Felicia Clark: Communication Specialist

Name: Felicia Clark

Age: 27

College & Majors/Minors: Journalism/Creative Writing

Current Location: Appleton, WI

Current Form of Employment: Marketing agency

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work for Candeo Creative (a marketing agency in Oshkosh, WI) as communication specialist where I post social media content for clients.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

I was a senior in college at UW-Oshkosh when I landed my first job as a copy editor at the Oshkosh Northwestern (Gannett) newspaper. I was a proofreader for Oshkosh Corporation in the Oshkosh Defense Bid & Proposal department, working 90 hours per week editing government documents. I then worked for Shop Local Appleton, Oshkosh, Green Bay (and everything in between) as the community social media manager. That's when I found the communication specialist position open at Candeo Creative. In just three short months I went from being part time to full time.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

My first taste of marketing, since I was strictly a journalism major, was when I brought a Danish documentary called Free the Mind to Appleton Marcus Cinemas. It was a video that followed veterans suffering with PTSD as they took an intensive meditation course that changed their lives. It was so inspiring that I signed up to show it, knowing I needed at least 77 tickets before the theatre would play it for an audience. By the end of the month, after marketing my own event, I had 170-plus attendees and the cinemas gave me a larger room! I also found the veterans who were in the film and brought them out as a surprise for a Q&A session after the film. All the money donated went Dryhootch Fox Valley. This became one of the most important moments in both my personal and professional life. I had discovered my passion for the marketing world!

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I gained leaderships skills in college by running student organizations, taking 18-19 credits per semester on top of two paying jobs, including writing two articles per week for the student-run newspaper (the Advance-Titan). Juggling so many activities at once helped me learn prioritization skills and reach any deadline, no matter how short.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Don't give up and be willing to leave your comfort zone to try new things. You never know where these little adventures will take you.
Between each of the jobs I had in my field, I was typically working another entry level position to pay my bills. From waitressing to barista to canvasser to bookseller, I became a jack-of-all-trades, which helps me understand clients I am now marketing in my current job. Those "insignificant jobs" prepared me for the next. It took me nearly 5 years after graduation to land my dream job. You have to trust that the right job will come along.

Visit Felicia Clark at MeasureLifeInBookmarks.com for more details on her writing journey!

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Communications, Editing, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media and tagged Social Media.

7 Cold, Hard Facts About Freelancing

Freelancing is an excellent career option for many writers—it allows you to have more choice, from the type of work you do to your daily schedule. Want to work in your pajamas all day? Want to work on the beach in Hawaii this week? Go for it! However, just like any job, there are pros and cons. It’s important to do your research before you jump in head first!

There’s some cold, hard facts you should know about freelancing if you’re considering taking the leap of quitting your day job:

1. There’s a lot that a full-time employer figures out for you. As a self-employed freelancer, you will have responsibility for these things.

If you have had experience working for a larger company, then at least a couple of the following things were most likely taken care of for you:

Your paycheck already had taxes taken out.
Signing up for health and dental insurance was pretty easy, and if you had any questions, Human Resources could help you out.
Signing up to contribute to a 401(k) or other retirement plan may have been an option for you, and your employer may have even contributed to it.
Paid Time Off (PTO) was measured out for you and your boss or HR kept track.

To begin with, as a freelancer, you are in charge of doing all of your own taxes. For many, this will mean paying quarterly taxes, or planning ahead and budgeting enough money to pay taxes at the end of the year (which you’ll also need a business license to do!). When it comes to managing your own finances, this is just the beginning! You will also have to find your own healthcare plan, and plan/invest for retirement on your own. And PTO is a thing of the past! On that note...

2. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid.

In regards to the benefit of having an employer, having PTO means that you get paid even when you’re not at work, whether you’re sick with the flu or on vacation in Hawaii. But of course, things are a little different when you’re completely on your own. If you’re working hourly for a client and not putting in the hours, you’re not getting paid. Your schedule may be flexible, but no one else is there to do the work for you and pick up the slack.

However, this also allows you to take as much vacation time as you want. Instead of being limited to what your employer offers each year, now you have the flexibility to do as you please.

3. You will probably spend a lot of time alone.

While there may be opportunities to collaborate with others, the bulk of your time will most likely be spent getting work done on your own. You’ll be in charge of managing your time, calendar, and projects. It’s important that you work well independently, are self-motivated, and are able to find that cherished work/life balance that can be so hard (especially for freelancers) to achieve. Think back to college or any work-from-home days you have had: Was 8+ hours too long to be alone? Were you able to study and be productive?

4. You need to network. Period.

Even if you set up an amazing website that showcases your skills and portfolio and “does the talking for you,” business will most likely not magically appear. You have to network. The word “network” alone is enough to stop some people dead in their job-search tracks, but break it down and it won’t be so scary! Reach out to agencies that are dedicated to connecting creatives with employers, ask friends, family and former co-workers if they know anyone who might be in need of a copywriter/editor/etc., and don’t turn down opportunities to meet new people. For some freelancers, the bulk of their work may come simply from referrals alone. Either way, it's essential to your business to make new contacts and connections.

5. You are constantly going to interviews.

While it’s not necessarily like an interview for a full-time position at a big company, each new client you meet will be like going through the interview process all over again in a way. Some clients will have a lot of questions, some will know exactly what they want, and some might need YOU to tell them what they need. At the very least, you’ll want to be prepared to tell them what you do, how much you do it for, similar work you’ve done in the past, and maybe even why what you do is important.

6. You might not have a stable income.

Many choose the freelancing life due to the fact that you have the potential to have more control over your income. You can set your own hourly rates, project fees, and the hours you put into your business are indicative of how much money you will make. This also means that when work is slow, you're not getting paid as much. It's important to figure out exactly how much money you need to make each month and ensure you can meet those goals. It will also be important to save up at least a few months worth of living expenses, just in case you don't have enough work or jobs fall through. Planning ahead is essential!

7. You are responsible for everything. No pressure!

The world of freelancing is truly a blessing and a curse! While it affords you with a flexibility that full-time, 9-5 employees can only dream of, it comes at a price. It’s all about making a trade—what are you willing to sacrifice in order to gain more freedom and autonomy? In addition to being a writer (or editor, or whatever it may be), are you ready to also be your own finance, human resources, and marketing departments?

The future of your career is in your hands—go and make the most of it! Read about the careers of other freelancers and self-employed people here on Dear English Major:

Ashley Sapp: Freelance Writer/Editor & Administrative Coordinator

Emily Ladau: Freelance Writer & Disability Rights Advocate

Nicole Wayland: Freelance Copyeditor & Proofreader

Janet Schwind: Self-Employed Writer, Editor & Publishing Consultant

Andi Satterlund: Self-Employed Writer/Knitting Pattern Designer

Pamela Patton: Owner, Operator & Chief Wordsmith @ Paragraph Writing Services

Christine Stoddard: Writer/Filmmaker, Co-owner & Creative Director of Quail Bell Press & Productions

Robert S. Gerleman: Freelance Author & Editor

Charlotte McGill: Self-Employed Writer & Editor

Maggie Smith-Beehler: Poet, Author, Freelance Writer & Editor

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Freelance, Self-Employed, Featured Articles.

Courtney Ginder: Content Manager

Name: Courtney Ginder

Age: 23

College and Majors/Minors: Purdue University, Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing, Bachelor of Science in Psychological Sciences

Current Location: Noblesville, Indiana

Current Form of Employment: Content Manager at LHP Telematics

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work for LHP Telematics as the Content Manager. I’m responsible for writing all product documentation, both user guides that are customer-facing and internal documentation, such as work instructions for our warehouse. I’m also responsible for designing and writing marketing materials, such as flyers, press releases, and brochures. I also manage our company social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+, as well as write our e-newsletter that goes out twice a month. I manage the company website and make sure that all the information on the website is up-to-date and relevant, and I blog about our products and services and relevant industry news. Finally, I have some testing and support roles for our web portal – I test all of our new portal version releases for usability purposes, and I also provide web portal support for our customers.

LHP Telematics is a heavy equipment remote monitoring company, founded in 2008. When I was hired, I was the first technical writer and as such, was able to design our standard documentation formats. When I moved into the role of Content Manager as I began taking on more marketing tasks and took over our online marketing strategies, I successfully tripled the traffic to our website, as well as grew our social media presence and started an email newsletter.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

I found my job at LHP Telematics by attending Industrial Roundtable, which the engineering and technology career fair held every year in the fall at my alma mater, Purdue University. It may seem strange to hear an English major say she found her job at an engineering fair, but I knew I wanted to pursue technical writing, so the companies I wanted to work for were not going to be at fairs held by the College of Liberal Arts (which is where my major, Professional Writing, is housed within the Department of English). I marketed myself as a strong technical writer with a unique perspective on usability since I also double-majored in Psychological Sciences. That marketing strategy worked, and I was hired as LHP Telematics’ first technical writer.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

I had an internship with Ovar’Coming Together, Indiana’s only non-profit for ovarian cancer patients and survivors, during the fall of my senior year. During my internship, I focused on research on survivor resources around Indiana, and designed the survivor resource handout that is used in the HOPE Packets given out to ovarian cancer survivors. This internship helped me grow my design skills, which in turn helped me design the documentation formats in my job at LHP Telematics. It also gave me some insights into the world of nonprofits, which ties into my role as Publicity Chair in my community chapter of the international service organization Epsilon Sigma Alpha.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

One of the things I loved about my Professional Writing major was that the classes provided a lot of outside-the-classroom experiences. My Research in Professional Writing class worked with a food bank in Lafayette, Indiana to create a needs assessment and design a newsletter for them. In my Multimedia Writing class, we helped redesign a local coffeehouse’s website, while my Advanced Professional Writing class was responsible for the user experience of the Spring Writing Showcase. Even though I only had the one internship, I had a lot of work that I did for real clients and events through my Professional Writing classes, which really helped build up my portfolio.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Don’t be afraid to take chances and reach out to different companies. When I originally talked to my now-employer, they weren’t sure they needed a technical writer, but here I am, a year and a half later! Also, own what you’re passionate about – I actually like to write technical documentation, which sets me a part from a lot of other people, simply because it’s something a lot of people just don’t like doing.

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn, follower her on Twitter, and check out her personal website!

Brittany Shelley: Director of Content Marketing

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Writing, Technical Writing and tagged Marketing.

What Does a Freelance Copyeditor and Proofreader Actually Do?

“I am a freelance copyeditor and proofreader.” This is a simple sentence and one I’ve spoken many times; however, I often receive confused looks and/or blank stares in return. I’m not even sure my parents could describe what I do after all this time. And the questions: “What’s a copyeditor?” “Is that like a proofreader?” “So, you basically run a spell check, right?”

Copyeditors Are Not Proofreaders

The duties of a copyeditor are quite extensive and difficult to describe in one neat, simple sentence, so it’s not surprising that many people are unclear on what it means to be a copyeditor. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of it, let’s get one common misconception out of the way: copyeditors are not proofreaders, although many copyeditors are good proofreaders. The Copyeditor’s Handbook (3rd Edition) describes it best:

Copyeditors work on an author’s manuscript and are concerned with imposing mechanical consistency; correcting infelicities of grammar, usage, and diction; and querying internal inconsistencies of fact or tone. Proofreaders, in contrast, are charged with correcting errors introduced during the typesetting, formatting, or file conversion of the final document and with identifying any serious errors that were not caught during copyediting. (2011, 11)

So, copyediting comes first, then proofreading—they are two different and distinct roles.

What Does a Copyeditor Do?

Let’s break down the main responsibilities of a copyeditor based on the previous quote from The Copyeditor’s Handbook (this list is not exhaustive):

Imposing mechanical consistency: Correct errors in spelling, capitalization, hyphenation, punctuation (what’s the difference between a hyphen, an en dash, and an em dash?), and make changes to ensure a manuscript conforms to the appropriate editorial style (in academic editing, this would most generally be either Chicago, APA, or MLA style).
Correcting infelicities of grammar, usage, and diction: Amend wording that is likely to distract or confuse a reader. A copyeditor will use various editing resources as well as his/her own judgment to make these changes, as the rules for this facet of editing are most often subjective. A good copyeditor will know when to hold back and when to make a change. A helpful question to ask while editing is: “Is this sentence technically correct as the author has written it?” If the answer is “yes,” leave it. Never change a sentence that is technically correct because you would prefer to write it another way.
Querying internal inconsistencies of fact or tone: “On Wednesday, October 23, 2014” is an example of a phrase that would need to be flagged for the author and not just simply changed to “Wednesday, October 22, 2014.” When a copyeditor comes across a factual error or inconsistency, it is often best to query the author. It is possible that the author indeed meant Wednesday, October 22 (“Wednesday” was correct), or the author might have meant to write “Thursday” instead of “Wednesday” (making “October 23” correct). Although copyeditors aren’t responsible for the factual accuracy of a manuscript, a good editor will flag any consistencies he/she finds and ask the author to confirm.

What Does a Proofreader Do?

Based on the definition from The Copyeditor’s Handbook, a proofreader checks for errors in the book proof, which is normally in PDF format. A proofreader should be on the lookout for problems such as incorrect change in font style or size, line break errors, inconsistencies in chapter headings, and so on. He/she will also read through the book from start to finish and identify any errors that were not caught during the copyediting stage (because no one is perfect!).

What’s It Like to Be a Freelance Copyeditor and Proofreader?

Being a freelancer has many perks (being your own boss, setting your own work hours, and working in your pajamas if you want to), but it undoubtedly takes a certain personality. Freelancing is synonymous with running a one-person business, which means you’re not only the worker bee but the HR department, the accounting department, and the operations manager, among other roles. My bookshelf is overflowing with editing manuals and business books, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my editing ability and the efficiency of my business.

Getting Started

After moving to a new city and taking an office job I wasn’t a fan of, I started to take a few editing projects in my spare time. (I highly recommend testing the freelance waters while you still have a steady paycheck.) I gave my résumé a makeover, wrote a short (and informal) business plan, and started to network. Having three years of experience at an academic press helped immensely, too. One of the first books I picked up, which was recommended by two of my freelance editor friends, was My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. It’s one of my favorites, and it really helped me gain the confidence and know-how to strike out on my own.

When I left my office job to start freelancing, one of my colleagues gave me a card with a quote by Leonardo da Vinci on it (which I now have in a frame on my desk). It reads: “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” This has been my freelance motto ever since.

The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications

$28.52

By Amy Einsohn

My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire

$13.13

By Michelle Goodman

Resources

Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications. 3rd edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011.

Goodman, Michelle. My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008.

Photos courtesy of Fairfield Grace Photography

About the Author

Nicole Wayland is a freelance copyeditor/proofreader and blogger based just north of Washington, DC. As the operator of Ford Editing, she edits for several publishers (both academic and trade) as well as businesses and individual authors. Her blog, Healthy Happy Sound, is centered on finding health, wellness, and overall happiness. When she’s not editing or writing, Nicole is likely searching for a new healthy recipe, rock climbing and practicing yoga, or traveling the world with her husband. Apart from her editing website and blog, you can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Editing, Featured Articles.

Rachel Maleady: SEO Analyst

Name: Rachel Maleady

Age: 25

College & Majors/Minors: Major: Communications with a Concentration in Public Relations, Minor: Business

Current Location: New Jersey

Current Form of Employment: SEO Analyst at a higher education company

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work at a higher education company as an SEO Analyst. In this role, I get to create and apply various SEO and online marketing strategies to my company's 5+ properties. This role allows me to work in all different areas including content promotion, content strategy, keyword research, link building and more.

What was your first job?

My first job out of college was working as a SEO Copywriter and Online Marketing Specialist at a small marketing firm near my hometown. I focused more on the writing side of SEO, which I do less of at my current role. To fill that writing "void," I am a freelance copywriter and also run my own lifestyle blog.

What was another job that was important in your career?

Honestly my blog, although not technically a "job," has opened so many doors for me. I am referred to many of my freelance clients through my blog, and it's always a great talking point. I can't stress enough how my blog has helped form my career.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I researched companies in my area long before I graduated, hoping to spot open positions or make connections when graduation time came. I ended up transitioning from PR to more SEO/online marketing and copywriting though, so most of that didn't help. I would suggest studying and trying out all different areas of your major to see what you really like and don't like.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

I would definitely say to look into digital. Print media is dying and most magazine jobs now are terrible (long hours, intern-like tasks, no pay), so prepare yourself for other areas of writing. Start your own blog. Put together an online writing portfolio.

Check out Rachel Maleady's blog and online portfolio, and follow her on Twitter!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under SEO, Writing, Freelance and tagged Marketing.

Heike Young: Content Marketing Writer

Name: Heike Young

Age: 26

College & Majors/Minors: Anderson University, BA, English; Minor, Spanish

Current Location: Los Angeles, CA

Current Form of Employment: Content Marketing Writer at Salesforce

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work for Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s Content Marketing & Research team as their Global Content Lead. Wha-whu-eh-huh? Yep, that’s a lot of tech and marketing jargon—but it means I work for a big tech company as a writer of multimedia content. I write everything from infographics to research reports to video scripts (and that’s my voice, too!). Everything I write and edit centers on helping digital marketers do their jobs better with content that guides marketing strategy and execution. I also interview important people in marketing and technology for our corporate blog, which sometimes lets me meet cool people like John Green.

Hypertension Cookbook For Dummies

$14.72

By Rosanne Rust, Cynthia Kleckner

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job!

Oh, boy. The short answer for English majors who prefer the Emily Dickinson poem-length story: I persevered until a publishing company finally let me edit their books.

The long answer for Infinite Jest-reading friends: Having loved books my whole life, it was my goal upon graduation to edit them. English degree in hand, I secured an interview at Wiley on the For Dummies team as a temporary editorial assistant. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job. I was utterly disappointed, but I tried to remain gracious about it, and I continued to apply as I saw other openings at the company. I really liked the For Dummies brand and knew it would be a great experience to work on the books.

(Pictured on left: Heike Young served as the primary editor of 'Hypertension Cookbook for Dummies.')

Several months and a temporary job at a film festival later, I earned another interview as a copyeditor, which was actually one step up from that original editorial assistant role. The interview was accompanied by a grueling three-hour editing test! It went so well that I was called back to interview for a different job as a project editor, which was a step up from the copyeditor job and two steps up from the job I initially interviewed for. It worked! I was finally a project editor for the For Dummies series, meaning I worked directly with authors on Tables of Contents and full chapters to refine and develop their books. In a strange turn of events, I ended up being pretty thankful that I didn’t get the first job, as it would’ve been less challenging and rewarding.

While I enjoyed developing content for books, I eventually wanted a more fast-paced job where projects didn’t take upwards of 8 months to complete. This led me to a job in digital marketing. At Salesforce Marketing Cloud, my new team appreciated the experience I had working on books, as well as my experience managing social media accounts while working at an agency. In this role, some of my projects are longer-term (like research reports, which can be 30+ pages and take a few months to complete) and some are quick hits (like blog posts or short slide decks). It was a great fit. My interview required me to submit several writing samples, and books I had edited were hard to fit in that mold, so I was happy for the freelance experience I’d garnered at Indianapolis Monthly and my experience at a social media agency (more on that next).

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Between my job at Wiley and my current role at Salesforce, I worked at a social media agency as a social media account executive. This was an important link in securing the job I have now, because before that, my digital copywriting experience was limited to my personal Twitter account. At the agency, I did social media writing and content marketing for national brands in the form of blog posts, tweets, Facebook posts, and more, and I learned so much about what works online vs. what works in a print book.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I tried to get as much writing and editing experience in college as I could. Editing our university yearbook, a newswriting internship at a local TV station, an on-campus job that involved social media, and freelance editing all kept me busy.

I tried to look for writing and editing opportunities in unorthodox places—for example, my university's alumni office had an office assistant-type job that required writing event promotions, so I took the job. It wasn’t through our English department and it wasn’t exclusively a writing job, but it eventually led to more social media publishing responsibilities.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

I’m no expert—I’m just a few years out of college myself. But here are two important things I’ve learned:

First, maintain grace under pressure, like your old pal Hemingway always said. In my job-hunting tale above, you read that my first publisher interview resulted in nada—but they gave me two subsequent interviews after (even months after) that led to my first job as a project editor. I made it my goal to stay positive, friendly, and gracious with the company after they didn’t give me the job. That way, I’d be the first person to come to mind next time an opportunity arose. If you get a “no” phone call or email, try to respond gracefully, even if you’re disappointed. This positive attitude may soon work in your favor.
Second, always be adding skills to your repertoire. I graduated with a fantastic understanding of how to write a Thomas Hardy research paper but no clue how to write a whitepaper—so I’ve slowly added to my skill set to remain marketable and give myself freedom to explore new jobs. Try a course on Codeacademy or code.org if you want a blogging job; those HTML skills will come in handy during a Wordpress snafu. Poke around on YouTube or Google Analytics if you want a social media job; social media success weighs heavily on metrics success, not just writing posts.

Writing and editing are absolutely critical skills in our content-saturated age, and I think English majors are nicely poised to find jobs. It’s all about positioning yourself as a well-rounded professional. And that English major attention to detail and punctuation? Keep it. The world needs it.

Check out Heike Young's Author page on ExactTarget.com—she has a long list of some fantastic articles. Connect with Heike on LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter!

Katie Woodzick: External Relations Manager @ Hedgebrook

Marisa Bunney: Immersive Journalist & Social Media Specialist

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Marketing, Writing and tagged Marketing.

Nicole Wayland: Freelance Copyeditor & Proofreader

Photo courtesy of Fairfield Grace Photography — Photo courtesy of Fairfield Grace Photography

Name: Nicole Wayland

Age: 29

College & Majors/Minors: Cornell University, B.S. in Communication

Current Location: Washington, DC

Current Form of Employment: Freelance Copyeditor/Proofreader at Ford Editing

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I am a freelance copyeditor/proofreader and operator of Ford Editing. As a freelancer, I have the luxury of working anywhere as long as I have my laptop and an Internet connection, but I spend most of my time working from my cozy corner apartment just north of Washington, DC. I am very passionate about what I do, and I love that I am always learning something new. I edit for several publishers (both academic and trade), as well as businesses and individual authors. I also have a wellness blog called Healthy Happy Sound that I update weekly.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

After graduation, I moved to Buffalo, NY. I knew the chances of finding a publishing job (my dream career) immediately were pretty slim, so I took a waitressing job while I searched. At the restaurant, I worked with over one hundred servers, bartenders, cooks, and managers, so I was able to network, learn about the area, and ask around for leads on publishing work. I also looked online. I signed up for several job announcement websites and scanned pages upon pages for the perfect position.

About six months after relocating, I found a job posting for an editorial assistant at an academic press (on Craigslist of all places). Although initially I didn’t see myself in academic publishing, I knew the position would give me the experience I needed to get a start in the field. I interviewed over the phone a few times and then in person, and by the beginning of March 2008, I was working in my dream field. I knew I wanted to work in publishing since I wrote my entrance essay for Cornell, and it had become a reality.

I worked at the press for just about three years before relocating to Washington, DC, in 2011. After arriving in DC, I took a position at Cornell University’s Washington DC semester program. Working for Cornell felt like home, and part of the job required writing and editing, so I thought it would be a good fit, at least until I got my bearings in a new city. But it didn’t take long for me to realize how much I missed the publishing world. I started to take a few editing projects in my spare time (my commute to DC alone provided over two hours per day for editing), and it picked up rather quickly. Within a few short months, I had to make a choice—my office job or freelancing. I took the leap to full-time freelancing in October 2012 (with the full support of my coworkers at Cornell and a goodbye/good luck card from all the students that semester) and haven’t looked back.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

My time at the press (my first job out of college) undeniably set me up for my current freelance position. Because the company was relatively new and small, the team was very close. I worked alongside the director of the press on a daily basis and learned a lot from her. I started as an editorial assistant, then moved to assistant editorial manager, and then finished my time there in the publications manager post. I learned about operations, management, marketing, design, human resources, purchasing and sales, and customer service. I also traveled to represent the company at several conferences throughout the year. Having the responsibility of wearing many hats while at the press gave me the experience needed to operate my own business, and I’m still learning every day.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

Unfortunately, I didn’t do as much preparing as I wish I had (I feel like that’s a common theme among most college graduates). Because I paid for college on my own, I was constantly working to pay for my car, books, and other bills, which didn’t leave a lot of time for clubs, studying abroad, or networking. My primary focus was on getting the best grades I could while working to pay for school, a balancing act that turned out to be very helpful in strengthening my organizational and time management skills.

That being said, I do remember taking a class on résumé and cover letter writing, which I found very helpful when applying for jobs after graduation. I was told by the director of the press I worked for that my cover letter really stood out to her—it put me on the list of top contenders and eventually helped me land the job.

I think my choice of school also helped to prepare me for post-grad life. Being at Cornell showed me that you have to work hard for what you want. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty. . . . I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” I worked very hard to do well there, and that work ethic is something I’ve carried with me.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

First, as a student, talk to your university career center. Tell them what you would like to do with your degree, and they can tell you if you’re on the right track. Once you’ve confirmed that your degree program aligns with your career goals, do everything you can to boost your knowledge and experience in that field. Take internships, talk to professors, and, when given the choice, tailor your classes to bolster your résumé (i.e., put some thought into elective classes and try to get the most out of them). The sooner you test the waters, the sooner you will know if what you’re doing is what you want to do when you get out of school.

Be true to yourself. If you want to be a writer (or one of the many other careers you can have with an English degree), do it regardless of what others think. In the end, you are the one who has to be passionate about and love what you do. You can be successful at anything if you work hard. I have been teased for getting a degree in communication (some argue that it’s a useless major), and now I own my own business. I absolutely love what I do, and I am happy that I stood up for what I wanted and didn’t listen to the naysayers.

Be patient and don’t give up. I really believe that we make our own luck. Good things happen to those who are willing to work hard and seize opportunities. As a freelancer, I have contacted publishers in the past who either didn’t need help at the time or just plain weren’t interested who have been delighted to add me to their roster six months later. The key is to be patient and do what you can to build your portfolio in the meantime.

Visit Nicole Wayland's business website, FordEditing.com and check out her blog, Healthy Happy Sound. Follow her business on Facebook and Twitter and connect with Nicole on LinkedIn.

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Freelance, Editing, Self-Employed and tagged Editing Freelancing.

Allison Christine Ryals: Middle School English Teacher

Name: Allison Christine Ryals

Age: 25

College & Majors/Minors: BA English from McNeese State University, MAT from Northwestern State University

Current Location: Lake Charles, LA

Current Form of Employment/Job Title: Middle School English teacher

Where do you work and what is your current position?

7th grade ELA teacher at Lake Charles Charter Academy in Lake Charles, LA. I am also the Speech Coach.

Tell us about how you found your job!

I found this job by the grace of God! I applied at every single school in the state of Louisiana, but since I did not have a teacher certification at the time, no one wanted to give me a chance. I was working part-time at Sylvan Learning tutoring students when I met someone who said the charter school was hiring. I applied the next day and was hired! The application process was not that difficult. It was the usual paperwork. The interview was detailed. I was asked about my teaching methods and about where I stood on certain issues in education. I was also asked about classroom management since the position I was taking was only available since the last teacher walked out. That was October 1, 2012. Since then, I have grown so much as a teacher and a person. My colleagues are truly my family. I love coming to work every day. I have also had other schools that have heard about me call and ask if I would work for them, but I am not ready to leave this wonderful family!

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I am not quite there yet since I am working on my Master’s degree. I graduate in May and am excited that I will not have homework! I will actually have time to relax and read regular books instead of textbooks.

What has been the most surprising thing about being a teacher?

The most surprising thing about being a teacher is the fact that relationships with students are sometimes more important than the content. When I began teaching, I thought that since I knew the content, then I would be fine. I could be an awesome teacher. It doesn’t matter how much you know. Students do not care what you want to teach them if they do not like you. I spend the first two weeks of school each year building relationships with my students because they will work so much harder for me if they know that I truly care about them. A relationship with a student takes a teacher so much further than any amount of content knowledge.