Please join me in welcoming Paulina S. Cossette Ph.D. of Acadia Editing Services to the show! Paulina has 15+ years of experience and so much to share, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
Here are some highlights of things we talked about:
- The joy in exploring new subjects through copy editing, learning something new each time a manuscript comes across your desk.
- Mohawk artist Shelley Niro and other inspiring subjects.
- How even though it’s scary to start a new career, we can do scary things.
- Her background in academia and the similarities and differences between editing and being a professor.
- The importance of relationships and community even across fields.
- The benefits of fresh air to maintaining balance, including how gardening can be an emotional outlet.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
“I get to meet people I never would have heard of or learned about or talked to and I get to read their work. When I dig into a manuscript I get to play around with it. I take very seriously that this is someone’s passion project that they’ve worked hours and hours on but I get to tweak it and help make it better–to help them get their message out. That’s really rewarding and I really enjoy those relationships I build with my clients.”
“You’re going to make mistakes. You won’t do everything well. But just keep trying. You’re going to have problems. There are things you’re going to do not well. You’ll make mistakes but keep coming back at it, keep trying, and be kind to people.”
Talking with Paulina was inspiring, fun, and a total joy. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the why of her editing work–to help. She works primarily with academics editing academic and nonfiction manuscripts. Most of her clients are professors who lead busy lives like she did in her own professorship before she started Acadia Editing Services.
So, she started editing to help lighten the load. With the whole contents of the book in one place (even if it’s not tidy), she can clean it up. That way she makes life a little bit easier for her clients one manuscript at a time.
Some parting advice from Paulina: don’t listen to that little voice in your head that says you can’t. You are worth more than you know. In editing (and writing) we often undercharge because we don’t believe in ourselves or our worth. Know your worth, believe in yourself, and remember that this is your business.
Also, editors aren’t here to tear everything down with their red pens, they’re here to help your writing shine a little brighter.
Links mentioned:
The 60+ books Acadia Editing has brightened
Paulina’s book–Politicians Behaving Badly: Men, Women, and the Politics of Sexual Harassment
Acadia Editing Services website
Paulina S. Cossette Ph.D. on LinkedIn
Acadia Editing Services FacebookAs always, thanks for listening and stay tuned for more interviews next week!! On deck we have illustrator Jessica Santiesteban.
