Your editorial platform is what determines this answer. All parts of your online presence work together to establish your credibility, express your personality, and show your engagement, but the crown jewel of it all is your website. In this episode, we cover both the general guiding principles and the specific building blocks you should consider while constructing your digital home. We also talk about social media’s role in your overall platform, as well as how to decide when the time is right to launch and invest in your editing website.

You cannot be an independent editor without having clients. And so today, we talk about how to source them. They’re out there; it’s up to you to connect with them and sell your services with confidence. Believing that, earnestly networking, and accepting both when leads pan into something great and when they go nowhere are all essential parts of the equation. Which, of course, means you need to be comfortable hearing “no.” Are you ready?

In this episode, we explore the breadth of opportunities that exist for the independent editor by talking our way through a project’s life cycle, covering many of the classic services that can be offered, including: coaching, developmental editing, ghostwriting, cowriting, line editing and ongoing assistance, copy editing, marketplace assistance (for both traditional and self-publishing) and publication support. But what you can do doesn’t stop there; we also discuss the endless possibilities for writers to turn whatever they are good at and like doing involving the written word into an income stream, and the importance of that very diversification.

Why should you care what we say? To kick things off, we talk about how we each found our way to the industry—and to each other; Stuart tells us how he purposefully waded in while Madison explains the fortuitous manner in which she found herself shoved into the deep end. The stark difference in our paths (and experience levels, with Stuart 20+ years into this whole thing and Madison just three) means we’re able to speak to independent editors across the spectrum. Here, we also get into the changes in traditional publishing which allowed for the flourishing of the independent editing industry.