It’s been a very busy year with some fabulous books. I’ve worked on an even balance of fantasy and science fiction, but I also got to shake things up with a couple of historical fiction, thriller, and speculative fiction novels, and even a saucy romance novel! I also edited several game magazines and adventure modules, mostly in the Dungeon Crawl Classics and Mutant Crawl Classics systems.
Some facts and figures
Click to embiggen!Of the 21 books that have been published this year, 4 were traditionally published, 6 were published by indie presses, and 11 were self-published, with 2 more currently in development or off to agents.
My busiest month was October, presumably because people were getting their ducks in a row after taking the summer off. My most popular service was copy-editing, with line-editing close behind. Some clients opted for a combination of both.
A focus on the business side
This year I wanted to make my business more resilient so it can handle the growth I have planned for 2023. This meant I needed to cut down on my admin time, improve the efficiency of my process, and clarify the services I was offering to my clients. I also focused on developing new relationships with other editors, agencies, and publishers to ensure a steady flow of work.
Improved onboarding
Amber Helt helped me to shift my onboarding process to Dubsado, which means that my clients now get access to their own author portal where they can upload and download manuscript files, view their invoice and contract, see any emails I’ve sent them, complete any forms, and more! This has resulted in a smoother experience and a clearer query resolution process, and much less emailing back and forth.
We grow together
I joined the Rooted in Writing team and had the chance to proofread manuscripts that had already been developed and copy-edited by some superstar editors. I started taking on more line edits for RIW, and the high standard of those manuscripts encouraged me to improve my own line-editing skills so I could help take the writing to the next level. One way I’ve boosted my skills is by taking Louise Harnby’s How to Line Edit for Suspense course. I highly recommend it! It’s packed with resources and practice exercises with model answers. She’s got a special holiday deal on right now, so I recommend getting it sooner rather than later.
New packages
With the shift to Dubsado, I also introduced three new packages for novelists. Bundling these services lets my returning clients enjoy a discounted rate while saving me a little time with the admin.
House Gecko
I line edit your manuscript, and then a month or so later, once it’s been revised, copy-edited, and formatted for print, I’ll proofread the finished manuscript as well.
Total price: $45 per 1000 words.
Jewelled Gecko
I line edit your manuscript, and once you’ve made your revisions, I’ll do a second copy-editing pass to ensure stylistic consistency and catch any errors that might have crept in during the revisions.
Total price: $49.50 per 1000 words.
Golden Gecko
This is the deluxe package, and it includes a line edit and a copy edit by me, and then a fresh set of eyes will proofread the manuscript after it’s been formatted. I review the proofread before it’s sent back to you.
Total price: $54–67.50 per 1000 words.
Trying new working environments
I took on a huge game, proofreading over 3000 cards and game components (including several expansions). This gave me the chance to try out the Ziflow collaborative proofreading environment, and I have to say, I’m a fan. It’s similar to Adobe, but there are some handy keyboard shortcuts that made this a much more efficient process, and my clients liked that we didn’t have to email the files back and forth; there were over 250 of them! Now that I’ve learned to use this environment, my TTRPG clients have more options, so we can find the system that works best for both of us.
Marketing and networking
Malini (right) and I (left) after wandering around the National Art Gallery.
I had the chance to spend a day with the wonderful Malini Devadas in Canberra, and she gave me some personal advice on marketing, networking, and being selective about where you spend that energy. She encouraged me to work on networking more with potential clients than with other editors, as I’ve already got a very solid network of colleagues and the referral stream there is strong. Malini is ramping down her editor coaching in the year to come, but you can still benefit from her wisdom by listening to her editing podcast, here.
Go where your clients are
I’ve been working on some really fun, well-researched, and meticulously planned TTRPG content. One of my clients, Trevor Stamper, invited me to appear on the official Goodman Games Twitch channel to talk about how TTRPG publishers can benefit from and get started with professional editors. We had a blast! You can watch the conversation on YouTube.
Professional recognition
After almost three years of completing training, getting experience, collecting references, and acing the editing test, I upgraded to Professional Member of the CIEP. I am now listed in the CIEP directory, along with some very nice testimonials from the best clients ever. I also joined the CIEP’s forum moderator team, which gives me a chance to give back to the editing community I love so much.
What’s in store for 2023?
I think 2023 is looking quite promising. I’m already booked up until May, so if you’d like to get your manuscript into my hands, it’s better to get in touch as soon as possible. I’m especially looking forward to line-editing the third installment in an epic space opera in April! It’s so satisfying to see the writer’s skills grow as much as their characters do.
Here’s a sneak peek at some other things I have planned for the year to come:
Growing the Gecko Edit team
I’m planning to add some proofreaders to my team so I can shorten the queue and offer more services with the Gecko Edit stamp of quality. If you’re interested in joining my team, send me an email. I’ll be sharing more details about this in the near future.
Presenting more webinars
This year I gave a talk to the CIEP Fiction Editors special interest group about copy-editing science fiction, such as how to keep track of wibbly-wobbly timelines, using real-world analogs to code made-up concepts so readers can catch on faster, and what sort of information I keep track of in my style sheet, as well as how conscious language considerations apply to made-up contexts and communities.
It was really fun to flex my old teacher muscles, so I’m hoping to do more. In fact, the first webinar for 2023 is already lined up! I’ll be introducing some Texan EFA members to macros for absolute beginners in January. Find out more here.
Final thoughts
Overall, it’s been a busy, busy year for Gecko Edit, but all the hard work I’ve put in gives me a lot of confidence for the year ahead. Stay tuned! Great things are coming.
I'm a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who works with indie authors and publishers on fiction and nonfiction. My favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction. Follow me and my furry editorial assistants on social media, @GeckoEdit.
I line edit your manuscript, and once you’ve made your revisions, I’ll do a second copy-editing pass to ensure stylistic consistency and catch any errors that might have crept in during the revisions.
This is the deluxe package, and it includes a line edit and a copy edit by me, and then a fresh set of eyes will proofread the manuscript after it’s been formatted. I review the proofread before it’s sent back to you.
