The Modern Editor - Editing Tips for Freelance Editors

Should you review books as an editor? Back in the day, I used to be a book blogger (which is now called a book reviewer), but I stopped when I became an editor. Why? In today’s episode, I’m telling you exactly why.

Disclaimer: I am not saying that editors cannot review books. Some people can do both and it works really well for them. I think you should do what feels right for you and your business. I’m simply sharing my experience and thoughts with you, and this is a judgment-free zone. 

This episode was inspired by the discourse I saw on Threads about this subject, so I hope my experience can add to the discussion.

• Episode 35 with Alex Temblador

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Book a 1:1 coaching session

When authors write about characters from different backgrounds, it’s important they do the research to understand why they’re writing the way they do—avoiding biases they may not realize they have. It’s our job to review this work, and today’s guest has created the tool and resource to make you a better editor. Alex Temblador joins us to share about her new book called Writing an Identity Not Your Own.

This is Alex’s first nonfiction book, but she’s previously published two fiction books: Secrets of the Casa Rosada and Half Outlaw. She received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a contributor to Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America, and Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology.

She is an award-winning travel, arts, and culture journalist who specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, publishing in the likes of Condé Nast Traveler, Outside, and Travel + Leisure, and speaking about such topics at SXSW, the Society of American Travel Writers, and the World Travel Market.

Alex lives in Dallas, Texas, where she runs a literary panel series called LitTalk and is the executive director of Write Here DFW.

Want a chance to win her book? St. Martin’s has kindly given me a copy to give away to a lucky podcast listener. Click here to enter.

• (0:38) Meet Alex Temblador
• (2:53) Alex’s Writing Journey
• (9:17) How to Feel Confident Writing Other Identities
• (15:33) Confronting Your Biases to Grow as a Writer
• (20:58) The Editing Process For Writing an Identity Not Your Own
• (27:08) The Responsibility of Editors
• (31:29) How to Approach Writing Different Identities Based on Genre
• (39:16) Confronting Your Biases is a Continual Journey

• Writing an Identity Not Your Own on Bookshop.org
• Alex’s website: https://www.alextemblador.com/
• Book website: https://www.writinganidentitynotyourown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_temblador/
• X: https://twitter.com/alex_temblador
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alex_temblador
• Enter the giveaway to win the book here!

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Book a 1:1 coaching session

What do kids and editing have in common? In this episode, I’m sharing five nuggets that my kids have taught me that have helped me become a better editor and business owner. I always say that my kids teach me more than I teach them every day, but I didn’t expect there to be an overlap with my business.

Disclaimer: you don’t need to have kids, want kids, or even like kids to get anything out of this episode. Now let’s dive in!

• (0:56) Lesson One: Practice Makes Progress
• (3:28) Lesson Two: You Don’t Know How to Do Something…Yet
• (6:20) Lesson Three: Approaching New Things With a Growth Mindset
• (8:19) Lesson Four: Nothing Will Go According to Plan
• (10:31) Lesson Five: Things Don’t Take as Long as I Think They Do
• (13:44) Episode 35 Teaser

• Episode 3: Why Mindset is More Than Just a Buzzword
• Episode 33: How to Take Time Off as a Freelancer
• Parkinson’s Law

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Book a 1:1 coaching session

Do you struggle with taking time off as a freelancer? When you’re your own boss and wear several hats, vacation time often gets put on the back burner. However, it’s up to us to take care of ourselves.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to take both planned and unplanned time off as a freelancer. We’re going to talk about how to arrange your schedule so it's more conducive to taking breaks, how to work with some trusted colleagues, and how to honor your time off.

• (1:08) Taking Time Off is Easier Said Than Done
• (1:43) How to Schedule Time Off and Communicate it With Your Clients
• (6:05) Prepping For Your Time Off
• (8:50) Budgeting For Your Time Away
• (10:47) How to Take Unplanned Time Off
• (14:39) Give Yourself Grace and Honor Your Boundaries
• (17:55) Time Off Doesn’t Have to be a Vacation

• YNAB app

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Book a 1:1 coaching session

Do you struggle with comparison in your freelance editing business? I believe we all compare ourselves to others throughout our lives. However, my hot take is that it’s not always a bad thing.

In this episode, we’re talking about the positives and negatives of comparison. We’ll dig into when comparison hurts your editing business and discuss when and how to compare yourself to others in a beneficial way.

Important Sections:

If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for a great book to read. Over the past few months, there have been a lot of amazing new books published about editing, writing, and the publishing industry, and I wanted to share my recommendations with you today. 

The following books are listed in order of publication dates, and they’re linked to my Bookshop.org affiliate account. However, make sure you check out your local library or bookstores too. 

I chose books that can be read at any stage of your editing career. Some of them may seem like they’re for a specific type of editor, but I always encourage editors at all stages of their business to read outside of their specific skill set or preferred genre. For example, even though I’m a copyeditor, I still read books about developmental editing because a well-rounded editor makes for a great editor.

• (1:08) Why you should read all types of editing books
• (1:44) Book One: How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Kieijzer
• (2:25) Book Two: Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
• (3:06) Book Three: The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
• (3:38) Book Four: The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
• (4:25) Book Five: The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
• (4:57) Book Six: Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
• (5:40) Book Seven: The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

1. How to Enjoy Being Edited by Hannah de Kaeijzer
2. Developmental Editing by Scott Norton
3. The Design of Books by Debbie Berne
4. The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors by Erin Brenner
5. The Conscious Style Guide by Karen Yin
6. Writing an Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador
7. The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

Work with Me:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Book a 1:1 coaching session

There is a fine line we walk when we approach burnout in our editing business. I know this all too well, which is why today’s episode is our first release in seven months. After facing my own spout of burnout and still actively recovering from it, I knew I had to ask for help in my business and it has made all the difference. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a little about that journey and what you should consider if you’re ready to ask for help!

Important Sections of the Conversation:

1:04 - Discussing Burnout and Recovery

3:58 - The Importance of Asking for Help

6:40 - Tips for Delegating and Hiring Help

16:19 - Personal Life and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in This Episode:

Work with Me:

With so much turmoil going on in the world, it can be hard to stay focused and find the motivation to continue with business as usual. Recently, I’ve often found myself asking, What’s the point? Who cares where this Oxford comma goes? None of this matters when atrocities are happening every day. We can feel helpless and hopeless. So, how do we keep moving forward? 

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things that I’m doing to help me move forward every day. A few highlights from today’s episode are:

• 04:11 – Remembering the things we can control
• 05:07 – Finding joy and positivity in the small things
• 08:07 – How our work as editors does matter

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara on Facebook

As a coach for freelance editors, one of the most common questions I get asked is about how many hours a day editors should be editing. And the answer is one of my favorites—it depends! 

In this episode, we’ll dive into specific questions you need to ask yourself that’ll help you figure out how many hours you should be editing in a day. Because (surprise, surprise!) it varies greatly for everyone. Here are some highlights below:

• 03:49 – Looking at what a typical workday looks like for you, including downtime, interruptions, and caregiving requirements, and how they’ll play a factor in your editing hours
• 08:05 – One question that may seem funny and irrelevant but is super important!
• 16:01 – How you can use your editing hours to help determine your editing rate

*Disclaimer: The math I attempted in this episode makes zero sense. I’m an editor, not a mathematician 🤣

Connect:

• Book a free 15-minute call
• Join the Freelance Editors Club
• Tara on Instagram
• Tara on Facebook

Are you booked out in your editing business? In this short-and-sweet episode, we’re going to talk about what “booked out” means to you as a freelance editor and if it’s something you even want to work toward (it might not be!). I want to stress that being booked out is not bad or wrong. And for anyone new here, when one of us succeeds, we all succeed!In this episode, I’ll touch on the following:

Connect: