Time We Discuss: Freelance Book Editor - How to Turn Your Passion Into a Career
Watch/Listen to this Episode Freelance Book Editor - How to Turn Your Passion Into a Career
The episode of Time We Discuss features Jennia D'Lima, who transitioned from being a statistician to a book editor.
Jennia talks about her previous role as a statistician, explaining that her job involved generating reports, analyzing large data sets, and ensuring that the data accurately represented the population being studied. She worked with a variety of data and emphasized the importance of statistical tests to determine significant findings. Jennia worked for a national nonprofit and later at a university, handling different data sets each year and making longitudinal comparisons.
Her educational background is in psychology, where she developed a strong interest in statistics during her undergraduate years. She pursued a master's degree in applied developmental psychology, which combines research with practical applications in the real world. Jennia explains that a solid foundation in statistics is essential for a career as a statistician, often requiring a degree in mathematics, engineering, or a related field.
Jennia's transition from statistics to editing began after she had her second child and decided she did not want to be away from home. She had always been involved in writing and editing in some capacity and decided to explore this passion further. Despite not having formal training in editing, Jennia took various online classes and attended webinars to build her skills. She started working with a small press, where she received additional training and learned about style guides.
In her role as a developmental editor, Jennia focuses on the big-picture components of a manuscript, such as character believability, character arcs, and the overall setting. She asks questions to help authors think more deeply about their characters and story, ensuring consistency and plausibility. Jennia believes her background in psychology helps her understand characters on a deeper level, which is crucial for her editing work.
When it comes to the importance of education and the availability of online courses, Jennia highlights that formal degrees are not always necessary for certain careers. Jennia's journey demonstrates that passion, self-education, and practical experience can lead to success in a new field.
Jennia D'Lima's story is an inspiring example of career transition, showing how skills from one profession can be leveraged into another. Her dedication to learning and adapting has allowed her to find fulfillment in a new career as a book editor, proving that it is possible to pursue one's passions and achieve professional satisfaction.
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