Narrative Ink

I'm currently at my final graduate school residency. It's weird to write that, to say that, to think that... On Monday, I completed part one of my MFA requirements: the public reading. It went well. I received a lot of positive feedback, and many stopped me to request a copy of the full manuscript. That's the best compliment a writer can receive. 

This morning, I completed part two: my presentation/panel. I am presenting on forming your own profitable freelance editing company. My editing company, Narrative Ink, has given me great insight into the dos and don'ts of making it in this industry as a freelance editor.

I started freelance editing in March 2013, but I had been working as an editor for various small presses for several years prior to that point. I began writing seriously in 2009, and I have received two degrees in writing: a bachelor's from UW-Parkside and a master's from University of Southern Maine. 

But this isn't about my educational background...

In March 2013, I began freelancing under the company name of Prose & Cons Editing. In November 2014, the company name changed to Narrative Ink Editing, and my paperwork for my LLC was officially processed and approved by both the federal government and the state of Wisconsin. This was a long, daunting process and quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself.

Being able to say that I am the owner of a business is surreal.

Resolutions

I've never been one to make resolutions for the new year. Sure, I had goals, but I didn't deem them a new year's resolution. I think that was because I was afraid of failure. It was as if failing to meet my resolution meant the whole year was a waste. Now that I'm older, I see things differently, and this year, I'm making resolutions.

2015 is going to be a very busy year for me. I have just finished my graduate school program, and I will participate in my graduation ceremony in January. I'll be taking a two week road trip to Maine for the event, but more on that in January...

The new year will also see a wedding. My fiancé and I have been together for five years, and we're finally tying the knot. We're having a very low key destination beach wedding in Key West, but again, more on that in May. :) 

Finally, the new year will bring the final draft of Blood Lust, the novel I've been working on since 2009, so to speak. It's survived plot overhauls, character merges, and name changes, though, so it's hard to admit to it being the same novel I started penning so many years ago.

As I close the book on 2014, I'm left reminiscing about my achievements. I saw some of my best and worst times this year, and that only leaves me knowing that 2015 just may be my best one yet.

The Never-Ending Battle: Traditional vs Self-Publishing

With my debut novel nearly complete, I've been contemplating whether or not to pursue traditional publishing (landing an agent, editor, publisher, and contract) or self-publishing (selling my work myself on websites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, iBooks or in independent bookstores). 

There's no point in arguing that the traditional publishing market is a dying form and that self-publishing is steadily emerging. Both sides have pros and cons, but really, in my opinion, the better option is based on the writer. Self-published writers survive because of marketing, and often times, the marketing is done by the writer, not some fancy team the writer (or publisher) has hired. In self-publishing, the writer must have a knack for self-promotion--or the book will never reach its audience.

Thankfully, the negative connotation often associated with self-publishing is slowly diminishing, and more writers are turning toward this easier method of publication. The idea of making your own decisions is no longer the only perk. 

Let's Talk

I'm going to be honest: I'm not a blogger. I find blogging regularly way too difficult, but I'm going to give it my best shot. My plan is to blog twice a month. I'll aim for the first and the fifteenth, but I may stray from the schedule. As long as I stick with at least two posts a month, I'll feel pretty accomplished. :)

For my first blog post, I thought I'd take the typical route: a simple introduction. The links on my website will lead you to information about me, my books, and my editing work. But I keep it simple and to the point. There's a lot about me you'd never know. I figured there wouldn't be a more perfect time to air out my dirty laundry. ;)