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Blog

Member Benefit: Discount on House of Design Web Services

December 12, 2025 Post a comment

Member Benefit #34

Shaila Abdullah has over a decade of experience designing websites for authors. Being an award-winning author herself, she understands the industry and will provide you with a content management website that reflects your unique style, genre, and personality. Other design services such as book covers and interiors, marketing materials, and email campaigns (e-newsletters, announcements, etc.) are also available.

NAIWE members receive 10% off any service!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Categories: Member Benefits

Rachel Bradley, NAIWE’s Copyediting Expert

December 5, 2025 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Rachel Bradley (NAIWE’s Branding and Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What led you to transition from a legal career to becoming a freelance editor?

I had come into a radically life-changing experience with God’s grace and had fallen in love with grace over justice. I sought the Lord for a change in careers, and at an unlikely and unexpected moment, he dropped into my heart that I was a freelance copyeditor. At that point, I pursued training in the field and two years later, “hung up my shingle.”

 

How does your legal background inform your editing work?

As a legal assistant, I had to analyze documents for logical arguments and holes in the presentation. Every preface had to have proof, and conclusions had to follow the evidence. I use a similar skill to analyze a manuscript for a solid plot line and elements of strong writing as well as continuity of ideas and flow.

 

How did you go from wanting to become a freelance editor to obtaining your first client?

I dedicated one of my journals to my journey and committed to writing down each day at least one thing I did to advance my goal of becoming a freelance editor. Some days were so busy with other things that the only item I wrote down was “Prayed for my business today.” But tracking each day like that really helped alleviate the overwhelm of everything that needed to be accomplished to get my business off the ground. The PEN Institute online gave me the additional training I needed to enter the freelance editing field. And I also attended writers’ conferences and offered my services as an editor-in-training for free until I had enough experience to begin charging clients.

——————

Freelance editing is an exciting career that can come with some scary prospects—inconsistent work, unreliable clients, unwanted interruptions, business considerations, and strong competition. In this empowering one-hour webinar, Rachel Bradley of Revisions by Rachel Inc. will share how her relationship with Jehovah through his Son Jesus Christ has been the key to unlocking a thriving career. Rooted in biblical principles, this session blends practical tools with eternal purpose—ideal for editors craving professional growth intertwined with deep purpose and meaning. This webinar will offer guidance for these essential keys:
  • Actions to take to stay booked for months in advance
  • Ways to market yourself to attract and retain clients
  • Tactics to produce peace and avoid stress and overwhelm
  • Charging for your services in a way that works for your clients and you
  • How to face life without fear

You can join in this conversation on December 11 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on maintaining and growing a copyediting business. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Rachel E. Bradley holds a BS degree in paralegal studies from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and graduated summa cum laude in 2006. She is a gold member of the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, is an established freelance editor with the Christian Editor Connection, is an instructor with the PEN Institute, is a judge for the Editors’ Choice Award, and has served as faculty for PENCON, the only conference for editors in the Christian market. After serving nine years in the legal field and becoming an advanced certified paralegal, Rachel started her business as a freelance editor and indexer. She now owns Revisions by Rachel Inc. In 2018, Rachel lost her first husband, Matthew, after an intense battle with brain cancer. This life experience carried over into her editing and gave her a new understanding and a fierce compassion for people who feel broken and hurt. In celebration of continued life and hope, Rachel became a licensed skydiver and takes to the skies with her rainbow canopy, “Promises,” any chance she gets. In early 2021, she asked God to choose her next husband. In an incredible tale of trusting God and giving him her yes without exception, Rachel is now joyfully married to Alexander Bradley. They have been assigned the awe-inspiring and continually humbling task of raising two incredible children. Beyond reading, Rachel enjoys Bible studies, dancing during church worship, skydiving, swing dancing, rock climbing, reading, teaching, discussing important issues, watching Star Trek, sewing, cooking, Pilates, horseback riding, water sports, playing guitar, and snow skiing.

Categories: Board of Experts, Events

Days to Celebrate in December

November 28, 2025 Post a comment

December: National Write a Business Plan Month. As a freelancer, you are a business owner, so consider writing a business plan this month!

December 2: National Day of Giving. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

December 7: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.

December 26: National Thank-you Note Day. It is a day to get some note cards, paper, pen, envelopes, and stamps to write special thank yous.

December 31: No Interruptions Day. This is a day set aside for getting organized for the new year by cleaning up your workspace without interruptions.

Categories: National Days

Member Benefit: Discount on the Hot Sheet

November 14, 2025 Post a comment

Member Benefit #33

Anyone working in today’s publishing industry is in a double bind. Not only is an editor expected to hit deadlines and produce compelling work, but they also have to be up to speed on industry developments and trends—whether for their own work or to help clients. The Hot Sheet is an email newsletter available only by subscription, delivered every other Wednesday at midday. It’s modeled on the financial-advice newsletters produced by analysts for their clients on Wall Street, and on the Publishers Lunch newsletter that many publishing professionals subscribe to.

NAIWE members receive 20% off a subscription!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Categories: Member Benefits

Book Review: Valuepreneurs

November 10, 2025 Post a comment

2024 NAIWE Informational Nonfiction Winner

 

Author: Steve Waddell

People often create new products or services to solve problems they experience. However, many people don’t know how to pursue their ideas and inventions. Valuepreneurs can help!

Steve Waddell provides a step-by-step guide beginning with getting started before an entrepreneur even has an idea going all the way to having a product and turning it into a business. In Valuepreneurs, Waddell spends a lot of time focusing on the steps before the final product. He works through several stages to ensure that the product is valuable, worthwhile, and desired. While some entrepreneurs have an idea and then develop a product, Waddell emphasizes the importance of developing the concept and then launching a prototype before protecting the product idea and researching how to market your product.

While this topic could be considered dry, Waddell has developed a method that is anything but. His knowledge as a visionary leaks throughout the pages in an easily understandable format. Valuepreneurs offers many visuals to help you understand how to mold your ideas to succeed as valuable and profitable products.

Congratulations, Steve Waddell’s Valuepreneurs for being a NAIWE 2024 Book Award winner!

Categories: Book Award Winners, Book Reviews

Days to Celebrate in November

October 31, 2025 Post a comment

November: Family Stories Month. Record or listen to stories from relatives of all ages.

November: National Family Literacy Month. Enjoy some family readings.

November: National Life Writing Month. Write about yourself and your life as you have experienced it thus far.

November: National Novel Writing Month. Use this month to write the first draft of your novel.

November 1: National Author’s Day. Celebrate your favorite authors and the books they have written.

November 1: National Family Literacy Day. Read a book with your family today.

November 3: Job Action Day. Get the tools and resources to master a new job search and land the career of your dreams!

November 5: National Stress Awareness Day. Develop a routine to help you manage your stress.

November 10-14: National Young Readers Week. The focus of the week demonstrates to youth the importance of reading.

November 28: You’re Welcomegiving Day. Share a “You’re welcome” with at least one client today.

November 29: Electronic Greetings Day. Send an electronic greeting to the clients you haven’t heard from in a while.

November 29: Small Business Saturday. Support your local small businesses.

November 30: Computer Security Day. Help secure your computer by installing and running antivirus software.

Categories: National Days

Mavens for NAIWE

October 17, 2025 Post a comment

As with any industry, there are experts in the publishing industry, and at NAIWE we delight in highlighting them as they give back to others in the community. The NAIWE Board of Experts calls attention to 12 people with exceptional skills and information to share with others through articles and webinars.

Each month, a member of the NAIWE Board of Experts writes an article, which is published in the “From the Experts” newsletter. All of these informative articles are then available to our members in the NAIWE Member’s Library.

Each month, a member of the Board of Experts leads a webinar, which is then available in the NAIWE On-Demand Training Center.

If you would like to be considered for a future position on the NAIWE Board of Experts, please send us your resume and area of expertise.

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.

Categories: News

Book Review: Red Clay, Running Waters

October 13, 2025 Post a comment

2024 NAIWE Genre Fiction Winner

 

Author: Leslie K. Simmons

As the son of a Cherokee leader, John Ridge returns home from New England with an education and a white bride. But as Southern states dispute with the federal government, setting the stage for Indian removal and later a civil war, John seeks to assist his people.

Leslie Simmons has a way with words. The prose she lays on the page is visual and beautiful, and the reader is quickly mesmerized by this dynamic work simply because of the way Simmons tells the story. Her excellent way with words makes it easy to forget that this is a historical fiction text.

John and his bride, Sarah, are faced with difficult choices while the Cherokee’s beliefs are tested. Red Clay, Running Waters is a family saga filled with love and sacrifice woven with outside influences such as politics, race, and religion.

This is a timeless and engaging story that is difficult to put down!

Congratulations, Leslie K. Simmons’s Red Clay, Running Waters for being a NAIWE 2024 Book Award winner!

Categories: Book Award Winners, Book Reviews

Member Benefit: Discount on Grammarly

October 10, 2025 Post a comment

Member Benefit #32

Confusing and sloppy writing damages your company’s credibility and frustrates your customers. Grammarly helps you write clear messages every time.

NAIWE members receive over a $70 savings!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Categories: Member Benefits

Jeanne Grunert, NAIWE’s Branding and Marketing Expert

October 3, 2025 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Jeanne Grunert (NAIWE’s Branding and Marketing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

How do you define “generative search” and “GEO” in a practical way for freelancers?

Generative search is a new way of searching online that uses artificial intelligence to give you direct, conversational answers instead of just a list of links.

For example, if you ask, “What’s a good laptop for college students?” a traditional search engine might show you 10 websites. A generative search engine, however, reads through those websites and gives you a summarized answer like a helpful friend who already did the research for you.

Now the new term is “GEO” or generative AI search engine optimization. It’s similar to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), but instead of helping websites rank higher on Google, GEO helps businesses make sure their content is included in AI-generated answers.

In traditional SEO, companies try to get their websites to appear at the top of search results. In GEO, they want their brand or product to be mentioned when an AI gives an answer to a user’s question. People are asking longer, more complex questions. AI is becoming the main way people get answers. Freelancers need to adapt so they stay visible in this new kind of search

When someone searches “Who’s a good freelance writer for tech blogs?” generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity don’t just list websites — they summarize answers. That means your name or site might not appear at all unless the AI sees you as a trusted source. Zero-click searches are rising — users often read the AI’s summary and never visit any links. Authority and clarity matter more than keywords — AI wants to quote reliable, well-structured content.

So instead of just optimizing for Google rankings, you now need to optimize for AI-generated answers.

AI models prefer content that sounds natural and easy to understand. Therefore, you should avoid jargon and write like you’re explaining things to a smart friend.

 

In your work with B2B tech and SaaS companies, what specific challenges and opportunities does generative search present?

Because so few companies are prepared to optimize their websites for GEO/gen AI search (many are taking a “wait and see” approach), there are enormous opportunities now to improve rankings. The trick is to focus on brand-aligned, unique topics that are difficult for AI to summarize quickly. The challenge for most companies is to pivot and scale quickly. Few companies are ready for this massive shift in how to optimize for AI. And it changes so quickly — that adds to the challenge!

 

How will generative search and AI-generated answers affect local businesses?

Generative search and AI-generated answers are changing how people find local businesses by shifting from short keyword searches to longer, conversational queries. Instead of showing a list of websites, AI tools often provide direct summaries, which can reduce clicks to individual business sites. This means local businesses need to adapt by creating clear, helpful content that answers common questions, maintaining strong local SEO through platforms like Google Business Profile, encouraging detailed reviews, and using structured data to help AI understand their services. While AI is becoming a major source of information, traditional local search tools still play a key role, especially for location-specific needs. Local businesses should continue using traditional SEO resources but add conversational, helpful, unique content, too.

 

BONUS TIP

Check “under the hood” of your website — your technical SEO. Make sure your site is responsive, fast to load, and has few, if any, errors. Google now simply skims or skips sites with a lot of technical errors, broken links, and problems. Don’t forget to resubmit your site map to the major search engines (Google, Bing) after making updates, too. Every little bit counts!

——————

Generative AI is reshaping how people discover content online—and traditional SEO tactics alone won’t cut it. In this webinar, we’ll explore how AI-powered search is changing the digital landscape and what that means for your website. Learn how to optimize for AI-driven engines, adapt your web strategy, and stay ahead of the curve in a world where search is smarter, faster, and more conversational than ever. For independent writers, editors, and others, this is a must-attend webinar to learn the latest best practices for building your personal brand and attracting web searchers to your virtual doorstep.

You can join in this conversation on October 23 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on AI and generative searching capabilities. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Jeanne Grunert is the president and founder of Seven Oaks Consulting, a business-to-business content marketing agency. She is an award-winning writer and direct marketing expert with over 30 years of writing, marketing, and business experience. Prior to founding Seven Oaks Consulting, Jeanne led marketing for divisions of McGraw-Hill Education, Teachers College Columbia University, The College Board, and retail, publishing, and financial service companies in the New York City area. Known worldwide for her exceptional leadership and communication skills, Jeanne works seamlessly across cultural and corporate barriers to achieve outstanding results. She holds an M.A. in writing and an M.S. in direct and digital marketing (awarded with distinction) from New York University, as well as certifications in social media marketing, content marketing, and adult education. Originally from the New York City area, Jeanne currently resides with her husband, John, and many pets on a 17-acre farm in rural Virginia. When not leading marketing teams through her work at Seven Oaks Consulting, she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, and writing mystery novels.

Categories: Board of Experts, Events

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  • Member Benefit: Discount on House of Design Web Services
  • Rachel Bradley, NAIWE’s Copyediting Expert
  • Days to Celebrate in December
  • Member Benefit: Discount on the Hot Sheet
  • Book Review: Valuepreneurs

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Latest Posts

Member Benefit: Discount on House of Design Web Services

December 12, 2025

Rachel Bradley, NAIWE's Copyediting Expert

December 5, 2025

Days to Celebrate in December

November 28, 2025

Member Benefit: Discount on the Hot Sheet

November 14, 2025

Book Review: Valuepreneurs

November 10, 2025

Days to Celebrate in November

October 31, 2025

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