Questions for a Freelance Editor/Indexer/Proofreader: April Michelle Davis

April Michelle Davis has been a freelance editor, indexer, and proofreader for more than 11 years. For the last six years, she has run Editorial Inspirations full-time. April will be our instructor for the Thursday, October 18, audio conference: “Evaluating Manuscripts and Editing at Different Levels.”

How did you get into your current editing position, April?

I was a part-time freelance editor, indexer, and proofreader for over six years, beginning in 2001, before I quit my full-time job. Working in-house for a magazine gave me a new perspective. Plus, some prospective clients ask if I have worked in-house, and I can say yes! I slowly built up my clientele, and when I had enough clients, had enough money saved for a buffer, and was making enough money freelancing, I quit the in-house position to focus more on my own freelancing career.

What do you find satisfying about owning an editorial services business?

When working in-house for the magazine, I knew I wanted to own an editorial business. I wanted to work on a variety of projects with a variety of people. One year after I decided to freelance full time my son was born. Since then, I have appreciated owning a business even more. My son is able to stay home with me, and I am able to work from home and have flexible hours, allowing me to enjoy spending time with my son.

What fortune-cookie-sized advice would you give other editors interested in beginning their own editing/proofreading/indexing businesses?

Like it, love it, live it. Like your genres, love what you do, live your profession.

If you weren't editing/indexing/proofreading, what would you like to try as a career? What's a job that fascinates you?

A teacher. I love learning and am always looking for new books to read and new classes to take. That is one reason I love what I do—I get to learn about the subject matter of the project, many of which I would not have read on my own but were very interesting, allowing me to expand my horizons even further.

Thanks, April!

Find more of April on LinkedIn, EditorialInspirations.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@EInspirations). And don’t miss this week’s audio conference on Evaluating Manuscripts and Editing at Different Levels.