A writer contacts you through your website, and voilà, your next job! Not so fast. As many of us know, a writer who wants to learn about your services doesn’t always mean a paying customer. And many writers who believe they’re ready for an editor couldn’t tell you if they need a manuscript review or a proofread.

While it’s easy to focus on your visibility as an editor, vetting writers and ensuring they’re viable clients is equally as important finding them. In this 60-minute presentation, we’ll cover a script for introductory phone calls, how to confidently describe your services and pricing, and ways to set writer expectations without scaring them away. You’ll also learn how to spot red and green flags, how to finalize projects, and three easy ways to build long-term client relationships. 

This session is geared toward fiction line editors and developmental editors early in their careers, but these techniques can be used by anyone who’s having trouble finding the “right” writers to work with.

Grace Bialecki (she/her) is a writer, editor, and meditation teacher who helps artists to be present in their lives and with the work. She has lead hundreds of workshops for organizations such as Hugo House, the Peace Education Center, and Brooklyn Public Schools, and works as an editor for the agency Fresh Complaint, as well as with her own clients. When building her business, Grace brings her experience as a former sales manager and emphasizes communication, empathy, and lasting relationships.