NAIWE is a professional association that was founded in 2007 as the National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators. As the association grew, we discovered that our original name simply wasn’t big enough for our members or our mission, so our name was changed with the dawn of 2009. Although our name contains the word “National,” we are international in scope and reach, and our membership is not restricted by geographic borders. In fact, NAIWE is known internationally, and we welcome professional freelancers from all locations.
Members include novelists, copywriters and copyeditors, proofreaders, writing teachers and coaches, business writers and editors, academic writing evaluators, indexers, book cover designers, project managers, public speakers, and other specialists.
NAIWE provides an online presence, guidance for freelance best practices, and general support that allows readers, editors, publishers, and potential clients to find you.
To help members with their marketing, NAIWE allows content from member blogs to be easily found and shared on our social media platforms and newsletters. Today, NAIWE has expanded its focus to include helping its members develop multiple streams of income.
Our goal is to help you earn a living with words and have the career of your dreams.
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 three books.
Writing Challenge Day 5
Writing Challenge Day 4
Writing Challenge Day 3
Writing Challenge Day 2
Writing Challenge Day 1
Words Matter Week, which is in its 16th year, is a holiday that is celebrated annually the first full week in March by the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
As a professional association, NAIWE is committed to helping its members succeed. All NAIWE members receive tools and training to help them grow in their profession, support as they meet professional challenges, and opportunities to develop their marketing skills so that they can create the kind of career they want.
I recently received a call from a woman looking to become a proofreader. She wanted advice to break into the field. It had been a while since I have received this type of call, but this is a call that I do receive periodically.
We encourage everyone in the publishing industry to belong to two professional organizations. The first is a large, general, career-building association such as NAIWE, and the second is a smaller craft- or genre-focused association that will help develop additional skills in the minutiae of your craft.