Author Lane Ashfeldt on the Changing Role of Editors

Author Lane Ashfeldt on the Changing Role of Editors The changing role of editors - An interview with Lane Ashfeldt â€Å"We tend to associate independent publishing with early-career writers getting their first break, since this is the kind of story that has tended to grab the headlines. But another significant group of authors choosing to self-publish are mid-career writers whose contracts for certain titles have expired.†We say on our homepage that our Reedsy professionals â€Å"know the publishing landscape better than a writer knows the taste of hot coffee†. So we like to regularly have their take on it. Today, we interview Lane Ashfeldt, a UK-based freelance editor who has worked both for a small press and directly with authors. She shares her insights on the ever-changing role of editors - whether in-house or freelance - and on the opportunity self-publishing represents for writers (even â€Å"mainstream† ones).Hi Lane, great to have you here. You’re one of our fiction editors on Reedsy and have been freelance for around 4 years. How did you start your editing career?Thanks for asking me Ricardo. I got into fiction by accident, planning to move on, but it stuck. For six years I edited short stories and novels for an indie press, in a variety of styles from crime to literary. I later started writing myself, and taught writing at a UK university.What prompted you to go freelance as an editor?When my book of my stories, SaltWater, was in edits I blogged about the process and some ex-students who had carried on writing after their courses got in contact asking if I’d look at their novels. I couldn’t say no.How do you find having the writer as your employer?I’ve never really thought of it that way. Reedsy refers to editing projects as collaborations and I think this hits the right note, though of course in this context the author is ultimately in control of the process. Which is as it should be - it is their book. I suggest edits, and explain why, but it’s up to the writer whether they choose to act on them. It†™s a very cooperative thing. It’s also private. I don’t identify titles that I’ve edited freelance. (The titles on my Reedsy profile are from a regular job before I went freelance.)Do you see any parallels between your freelance editorial projects now, and when you were a full time editor?I enjoy working direct with authors, and this aspect is very similar. As a commissioning editor I’d meet authors and see their books through from manuscript to hard copy. Now it is more usual to work remotely via electronic means, and generally I only work on the text unless asked for input on submissions or electronic publication routes. One key similarity is, it’s very result-driven – it is all about finishing a piece of fiction, be it for print or ebook publication. Another aspect in common with my experience as a professional novel and short story editor is that over time you build relationships with certain authors and a knowledge of their strengths. It is rewarding when an author asks you to work on multiple projects as the dialogue becomes more fruitful.You have taught creative writing. How does that compare with editing?There is some commonality. But because advanced level university students need to write dissertations and conduct research, there’s a necessary interest, pedagogically, in the process of creative writing; this can distract from the task at hand, ie finishing the book. With project editing, the emphasis is not on â€Å"how to,† if you like, but on getting it done. To as high a standard as possible, obviously.With the explosion in self-publishing, do you feel the role of editors is changing?In the present era of publishing everything is negotiable. Some editors are strong on marketing, some act as curators whose job is to uncover the Next Big Thing in their sphere of interest, some are very much a cog working within the corporate constraints of a major brand. As a full-time editor, I worked with a n indie press. Generally in smaller presses roles are more flexible. Editors may do both copy editing and commissioning  - perhaps also have a say in the design, typesetting, marketing, and PR. Commissioning editors with bigger houses are rarely this hands-on. Often they operate more on the level of curators whose intake is limited to people they know and a group of agents their company has history with, taking on finished projects that someone else (an agent, a professor in creative writing, a literary consultancy, the author) has edited and polished. You could say they operate less as editors (in the conventional sense of the word), more as a gateway to the production and marketing machine behind their brand.But with the increasing variety of publication routes open to writers, there is space for all sorts of editorial approaches to co-exist. Recent projects I’ve worked on as a freelance editor illustrate this - some went on to be self-published, others are taking the ag ent / traditional publication route.Is it still possible to land an agent or publisher with an unedited manuscript?I am sure there are examples out there. The best writers are excellent editors of their own work, and this was true even in the days when some of the editing processes took place heh-hemming over dictation to a secretary. But if hiring a freelance editor adds perspective and strengthens your writing, it is a step worth taking.How do you see the publishing industry evolving in the next few years? Now that independent publishing has been established as a valid option, are more traditionally published authors going to try it?Lots of traditionally published writers have already experimented with publishing their work independently. It skewed towards US-based writers to start with, perhaps because the terms offered to US writers were more favorable, but that is beginning to even up. Both European and US authors working directly with Amazon can now access a royalty of 70% of the cover price on their titles (as against c. 7% working through a publisher) which increases the chance that authors may choose this route.We tend to associate independent publishing with early-career writers getting their first break since this is the kind of story that has managed to grab the headlines. But another significant group of authors choosing to self-publish are mid-career writers whose contracts for individual titles have expired. They are sitting on out-of-print (and professionally edited) novels that readers want to read - maybe even want to reread on ebook, having lost the hard copy - and it is not a lot of work to put up the files on self-publishing websites. A couple of examples: Philip Casey and Jeff Noon. Like Casey, Noon recently had new covers made for all his books and re-released them, along with his new ebook Channel Skin. No doubt there are others - perhaps especially writers whose ebook rights were never optioned first time around.You are a published wri ter, so I expect you love writing. What is the best thing about editing?For me, it is a similar buzz to writing. I enjoy editing. I love the intensity of it, the fact that you can lose yourself in the work, think about nothing else. Just words, and how they fit together. How they unfold to reveal a story.Thanks a lot for your time, Lane!  Follow Lane and Reedsy on Twitter: @Ashfeldt  and  @ReedsyHQDo you feel like the role of editors has changed? Is it worth it to work with a freelance editor before submitting your MS to agents and publishers? Leave us your thoughts, or any question for Lane, in the comments below!

How to Win a Walmart Scholarship Strategy Guide

How to Win a Walmart Scholarship Strategy Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You probably didn't know that Walmart offers a couple of scholarship opportunities for employees and their dependents. These scholarships are meant to cover college or vocational school expenses for those with financial need. In this guide, I'll start by talking about eligibility requirements and the application process. If you're already familiar with this information, skip to the second half of this post- this is where I'll give tips and strategies for increasing your chances of winning a Walmart scholarship. What Are the Walmart Scholarships? Walmart has two scholarship options: Associate Walmart Scholarship Dependent Walmart Scholarship Both options are geared to assist Walmart employees and their families who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education. If you win one of these scholarships, you can renew your award throughout the length of your degree program without having to reapply. If you're eligible for both scholarships (for example, if you and your parent both work at Walmart), note that you can only win one. Associate Walmart Scholarship The Associate Scholarship is available to Walmart employees who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, have a high school diploma or GED, and have worked full- or part-time at the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline. The scholarship can be renewed for up to six years, or until the end of the funded degree program (whichever comes first), with a maximum funding limit of $16,000 per degree program. Your level of funding depends on (1) your enrollment status, and (2) the type of school you're attending. Here's an outline of the funding levels per award period: Public US University 2-Year Institution (Community College / Certificate Program) 4-Year Institution / Graduate Institution 3-6 credit hours = $500 3-6 credit hours = $500 3-6 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $1,125 12+ credit hours = $1,000 12+ credit hours = $1,000 12+ credit hours = $1,500 Source: Walmart Associate Scholarship Program Guidelines Dependent Walmart Scholarship The Dependent Scholarship is available to dependentsof Walmart employees who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, are about to graduate with a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and have worked full- or part-time at the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline. In other words, if you're a child or dependent of a Walmart employee, you're eligible for this scholarshipeven if you haven't worked there yourself. The award is renewable and can be used for up to four years of continuous, full-time enrollment, with a maximum funding limit of $13,000 per degree program.Awards are disbursed, or given out, $1,625 at a time. Are You Eligible for a Walmart Scholarship? Unfortunately, neither the Associate Scholarship nor the Dependent Scholarship is open to the public.In order to be eligible, you must be either a Walmart employee or the dependent of a Walmart employee. The Associate and Dependent scholarships have slightly different eligibility requirements, which I've outlined below. Associate Scholarship Eligibility Requirements In order to be considered for the Associate Scholarship, you must meet allthe following criteria: Be either a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the US Be employed with Walmart at least six consecutive months before the application deadline Have a high school diploma or GED, or be a graduating high schoolsenior who is planning to enroll in college after graduation If you're applying for the scholarship as a high school senior, you must wait to apply until you're within six months of starting college classes Be able to demonstrate financial need (I'll discuss how to do this in the section on applying for the scholarship) Dependent Scholarship Eligibility Requirements In order to be considered for the Dependent Scholarship, you must meet allthe following criteria: Be either a US citizen orpermanent legal resident of the US Be the dependent of a Walmart employee who's actively worked with the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline (note that dependents of Board of Directors or officers are not eligible to apply) Be a high school or homeschooled graduating senior, orbe earning a GED Be able to demonstrate financial need (I'll discuss how to do this in the section on applying for the scholarship) Have a high school GPA of at least 2.0 Enroll for the fall semester as a full-time freshman/first-year student at an accredited two- or four-year college or university (does not include military academies) To renew your funds, you must be enrolled full-time, with a minimum 2.0 GPA, and attending a four-year college by your third year You don't need a perfect report card to apply for this scholarship (not that it would hurt!). What Do I Need to Apply for a Walmart Scholarship? In order to apply for a Walmart scholarship, you'll need to gather some materials and information, especially those concerning your family's financial situation. Below, I list everything you need to have before you can apply for each type of Walmart scholarship. Associate Scholarship Materials To apply for the Associate Scholarship, you'll need to have the following information: Financial Information If a family member has claimed you as a dependent, you'll needan electronic copy of your most recent family income tax return. If you have claimed yourself, you'll need a copy of your most recent tax return. Your family's adjusted gross income Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You can estimate your EFC using FAFSA4caster. Get instructions on how to use FAFSA4CASTER here. To get an official EFC, you must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Use this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to submit a FAFSA. Other Information A comprehensive list of volunteer or service activities you've participated in within the last four years Name and contact information for your high school Name of the college or vocational school you're planning to attend Your Walmart facility number (ask your manager if you don't have this information) Dependent Scholarship Materials To apply for the Dependent Scholarship, you'll need to gather the following information: Financial Information Current US federal income tax return from the individual who's claimed you as a dependent Current federal Student Aid Report (SAR). A SAR is generated when you submit a FAFSA. If you submit your FAFSA online, it'll take about three days to receive your SAR. Get step-by-step instructions on submitting a FAFSA here. Other Information Your high school transcript showing your grades and GPA through your first semester of senior year. This does not need to be an official transcript. How Do You Submit a Walmart Scholarship Application? You can submit an application for both the Associate and Dependent Scholarships online through the Walmart website. Register for an account and take the appropriate Scholarship Eligibility Quiz to gain access to the application. If you fail to meet eligibility requirements, you won't be able to submit an application.When your application is submitted, you'll receive an email verification. The Associate Scholarship application hasfour application windows throughout the year. Here are the upcoming application periods: Application Launch Date Application Deadline Award Notification Date February 1, 2019 March 1, 2019 April 15, 2019 May 1, 2019 June 1, 2019 July 15, 2019 August 1, 2019 September 1, 2019 October 15, 2019 November 1, 2019 December 1, 2019 January 15, 2020 Meanwhile, the Dependent Scholarship application window for this year is January 3, 2019, to April 2, 2019. When Do You Find Out Whether You've Been Selected for a Walmart Scholarship? Notification for the Associate Scholarship depends on the application deadline(see chart above). Typically, though, applicants are notified six weeks after the deadline. Dependent Scholarship applicants for this year'scycle will be notified mid-May 2019. How Can You Use Walmart Scholarship Money? If you're offered a Walmart scholarship, you'll need to submit a Scholarship Acceptance Agreement online before any funds are disbursed. Scholarship checks will then be mailed directly to your school.The scholarship money can be applied to charges for tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board. Associate and Dependent Scholarship funds must be used at an accredited school.Unfortunately, you can't use Walmart scholarship funds at military academies. Use these strategies to submit your very best scholarship application! How to Raise Your Odds of Winning a Walmart Scholarship There's a lot of overlap between the Associate and Dependent Scholarships, so first I'll give general advice that applies to both programs. Then, where there are differences between the scholarships, I'll give specialized advice. All scholarship applications are evaluated by an independent, impartial selection committee. This means that everyone with a complete application and who meets all eligibility requirements will be considered for the award. Financial need is considered a primary criterion for both scholarships.There's not much you can do to change your family's financial situation, but you'll have a chance to explain any financial hardships or difficulties in your application. General Tips for Any Walmart Scholarship Application Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements before beginning the application process. If you don't meet the requirements and answer the EligibilityQuiz honestly, you won't even get access to the application. The applications ask about your employment history with Walmart. If you or the person who's claimed you as a dependent is in good standing, you'll likely have a better chance of winning the scholarship. The applications ask about your parents' levels of education. First-generation college students might be more likely to win the scholarship. The applications give you the opportunity to talk about "special circumstances." This is a chance to set yourself apart from other eligible applicants. Here's what to do: Touch briefly on any financial hardships without sounding too self-defeating. Be matter-of-fact and explain how a Walmart scholarship could help you achieve your academic and professional goals in light of your financial limitations. One Walmart scholarship winner said he was grateful for the assistance in funding his education because it would improve his family's future. Will winning this scholarship affect anyone besides you in a positiveway?If so, discuss that in your application. Mention any extraordinary hardships or events that have challenged you. An evaluation committee will be impressed with an individual who has overcome significant obstacles to further pursue his or her educational and career goals. Tips for the Associate Scholarship Application This scholarship is very competitive- only about 10% of eligible applicants receive the award. As such, it's important to dedicate significant time and energy to your application. In addition to financial need, an important criterion considered by the evaluation committee is the applicant's level of community involvement. Here are some tips for your Associate Scholarship application: The application gives you the option to discuss up to three volunteer experiences you’ve had within the last four years. Examples include hospital volunteering; drug, teen, or homework helplines; and outreach programs. Based on these examples, it seems that this program is looking primarily for applicants who have worked with disadvantaged or marginalized populations. Talk about your passion for helping others. Do not repeat information about your volunteer activities; rather, discuss your future educational plans and how they will letyouhelp others. Emphasize any similar volunteer activities you've participated in. If you're currently looking for volunteer opportunities and might apply for this scholarship in the future, seek out a position through which you can demonstrate community involvement.For example, you could volunteer at a nursing home, a refugee center, or a low-income school. As you can tell, Walmart likely wants to maximize its impact on the community, which means if it funds students who have also contributed to the community, its impact will be magnified. Your goal is to prove that you'll be able to use the aid to improve your community as an ideal Walmart representative. Tips for the Dependent Scholarship Application This scholarship is fairly competitive, with only about 25% of eligible applicants receiving the award.In addition to financial need, an important criterion considered by the evaluation committee is your past academic performance. Here are our best tips and strategies for the Dependent Scholarship application: If you're a younger high school student, one of the best things you can do to increase your changes of winning the scholarship is to keep up your grades. A 2.0 GPA is the minimum to apply, but the selection committee will undoubtedly be more impressed with a high-achieving student. Talk about your academic passions and interests. Explain how this scholarship will assist you in achieving concrete career or educational goals based on your academic interests. If you meet the minimum GPA requirement but have rough patches in your academic record, use your application to explain why. Be matter-of-fact, but don't make excuses. Discuss any hardships that might have affected your academic performance(e.g., you got a job to help support your family, you missed school due to an ongoing illness or injury, etc.). Walmart has millions of employees, and to maximize the impact of its scholarship funds, it wants to find employees' dependentswho are most likely to make the most of their educations. A good predictor of this is the student's academic performance, so emphasize to Walmart that you'll utilize its scholarship funds to ultimately empower your future. What's Next? There are lots of scholarship opportunities out there, even if you're not a Walmart associate or dependent. The National Merit Scholarship is one great option; you can also get guaranteed scholarships if your standardized test scores are high enough! If you want to explore all your financial aid options and not just scholarships, learn about the Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: