Hey, neighbor ...
Posted on May 15, 2024
Farmer Fred hollers over the fence, “Hey neighbor. We been missin’ the rains ‘round here, but your fields look good. What gives?”
My editing business was growing and off to a good start, then things dried up. What should I have done?
Reach out to previous clients. Send a quick message to anyone you’ve worked for. Send your request in a politely worded email and follow up with a response to let them know you are open to work or referrals.
Don’t neglect your social media. You’re getting the hang of it. Keep showing up! Your network, friends, and followers look forward to the stunning, accurate, well-researched content you bring them, but let them know you are open to work.
Be knowledgeable, but also supportive. Post on your favorite topics: whether it’s proofreading, editing, writing, or something unrelated just for fun!
Are you scheduling posts? The Facebook planner is my go-to for scheduling. Even if I’m out of town or taking a well-deserved vacation, having my posts scheduled means I still show up on time for my readers. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Social media thrives on social interaction and building a community. Be friendly, supportive, and encouraging to others. Help someone else by sharing their informative or encouraging post. Offer a few kind words to someone who seems to struggle with something. Kindness is never out of place. Ultimately, you want their support, encouragement, and kind words too. So back to Farmer Fred, worried about his field drying up …
Farmer Bob, out standing in his field on the other side of the fence, replies to Farmer Fred, “I was prepared for that.”
In contrast to farmer Fred, who was anxious about the lack of rain, farmer Bob had taken precautions and remained unconcerned. He took care not to till the soil too deeply before planting, then instead of cultivating the weeds out, opted instead to mulch around his plants with straw, leaves, or grass clippings. This would be particularly beneficial in retaining moisture, especially if the expected rainfall didn’t materialize. But no worries for Farmer Fred, fortunately, his crops were saved when Farmer Bob generously offered his assistance. Together, they weeded, nurtured, and watered the plants, leading to their gradual recovery.
So, a lot like being a good neighbor, always try to support your fellow editors and writers. Research what your connections, followers, or editing clients would like to know more about. Offer to share a post for a writer about their latest book. Your willingness to help in any capacity could mean that you may be the next editor they think of when they need one.
So if that deadline for your last scheduled project is coming soon, make your preparations now and hopefully avoid the dreaded dry spell.
As I continue to nurture my blooming editing business, I can’t wait to chat more about it and why I love what I do! And, of course, some of the funny “life” things that happen along the way.
See you in a couple of weeks!
Susan
Susan will be the first to admit… she’s a nerd.
Whether tending her garden, fearlessly experimenting with flavors in the kitchen, or putting the first brush to a blank canvas, she’s constantly immersed in creative/nerdy pursuits.
When an opportunity to leave her 9 to 5 arrived, she didn’t hesitate to pursue her love for language. Her goal was to become an editor and motivate writers to share their stories with the world. Ironically, it was in the world of words and children’s literature where her creative spirit truly blossomed. Drawing from memories of the barn she grew up in, her stories for young readers beautifully capture the essence of farm life and family values, along with kindness, caring, friendship, and acceptance.
She and her hubby live on a small farm in Princeton, Illinois. As her kids grew up and left home, she became caretaker to a flock of escape-artist chickens, her daughter’s lovely Saddlebred horse, and a cantankerous goose who became a beloved character in her children’s stories.
Find more about her and her books at www.finelineproofs.com
