Questions for Freelance Editor, Indexer, and Proofreader: April Michelle Davis
This interview was conducted by Copyediting.
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!