Logo design: Stephanie Davidson
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"Maya makes it so easy for anyone to use this system. Even if someone isn’t comfortable using Excel, they’ll be able to input their information. Because everything was clearly marked in one area, I was able to have a clear picture of my income and timelines rather than guessing or having to look at multiple spots to know how I was doing work-wise. It’s very empowering to have everything up to date."
Kelly Lamb Editor |
The story of The Editor's Affairs
As freelance editorial professionals, we're in control of every aspect of our businesses, from the projects we take on to the rates we set, our continuing professional development and the levels of editing we offer. It can be all too easy to forget this, though, amid the daily pressures of looming deadlines and dangling modifiers.
I initially created The Editor's Affairs (TEA) for myself, to keep track of project details, income and expenses, and also to remind myself that What I Mean To Say is my business and that its future is under my control. (And, admittedly, because I love spreadsheets.) The more I talked to other self-employed editors about their businesses, the more I felt that TEA could be useful for them, too.
I initially created The Editor's Affairs (TEA) for myself, to keep track of project details, income and expenses, and also to remind myself that What I Mean To Say is my business and that its future is under my control. (And, admittedly, because I love spreadsheets.) The more I talked to other self-employed editors about their businesses, the more I felt that TEA could be useful for them, too.
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“Having all the data – income, expenses, schedule, overall project data, and project notes – in one place makes it so much easier to keep track of your editing business, especially the financial side. Which in turn makes decision-making easier and more accurate.”
Janet MacMillan wordsmith | editor | proofreader | researcher |
Taking control of our freelance editing careers
I’m passionate about this industry, and I don’t just want to give editors numbers on a screen. I want every editor to see themselves as a highly skilled communications professional, whether they have decades of experience or are just starting out. Running your own business can feel overwhelming. If you’re thinking of making the leap into freelancing, I can help you take some of the fear out of that decision.
Before becoming a freelancer, I spent almost a decade managing a team of editors working on various projects for a higher-education publisher. The Excel experience I gained there, creating weekly team schedules, monthly reports, project budgets and timelines, and salary-increase proposals, was just as valuable as any grammar course in helping me become a successful self-employed editor.
We freelancers don’t have managers or bosses. This can be a good thing — we set our own priorities, business parameters, hours and rates. But it also means that there’s no annual performance review, no one to give us a raise and no one reminding us to use our annual leave days.
The good news is that, as an entrepreneur, you are your boss, and you are capable of giving yourself all the benefits, opportunities and kudos you’d receive from your dream employer. With TEA, you’ll have the tools and business data you need to manage yourself with confidence.
Before becoming a freelancer, I spent almost a decade managing a team of editors working on various projects for a higher-education publisher. The Excel experience I gained there, creating weekly team schedules, monthly reports, project budgets and timelines, and salary-increase proposals, was just as valuable as any grammar course in helping me become a successful self-employed editor.
We freelancers don’t have managers or bosses. This can be a good thing — we set our own priorities, business parameters, hours and rates. But it also means that there’s no annual performance review, no one to give us a raise and no one reminding us to use our annual leave days.
The good news is that, as an entrepreneur, you are your boss, and you are capable of giving yourself all the benefits, opportunities and kudos you’d receive from your dream employer. With TEA, you’ll have the tools and business data you need to manage yourself with confidence.
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“TEA will simplify my workflow with regards to my business, and as such it fills a need and frees up time to focus on the work I am hired and paid to do.”
Pia Pedersen Copyeditor |
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“I find TEA quite comprehensive and the most extensive system I’ve used to date to manage my income and expenses (combined in one file!) as a freelancer. I love seeing at a glance what percentage of my income comes from each client, as well as how many hours I’ve worked for each client. These sorts of automated summaries are super helpful for freelancers to make valuable decisions about their business and their time.”
Adrineh Der-Boghossian Editor and Translator |
