Did you know that there is one crucial component of your business as an editor that you must take care of and think about more than any other aspect?
It's the most important thing you own.
It's not: Tech editor certification, web urls, client lists, social media profiles, your course completions, your resume, your credentials.
It's your reputation.
Think about this for a minute. We work and move in a small industry. Word gets around. Designers speak to each other, pass names of tech editors, both good and bad. If you are a great tech editor, then your name will be passed on as someone excellent to work with. If you are pushy, unkind, and rude, then your name will get passed on as someone to avoid.
Here's the thing. We think of our reputation is related to how many errors we find, or how many errors we miss in a pattern. We think we'll get a bad reputation if we mess up an edit.
Hey, in my experience, designers are very forgiving of mistakes because we are all human. We all make mistakes, and we all have bad days. And if you are a newer editor and you have been clear up front that you are still learning, people manage their expectations.
Making mistakes doesn't kill your reputation. So what does? Four things:
· How you show up on social media,
· how you respond to criticism,
· how you respond when you make a mistake,
· how you treat people,
· how you talk about others.
These things are your reputation; how you act in our industry is everything, not how you did on one edit. So what does this look like in our community and with designers and with clients?
Your client has to come first. Your number one job is to be helpful to your client and be the best you can be to them. Sometimes that means sending them somewhere else if you feel you can't do the work they want you to.
Your communication is kind and respectful. When you are editing, you set aside your personal pet peeves. You word your comments and queries in a way that assists the designer, not talks down to them. When you make a mistake, you own it and fix it.
You show up online as helpful and informative. Sometimes this means just answering people's questions with no ask, no sales pitch. You educate to improve things in our industry, not with a secret agenda to get more clients.
You collaborate with other editors and build relationships. Are there other editors' posts and information you can share? Do you have someone you can connect with for help and support?
You lift others up. There are many underrepresented and underserved communities within our industry. Are there voices that need to be amplified to make things better?
You might notice what is missing from this list: being super knowledgeable or expert in our craft. These things do help, and obviously you need to build these things up as you build your business, becoming someone who is skilled and does good work. But most importantly, you need to be building a reputation for being a good person.
Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful…be concerned with doing good work and make the right choices and protect your work. And if you build a good name, eventually, that name will be its own currency. -- William S. Burroughs
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What do you think about this? Hit reply and tell me!
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Love yarn and math?
Get the skills to tech edit crochet patterns, as well as the knowledge to start your business and land your first clients. Melissa Metzbower takes you step-by-step through the tech editing process, and after working through the modules and the practice patterns, you will be ready to be a tech editor designers trust with their patterns.
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In the FB Group
What's everyone's favorite way to organize their checklists for what to check each time?
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How are you using AI in your business?
Counting stitches on a chart, what are you editing?
Sarah
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I am a knitting technical editor, author, and sweater nerd. I like coffee, puzzles, many books (all at once), and a good sniff of yarn fumes. This Hub is all about helping *you* find success as a technical editor from any direction that works.
When you are ready:
- Learn to tech edit knitting patterns or crochet patterns. Get training and real pattern practice before you take on clients.
- Schedule a strategy session with me. Go deep and get unstuck.
- Join the editor-only community for collaboration, 24-7 support and more skills, including building that business.
- Or just book a virtual cuppa with me. How can I help you?
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