Building a successful freelancing business isn’t just about talent—it’s about tapping into your network, getting involved in the right circles, and spotting opportunities when they come your way. Laurie Siblock, though early in her editing career, is already a standout example of how powerful these strategies can be. Laurie has carved out an impressive client list by doing exactly that.
As a freelance editor, she’s worked with a variety of clients, including:
Literary publishers (Coach House Books, Book*hug, etc.)
Galleries and museums (Doris McCarthy Gallery, Cobourg and Area Museum)
Academia (Polytechnique Montréal, Ph.D students, etc.)
Non-profit organizations (Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society)
On top of that, Laurie is currently coaching two clients as they write their manuscripts, showing how diverse and rewarding a freelancing career can be when you take the initiative.
About her clients, Laurie says, “I understand that I might have an inordinately wide diversity of clientele, but I am early in my editing career—three years in—and I’m as eager as a historian stepping into a time machine. As my career progresses, I will hone the types of work I accept, but right now I’m enjoying getting as much experience as I can.”
And, though she doesn’t mention it in this interview, Laurie also works occasionally as a pet sitter. So she gets paid to edit while getting paid to pet sit. She’s a great example of combining interests and finding a way to earn more money doing what you love.
Curious about how Laurie made such an impact early on in her freelancing journey? Let’s dive into her insights and strategies as she shares more about her experience in this Happy Freelancing interview.
What first attracted you to an editing career?
My first answer to this question probably won’t surprise even one of you: I’m a voracious reader and have been since I was a child. Even after a long day of editing, I still read a book for pleasure before I go to sleep. (If you’d like to see what I’m reading and share what you’re reading, look me up on Goodreads. I love to connect with other readers.) Some pundits advise against making your passion your career because the risk of turning your joy into drudgery is too great. But I’m pretty sure nothing could destroy my love of reading.
In my former career as a museum manager at a pioneer village museum, I did a lot of work related to writing and editing. I developed educational and exhibit content, wrote funding grants and reports, and began a museum newsletter, writing many of the articles and soliciting and editing the articles of others. Plus, even before I was managing, I was always the go-to person for giving a “once-over” to content before it went out to the public.
We have so much to learn from each other. We can support each other.
When I left that job, burnt out as a roasted marshmallow on fire, I felt like I needed to make a big change in my life. So, I thought about the parts of my job that I loved most—writing and editing—and I began to look for a career that would utilize those skills while indulging my love of reading.
Another factor for wanting to explore editing as a career was that for fifteen years I had a long commute to work—forty-five minutes if I sped and didn’t get stuck behind a tractor with a load of hay. I’d seen the example of my husband, who is a writer and editor. He was sometimes still in his pyjamas when I got home from work ten hours after I’d left. I was jealous. Don’t get me wrong. He works hard, but he does it from the comfort of our home. I wanted that too.
Finally, one of my mottos in life is “Go where the energy is.” My energy (interest, enthusiasm, curiosity) was definitely pointing to editing, so that’s where I headed.
How did you get started in editing?
My husband said he could mentor me and gave me a few small jobs to get me started. Since I’d done some editing in my museum work, I thought I’d be pretty good right out of the gate. But I was wrong. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” And it seemed that there was quite a lot I didn’t know. I realized I was in over my head, so I enrolled in an online copy-editing course through Simon Fraser University (SFU).
It was a tough course. I learned a lot and loved it. It was a good sign I was headed in the right direction. But I also realized that there was so much more to learn. So, I buckled down, took the twelve required courses, and completed the online editing certificate in just under two years. My husband continues to mentor me to this day. There is so much to learn!
While I was taking the SFU courses, I let people know on social media that I was changing course in my life and that I was excited about editing. Periodically, I gave updates on my progress so that when I was ready to begin, people already saw me as an editor. And just as importantly, more and more, I was seeing myself as an editor too. Work began to come my way through Facebook and my network even while I was a student.
Describe how your career has unfolded
The first thing that really helped me feel confident moving forward with a freelance editing career was taking the Freelancing for Editors course through SFU*. Heidi Turner was my instructor, and she was knowledgeable and supportive. In that course, I worked to define my focus and write a realistic business plan. Even if you aren’t able to take such a course, I highly recommend doing some online research and creating a business plan for your own freelance business if you haven’t already. I’ve gone back to the plan often, and it’s probably time I updated it, as I’ve found my goals have changed slightly because I’ve discovered that I love doing manuscript evaluations and writing coaching, something I didn’t know back then.
I sent out holiday greetings to my clients by email. From that one simple email, I got additional work from a gallery and a client for whom I’d done a manuscript evaluation. He wanted me to copy-edit his 486-page novel!
I believe I am where I am today because I rise to new challenges and, if taking on a new project means I need to hone my skills (like learn more about editing Indigenous writers, as I did for a client in Nunavut), then I set out to do that.
How do you find clients?
So far, most of my work has been found through my personal network. It has helped that my husband is a writer and editor and we attend book launches, poetry readings, and literary awards nights. I try to get to know new people at these events, but I’m not heavy-handed about handing my card out. (Confession: I need to make a card!) It’s helpful when, later on, I contact someone I met to let them know I’m available for copy-editing and proofreading work if I can let them know I met them at such and such an event.
I’ve marketed myself on Facebook and that has worked for me. I try to make my posts informative and, if possible, humorous. I once found a 19th-century article about editors who settled their differences through a duel. I posted the article, expressing my great relief that the industry has changed since then.
In addition to finding work through my network, I’ve attended literary events and meetings of our local writer’s group, joined Happy Freelancing’s co-working sessions, and there is an upcoming networking gathering of women organized by our local business association that I’m planning on attending. I’m a homebody, so I have to step out of my comfort zone to go to some of these things, but I remind myself that most people at these events feel the same and if I show interest in someone, they almost always reciprocate.
I’m also a member of Editor’s Canada, attend many of their workshops, and actively participate on their Facebook page.
One of the marketing tactics that I read about in Happy Freelancing worked really well for me last Christmas/Hanukkah. I sent out holiday greetings to my clients by email. From that one simple email, I got additional work from a gallery and a client for whom I’d done a manuscript evaluation. He wanted me to copy-edit his 486-page novel!
My marketing is a work in progress, but I understand that will always be the case for it’s important to stay on top of client needs and trends while also ensuring your marketing fits your current plan. I still need to make that business card, and I’m working on developing a website.
What do you love about editing?
What don’t I love about editing? It’s like a puzzle or a Where’s Waldo? hunt. I swear I get a shot of adrenaline when I spot a smart quote that needs to be fixed or tidy up a dangling modifier. I enjoy the process of working on a convoluted sentence until it is clearer for the reader. I revel in knowing that the title of a book, movie, art exhibit, or TV series is italicized but titles of articles, single poems, and TV episodes are placed in quotation marks, that is if you’re using Chicago style.
I also love having the flexibility to work from anywhere. Sometimes I work in a cafe in the afternoon. I can take my work to my folk’s cottage or to Montreal. It can go wherever I go—if I want it to.
I love supporting writers to bring their vision of the book (article, blog, or paper) in their head onto the page and to help make their writing communicate clearly, with as few mechanical errors as possible while still maintaining their unique voice.
And finally, I’m enjoying the community of writers, editors, publishers, and readers that I am getting to know. It’s a great community.
What do you love about freelancing?
The best things about freelancing for me are being able to work from home and being my own boss. I can work late into the evening if I’m working on a tight deadline. (No one has to know I’m a night owl and was working till 1:00 am!) I’ve had to work on self-discipline and time management, and I’m learning to set boundaries so my workday doesn’t get whittled away by all the other things that come up. But for this homebody, working from home is simply the best!
I also love having the flexibility to work from anywhere. Sometimes I work in a cafe in the afternoon. I can take my work to my folk’s cottage or to Montreal. It can go wherever I go—if I want it to.
I also like that I can turn down work if I don’t want it. (I haven’t turned any down yet, but I like that I can.) And I like that I can seek out the kind of work I most enjoy doing.
What advice would you share with other freelancers?
The best piece of advice I can give to other freelancers is to be a continual learner. Seek out opportunities to learn and connect with other freelancers in your field—and other fields too! We have so much to learn from each other. We can support each other.
Oh, and don’t ignore marketing.
And be brave.
I’ll finish this interview by leaving your readers with a piece of advice from Lady Macbeth that I’ve found very helpful in my life.
Loosely paraphrased, it is this: Screw your courage to the sticking place and you shall not fail.
Connect with Laurie:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurie-siblock-a70444b/
Facebook: Laurie Siblock
Goodreads: Laurie Siblock on goodreads.com/
*Note: The Freelancing for Editors course is entirely online. You do not have to live in BC (or even in Canada) to take it and you do not have to be registered in the Editing Certificate program.
Here’s to your ongoing freelance success,
Heidi
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