2021 editing roundup
With 2021 drawing to an end, I thought it’d be fun and interesting to do a roundup of my editing projects this year. If you like stats or you’re interested to see what type of things I work on – and how much work a full-time book editor does in a year – read on!
Project breakdown – what did I work on?
I’ve worked on all kinds of great projects this year. One of the best things about this job is the variety – the amazing people I get to work with, and the imaginative and fun projects I fill my days with. Here’s a breakdown of all the projects I’ve done!
Services performed
- Beta and sensitivity reads: 5
- Copy/line edits: 15
- Proofreads: 20
- Manuscript assessments: 7
- Mini critiques: 2
- Read-throughs: 1 (I was working on Book 2 in a series and had to read Book 1 first!)
- Submission packages: 7
In total, I did 57 separate services this year!
Types of material
- Books: 45 – 46 if you count the one I worked on twice in the same year! Not much of a surprise, as I’m primarily a book editor!
- Short stories: 3
- Chapters/submission material: 7
Age ranges
- YA: 10
- MG/children’s: 3
- Adult: 40
This leans heavily on the adult side because many of my publisher projects are books for adults.
Genre
- Fantasy: 14 (I included magical realism in here too)
- Sci-fi: 10
- Historical: 1
- Cosy mystery: 2
- Thrillers/crime: 11
- Romance: 7
- Contemporary fiction: 6
- Non-fiction: 2
(I didn’t count duplicate services for the same project in this list.)
Client type
- Publisher projects: 20
- Author projects: 17
- Service provider projects: 20
I’m happy to see such an even split here – I love working with both publishers and authors and the variety it brings! Service providers, in case you’re wondering, are other editorial businesses that I do work for, such as Pikko’s House and Writers & Artists.
A handful of the lovely books I’ve worked on!
Interviews and features
I was lucky enough to be interviewed about my work as an editor in a couple of places this year, including the BBC!
- Working from home ‘has helped me make my career’ – BBC Business
- Upskilling Tips for Freelancers – In Conversation with Rachel Rowlands, Freelance Book Editor – The Publishing Post
The BBC interview came about in the wake of a UK politician saying that young people would damage their careers by working from home. I made a comment about starting an editing business in 2017 at the age of 27 and turning it into a full-time career, and the BBC invited me to be interviewed. (They do get my image caption slightly wrong – I was thriving as a freelancer before the pandemic, and before home-working was really talked about much.)
Other wins in 2021
Some other great things happened for me in 2021! Here are a few of my other wins:
- Became an Advanced Professional Member of the CIEP! My application went to a panel of editorial experts who vetted my experience, training, and references, and decided to award me the highest membership tier the CIEP has to offer.
- Had business coaching with Tanya Gold. It was wonderful for changing my mindset on a range of things, including money and turning my writing into a business. I highly recommend Tanya!
- Schedule filled up so much I’m now booking authors five, or even six, months out!
- Started taking on book projects for HarperCollins.
- Became an editor for Writers & Artists, an offshoot of Bloomsbury. This was particularly exciting as I’ve used and recommended their yearbooks for many years!
- Started blogging more regularly. And had lots of nice messages about my blog!
Looking ahead to 2022
I’m really proud of how I’ve done in 2021, and I have lots of exciting things planned next year, too. I’d like to start an author interview series on my blog, focused on authors overcoming rejection and other hardships in order to get published (or to self-publish). Writing can be wonderful, but it can also be a path lined with rejection and struggle, and I’d love to showcase some stories of writers who have overcome some of that.
I’m planning more professional development, too! I’d like to take a course on blogging and learn more about making my blog visible to more writers. And of course get through more of my writing craft and business/productivity books – I’d love to do at least one a month. High up on my list are The Fantasy Fiction Formula by Deborah Chester and Deep Work by Cal Newport.
Finally, I want to start a newsletter in the new year, to keep everyone up to date with what’s happening with me, my clients, my editing and my writing career! Watch this space…
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and new year!
If you’d like to get on my editing calendar in 2022, I’m booking for May 2022 onwards. Feel free to get in touch about your project!
