It’s the end of 2023, so time to pause and reflect on the last 12 months in life and business!
Health-wise, I’ve managed another year without contracting Covid. (I think I must be one of the few people left who still haven’t had it. And I’d like it to stay that way…)
Highlights of the year
Every book I take on for a client is important to me. This year, a particular success was working on a career book for new entrants to a creative industry.
My client gave this lovely review:
I worked with the client over a number of months to take the project from first draft critique, right through development to finished, copy-edited script ready for design.
It went bestseller on release, and is garnering five-star reviews.
The reason I wanted to take on this book is because creatives are my tribe – and because the sector it serves is devoid of practical, real-world support for entrants and early-career professionals. They’re taught their craft in education, but they aren’t prepared by it to enter the business world and make that skill and artistry pay.
This is why I love my job so much. I get to shepherd author expertise into a product that gives genuine help and value to the people who need it.
It makes me even happier when that person is a first-time writer. Embarking on the authoring journey is brave. It takes courage to publish, so sometimes my role can be as much about offering support, encouragement and reassurance as it is the technical side of things.
For authors, there’s nothing like the feeling when you unbox your first copy, hold it in your hand and say: ‘I wrote this.’
It’s a major moment – and it should be. Writing a book is a serious achievement!
Raise, which published in 2022, celebrated its first ‘bookversary’ this year, and was released in audiobook in April.
It was shortlisted in the Specialist Business Book category at the Business Book Awards 2023.
This book has been raved about by women CEOs and founders, who’ve found it a truly practical guide.
I’m enormously proud to have been its editor, and of Julia, its brilliant author, who worked incredibly hard to ensure it published well to the world.
New mini-guides
This year I added four new mini-guides to my resources on writing and editing to help authors:
Editing and Psychological Safety
How to Get Feedback on Your Writing
Self-publishing: A Quick and Easy Guide
How to Start Writing Your Non-fiction Guide.
They’re completely free, and available here.
Other resources
I continued my blog series on points of writing and editing to help you gain clarity, boost your productivity and shape your work effectively.
Check them out here.
Continuing professional development
This year I attended masterclasses and seminars by the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) and the National Press Club Journalism Institute, as well as the Alliance of Independent Authors’ (ALLi) Self-Publishing Conference.
Much of my focus over the last 12 months has been on keeping abreast of the rise of AI in publishing, and its implications for editorial work.
My first blog on AI was picked up and republished by Logic Melon: read it here.
It’s safe to say that AI will have a massive impact on our industry, and it’s already begun. Editors and all publishing professionals will need to monitor developments carefully in 2024 and beyond.
Reflection and looking ahead
I think the main learning for me this year has been about perseverance.
These are testing times for everyone: AI poses genuine existential threat, and what with all the legal and other problems it presents, it’s hard to produce a crystal ball.
But even in the face of uncertainty, the one thing we can rely on is that people will always love books.
They will always want something exciting to read. Something that entertains, enlightens, escapes them to another world… or simply helps them get where they need to go in this one.
As long as you need this, we editors will always be here to give that to you.
I wish you a very happy and peaceful holiday, and a bright and prosperous 2024.
Lisa Cordaro Publishing Services 