National Association of Independent Writers & EditorsMember Benefit #42
PlainVanilla makes contracts very, very easy. Our software allows users to start with a balanced template, make changes to fit circumstances, and constantly assess how normal those changes are. This level of transparency allows you to know if you’re signing up for something reasonable, or if it could be a bad deal.
NAIWE members receive two years’ worth of contract templates!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
We wanted to get to know Helen Armalas (NAIWE’s Style Guide Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.
Authors have praised your ability to deliver constructively critical feedback directly and honestly during initial video consultations. How do you establish trust and set realistic expectations during that first 30-minute discovery call?
Establishing trust in an initial client call requires professionalism (fundamentally respect), being proactive and prepared (by reading sample material and writing out questions and potential next steps beforehand), and actively listening to the client. Since many authors are not versed in the language of and the different types of editing, I always ask them what their expectations are for an editing project, what specific concerns they have with their manuscript, what level of editing they desire (which typically tells me how receptive they are to criticism), and what questions they have for me. Listening to the client’s needs and drawing certain information out of them through having an authentic, honest conversation and by asking questions helps to get us on the same page so that we both have a clear understanding of what my services would entail for their specific manuscript.
Many student editors struggle to balance accuracy with professional speed expectations. What exercises or habits do you recommend to help novice editors increase their words-per-hour efficiency?
To become a faster editor while still being accurate, become fluent in Word’s different features and keyboard shortcuts. Also, use checklists and do multiple passes through the manuscript concentrating on different common mistakes (e.g. number formatting, capitalization, hyphen usage, etc.). As you move through a manuscript, you will become more acquainted with not only the author’s style but their mistakes (and people tend to make the same mistakes over and over again until they become aware of them). You can then search and correct these mistakes all in one pass, speeding up tedious editing. Also, if you find an error that you are having trouble finding the solution to, bookmark it and come back to it later. Instead of wasting time agonizing over one detail, keep moving. Often the answer comes to you as you work through the manuscript.
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Style sheets are important tools that editors create while copyediting manuscripts. When done well, they serve as a useful resource to the copyeditor, author, proofreader, and (if applicable) in-house production team to track a manuscript’s stylistic decisions, words and terms, citation preferences, and, in fiction, timeline and character development. In this webinar, we will go over how to make a style sheet for both fiction and nonfiction books using The Chicago Manual of Style as a primary resource. While covering the importance of using the style sheet as an aide to ensure consistency and correctness in manuscripts, we will also go over different Chicago Manual sections as well as other resources that are often referenced when copyediting manuscripts.
You can join in this conversation on July 22 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on creating and using useful style sheets. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!
Helen Armalas is a freelance editor currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. She provides a full range of editing services to traditional publishers, university presses, museums, independent authors, and business clients. A versatile editor, Helen edits nonfiction and fiction (adult and young adult), academic journals, museum-exhibition text, and really anything you throw at her. She is fluent in The Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, APA, AP, and the AMA Manual of Style. Before starting her own freelance editing business in 2023, Helen worked for over ten years in different professional service industries as an accountant and then executive assistant. Disenchanted with the business world, Helen quit her job and decided to pursue her lifelong dream of working with words and being her own boss. Helen has a BA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from Columbia College Chicago and has completed the Editing certificate program, with additional coursework in medical editing and writing, from the University of Chicago. When she is not reading or editing, Helen is spending time with her two extra-spicy dogs, Louise and Jackie.
July 4: Independence Day. The day after the first anniversary of American independence, John Adams wrote a letter to his daughter Abigail about the celebrations that occurred in Philadelphia. Take a moment to reflect and write a letter about how your town celebrates this holiday.
July 4: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.
July 5: National Workaholics Day. Work isn’t everything! Use this day as a reminder to have a proper work-life balance.
July 12: National Simplicity Day. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817. Thoreau was an advocate for living a life of simplicity. In our busy lifestyles, National Simplicity Day is the time to take a step back and begin to simplify our lives. One can start by decluttering and striving for balance.
July 15: National Give Something Away Day. In the United States, giving is on the rise. What can you give to your clients or to the publishing industry?
July 16: Get to Know Your Customers Day. When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about your need to grow. Reach out to your patrons and get to know them better.
July 17. World Emoji Day. Emojis are images that express, similar to emoticons (emotions + icons) that are produced from an arrangement of keyboard characters.
July 18: Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day. Created by author and motivational speaker Martha J. Ross-Rodgers, this day is intended for all to let go of the past and live for the present. Make a list of your business regrets and then throw it away and live for today.
July 19: National Play Day. Summer is in full swing, and today is a great day to to unleash your inner child, spark your creativity, and learn why play is an important part of living a happy life.
July 19: National Words with Friends Day. People have always challenged each other with word puzzles and games. Honor the intellectual spirit and camaraderie that come with playing word games.
July 21: National Be Someone Day. Through your business, be someone who betters a child’s life.
July 26: National All or Nothing Day. Throw caution in the wind and go for broke. What is one business challenge that you would like to overcome?
July 31: National System Administrator Appreciation Day. Show appreciation to your IT professional.
The beginning of the schoolyear can be the beginning of new commitments and new projects. Likewise, the beginning of the year, can bring the same. However, the end of the schoolyear can often feel like a time for rest or for completing projects.
To help celebrate the accomplishments that have occurred, NAIWE offers its Book Awards program each summer. Recently published books may be submitted to be judged in a variety of categories to highlight the great works of fellow authors.
Be sure to have your books in the mail to NAIWE and postmarked no later than July 1!
And as the teachers and students prepare for the new schoolyear, and new stories and writing projects begin for many authors, we at NAIWE are reading the many excellent books to locate the very best that have been submitted.
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.
Member Benefit #41
PerfectIt helps deliver error-free documents. It improves consistency, ensures quality, saves time, and supports style guides. PerfectIt is used by thousands of editors around the world. It lets editors control every change. Using PerfectIt provides editors with the assurance that documents are the best they can be. A free 14-day trial is available.
NAIWE members receive 30% off the software!
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Author: Mary Jumbelic
As a newly retired expert forensic pathologist, Dr. Mary Jumbelic is pulled into the investigation of a family friend’s death when a former colleague calls to ask her for an opinion on an open case.
As a talented pathologist and writer, Dr. Jumbelic juxtaposes important concepts within the pages: the murdered women speaking contrasted with the new life in young Jumbelic’s pregnant body and the ceremonial bed contrasted with also being the death bed. In addition, she compares her own experience to these silenced women, or perhaps, why she became a pathologist, having been nearly kidnapped from a park at the age of five.
Dr. Jumbelic shares personal accounts, often to lighten the mood, but to also provide additional connection with the women from the stories who can no longer speak. While the stories can be difficult to read, Dr. Jumbelic expresses on behalf of these women the final words they were never allowed to say.
Mary Jumbelic includes many facts and statistics in this novel to help the reader better understand “femicides” – women who have been murdered by husbands, ex-partners, family members, and acquaintances. She also includes information about domestic violence and how can women can reach out for help.
Congratulations, Mary Jumbelic’s Speak Her Name for being a NAIWE 2025 Book Award winner!
June 1: National Say Something Nice Day. Make the day pleasant for someone by saying something nice.
June 2: National Leave the Office Early Day. This day is an incentive to many who often work more than 40 hours each week.
June 3. National Repeat Day. Take this opportunity to repeat something you needed or wanted to do again.
June 6: National Higher Education Day. Spend a moment educating or inspiring others who are interested in pursuing a similar career.
June 6: National Play Outside Day. Spend the day outside enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.
June 10: National Ballpoint Pen Day. Write a client a note today with a ballpoint pen to commemorate the patent filing on June 10, 1943.
June 11: National Making Life Beautiful Day. Celebrate those who make life beautiful through their words.
June 13: National Random Acts of Light Day. Bring light to a colleague by sharing some encouraging words.
June 21: National Selfie Day. Take some selfies that show you are balancing work-life activities.
June 30: Social Media Day. Post on all of your social media accounts today, letting potential clients know you are available for hire.
So there you are. Searching on Amazon or in the library for books on writing. Surely there’s a book that can tell you how and what to write. It will literally pull the words out of your brain.
No. Wasting time hanging around bookstores looking for the pot of gold won’t get your book written. Only you can do the work. It’s like hanging around a gym and watching others clang the weights and sweat on the treadmills and thinking you’ll get six-pack abs and lose weight.
Ain’t happenin’.
But . . . but . . . but my adult writing students often ask, surely there’s a book that can help me get organized and start writing.
Other than doing free writing, mind mapping, writing all the time, making lists, chaining your laptop to your waist, and drinking Red Bull, I do recommend three writers and their books, if you insist:
So why are you still reading this? Get busy writing.
Sandra Wendel is a nonfiction book editor. This post is an excerpt from her newly revised, award-winning book, Cover to Cover: What First-Time Authors Need to Know About Editing (2026). This is the book you recommend to your authors because it contains a helpful checklist for authors to get their manuscripts ready for your editing. Don’t miss the chapter titled “The Chapter on Writing I Didn’t Want to Include (ChatGPT Made Me Do It).”
When an author publishes their book, the author has completed a noteworthy project that deserves to be recognized. However, many books are published each year, and it is easy for new books to remain unknown.
One way for authors to increase the notoriety of their books is for the authors to enter their books into contests. Whether the books are runner-ups or winners, both are great accomplishments that authors should highlight in all book marketing materials.
Because NAIWE’s mission is to help authors market their books, NAIWE now has a Book Awards program where up to 100 books can be entered into each of 10 categories for an opportunity to earn the coveted prize of the year.
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.
Author: Elizabeth Tucker
A longer book than average, The Pale Flesh of Wood sits at exactly 300 pages, and it is divided into three books, each labeled with a time frame to link to the progression of the story.
The Pale Flesh of Wood opens with seven-year-old Lyla and her WWII veteran father Charles Hawkins working together to hang a rope for a tire swing. Charles had wanted a tire swing as a child, but his mother never would give permission for him to have one. Now that Charles’s mother has finally given her permission for a tire swing to be hung from one of her trees, it has become Lyla’s job to climb up the tree, drag her body out on the tree’s branch, and tie the rope on the branch, all under the unreliable supervision of her father.
Shortly after the tire swing has been hung, Lyla’s father hangs himself on the very rope that Lyla hung from the branch; Lyle struggles with coming to terms as to whether she helped facilitate the death of her father.
With book 1 occurring primarily in the 1950s, book 2 in the 1960s, and book 3 in 1981, the reader can examine this one significant event, the death of Lyla’s father, and visualize how it affected three generations within the one family.
Elizabeth Tucker does a masterful job of taking the reader on an emotional, realistic roller coaster ride of a tragic situation.
Congratulations, Elizabeth Tucker’s The Pale Flesh of Wood for being a NAIWE 2025 Book Award winner!