Summary:
The freelance roller-coaster is in full effect! I have no work – I have tons of work – I have no work! (Well, sort of…) Other energies are still mostly focused on YouTube channel planning.
Monday:
We travelled back from a wonderful reading retreat weekend in Somerset.
And, of course, I spent some time in the afternoon shooting additional footage for my upcoming YouTube channel.
Later, I edited together all the different parts of my May TBR video and I think it turned out really well.
In the evening, I had some back and forth (including an in-depth sample edit) with the clients for the two massive projects I was hoping would get confirmed for April – and they both did!
Tuesday:
I was aware I might have a lot of paid work in April – hurrah! – but the two big projects only got finally confirmed late the night before, so this morning was a case of getting up early and cracking on with a suddenly very full schedule.
I started with another sample edit for a potential new client – whose book I might have a bit of trouble fitting in if he assigned me the project… But hey – not passing up extra work when it’s been a bit light so far this year!
Then I started on both of the massive projects – copy editing the last in a sci-fi series I’ve worked on since mid-2023, and developmental editing a Viking-set fantasy novel for a new client referred to me by an editor friend.
In the Revision Club focus session, I decided to watch some more Skillshare videos about building a YouTube channel, to make the most of my free month of access.
I also wrote up all my reviews from the weekend’s reading retreat.
Wednesday:
I started putting together my notes for my April wrap-up YouTube video, writing bullet points for the first book I finished for it.
I also started filming sections for my mid-May video, which is the first one transferring Reviews Revisited from the podcast – focusing on The Three by Sarah Lotz.
Later, I made the thumbnail for the second video – May TBR Picks – which I edited last week.
Thursday:
I went into town for the usual co-working session and worked on both my current paid editing projects – the sci-fi novel and the Viking novel – both a lot of fun.
Later, I wrote Stanley the bear’s blog post for the month, then worked on my CIEP Proofreading course for a bit.
In the evening, I had a video call with a few people about potentially running workshops later in the year and ended up volunteering to do one in May. So I added to my notes for that.
Friday:
I went into town again for a shorter, solo writing session before meeting up with friends. I was intending to work on revisions to the short story anthology I’m putting together, based on Dixit cards, but the wi-fi where I was working was very spotty and trying to access stuff online got too annoying.
So, I went old school and did handwritten brainstorming for the next two stories to be drafted. I also started listening to The Three by Sarah Lotz and making notes for Reviews Revisited, which will be the first iteration of the project being posted on YouTube rather than as a podcast episode.
Saturday:
I woke up to an email from the client with the Viking novel, cancelling the project because he’s got interest from a big publisher, who wants to work with him on the manuscript. Which was pretty amazing! It’s a shame not to complete the project, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for him.
Prompted by the sudden lack of work, I contacted a previous client who had said he would have regular work for me, to ask if there was anything coming up. He responded with details of a complex, challenging project that wasn’t something I would normally consider, but I gave him a price for it and he went away to consider his finances.
Sunday:
I woke up with some additional ideas for my upcoming workshop, so I amended my notes.
I also typed up notes for my April wrap-up video, because I finished a book the day before – so I also wrote my usual review.
Sign up to my newsletter or learn about my editing services!