Interviewed by April Stier
Heidi, you have been an active member of The Christian PEN since its inception. But what do you enjoy besides writing and editing? 
I enjoy my family, especially my daughter, Megan, who is 15 months old. We also purchased an old stone house, built in the early 1800s, which we are in the process of gutting and restoring, room by room. It's a huge project, and goes particularly slowly with a young child, but we love it. I also love music and am on the worship team of my local congregation.
What is a fact most people don't know about you?
That I am a woman. Based on my writing style, many people assume that I'm a man, which is just fine with me. I started using "H. L." with the publication of my first book, Before God's Wrath. There aren't a lot of women writing on end-times subjects, and since the book challenges some of today's popular beliefs about end-times theology, it seemed prudent not to advertise my gender. When editing and doing manuscript evaluations, I've also found that it avoids conflict because many people will take constructive criticism more readily from a man than a woman. I don't try to hide my gender, but I don't advertise it, either.
If you didn't write or edit, what other occupation would you choose?
Probably a teacher. My husband teases me that I should have been a teacher because I teach in everything I do. It's just part of my personality, so rather than try to squelch it, perhaps I should get paid for it!
Tell us a little about your work history. Where have you been, and what are you doing now?
I was a trade magazine editor in the commercial printing and publishing industry for about ten years before leaving to go on my own in 1995. I had a lot of contacts in the industry, so I had steady work right away, doing feature writing, market research, and public relations writing for individual companies. I still do a lot of writing, but a lot of the publication work has dried up. Much has gone online. Now I'm an industry analyst and columnist (both print and online), as well as an author and book development editor for a national association. I do more work directly with individual companies than I used to. Strong Tower Publishing is an important ministry for me, but the bulk of my income comes from my commercial printing industry, writing, and editing.
Why did you start Strong Tower Publishing?
My first book, Before God's Wrath, challenges the currently popular pretribulation rapture view. Back in 2000, when I first started marketing it to publishers, I received extremely positive reviews, but at the time publishers were starting to really slash their new title lists and cut back on their commitments to niche titles and new authors. My book was all three. It was endorsed by Marvin Rosenthal, author of The Prewrath Rapture of the Church, who strongly supported my efforts, and after making a personal effort to help me into traditional publication, he encouraged me to self-publish. With my background in the printing industry, it was just a matter of putting that knowledge into practice. Since then, I have published a book on self-publishing and published several other titles by deserving authors.
What kind of books does Strong Tower publish, and what other services does it offer?
We currently offer six titles. Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture, Antes de la Ira de Dios (the Spanish translation of Before God's Wrath), and Do You Really Want to Self-Publish Your Book? (which looks at the costs and issues associated with print-on-demand publishing) are my books. We also have Who Will Be Left Behind and When? by Dave Bussard, a discussion of the end-times scenario put forth by the Left Behind series; Prophecy's Architecture: How to Determine an End-Times Doctrine by Cameron Fultz, which discusses the basic rules of biblical interpretation and how they should be put together to determine end-times timing and sequence; and Touching the Soul, a collection of Christian poetry by r. g. Wallace (his preferred spelling), a pastor in northern California. Strong Tower Publishing also offers book development, copyediting, proofing, and manuscript evaluation services.
What is your biggest pet peeve when editing others' work?
When authors submit manuscripts for "copyediting" when they really need developmental editing. Most of the authors who come my way really don't understand writing, and they don't know what they don't know. They think an editor is supposed to fix their bad writing and turn it into something publishable, and they want it for a proofing price.
Editing is long, hard, tedious work, and as an editor, it is very challenging to get paid what your time is worth. When you are dealing with regular folks, a reasonable copyediting fee would be about the same as the cost of a family vacation. Few non-professional writers can afford to pay that, which is why I have such a hard time raising my rates. It's tough to be all business when the authors' hearts are hanging on their sleeves. It's a tough line to walk.
What organizational tips do you have for other editors?
1. Do a word count and base your page rate or time estimate on a standard number of words per page. Otherwise, writers will submit single-spaced manuscripts in 10-pt. type and want the same per-page rate as someone writing double-spaced in 12-pt. type. Basing on a standard number of words per page equalizes everything.
2. When doing your estimate, spend most of your time looking over the end of the manuscript. Manuscripts that read cleanly in the first 30 pages can deteriorate into nonsensical ramblings by page 175. Never base your evaluation on the first 50 pages.
3. Do your last read in hard copy. You will always catch things you missed on screen. Between readings, change the font or the line width--or both--to give yourself a fresh perspective. You'll be amazed how different things look by making these simple changes.
4. Understand the difference between a developmental edit and a copyedit and between a copyedit and a proof. If you want to make a business of editing, these different services should be priced differently. If you don't learn to make these distinctions, you will end up frustrated all the time, wondering why projects are so time-consuming and where your life went.
How do you balance freelancing with other areas of your life?
Balance is very hard. It's easy for work to take over your life, especially when you can't "leave it at the office" like others do. It's always there, always calling, and it's so tempting to do just a little more. I think the answer is understanding that family is more important than work, and knowing that your financial future is in the hands of God. If we seek financial security, we will never find it. But if we seek God's kingdom, we will find meaning and peace, and He will provide the things we need (Matt. 6:18-33). When we get things lopsided and feel that we need to work harder and longer to be financially secure, we lose the peace and joy that is supposed to define our lives. I know I lost it for the longest time, and I am just now trying to get it back.
What advice do you have for aspiring freelance editors?
If possible, start marketing yourself and doing a few editing projects before leaving your full-time job. This way, you will have a realistic understanding of what you'll be getting into. The time and pricing issues are major ones, and they're more challenging than many editors realize at first.
Visit Heidi's Web site.
