Our Featured Editor series is a way to recognize our members’ editing achievements. Today we interview Silver member and PEN Tips Featured Editor Sarah Rexford.
How did you get your start as an editor, and how long have you been editing?
I was privileged to get my start working for a bestselling author. This was a massive crash course in the editing process and I loved every minute of it. The lessons I learned in this role were foundational to my editing process. Simple phrases like “every word counts” and “resist the urge to explain” stick in my head as I edit manuscripts for authors today.
My first role focused primarily on copywriting. However, getting a taste of editing struck the nerve of a desire I didn’t even know I had. Moving words around, cutting every unnecessary phrase, and learning to spot the key themes in a manuscript deeply resonated with me. On a much smaller scale, editing felt like carving Michelangelo’s David from a block of marble. Editing isn’t about keeping as much as possible, but about taking everything away until the true art form emerges.
What are your areas of focus, and why did you select them?
I tend to focus my editing on nonfiction genres focused on business, leadership, personal development, and memoir. I love these genres because they align with topics in my wheelhouse but also allow me to learn as I edit. Having work that pays you to learn is an absolute dream and one I don’t think I will ever take for granted!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
At least for me, there is never a typical day! Editing involves so much more than simply sitting down to work on a manuscript. There are authors to communicate with, contracts to send, and many peripheral details that take time.
This is likely contrary to popular opinion, but I prefer to clear my inbox first thing. This frees my mental space for deep work later in the day. When it comes time to edit, I absolutely immerse myself in the text. My notifications are off, my phone is on silent, and it’s just me and the Word document.
How do you manage your time?
I referenced this earlier, but I prefer deep work to multitasking. I tend to work with clients one at a time, booking them back to back as necessary. That said, I also work as an SEO Copywriter creating short and long-form articles for companies around the nation. I usually split my working hours in two: One part of the day I focus on SEO research and article writing, the second part I spend on the manuscript I’m currently working on.
What is your favorite thing about being an editor?
The honor of engaging with authors from so many backgrounds is an absolute joy. Some of the individuals I’ve worked with include an author well-established in the financial world, a man who introduced over seventy Members of Congress and Presidential Appointees, an officer in the U.S. Army, and a woman who is now CEO of her own successful business. Reading their stories and learning from their expertise is a profound privilege.
What is your biggest challenge in being an editor, and how do you work through this?
Maintaining each author’s unique voice, regardless of the type of edit, is key to every editor’s job. Preparing for this challenge actually began early in my copywriting days. As a young copywriter, I learned to write on an array of subject matter, but I also learned to encompass a variety of voices. The diversity of authors I’m honored to work with ensures I utilize the lessons I learned early on.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting a career as an editor?
Learn to edit your own writing! I also recommend turning on Track Changes in Word and saving each draft. This will allow you to literally track your progress. Additionally, study the style guides common to your desired line of work.
When I started out, I purchased The Chicago Manual of Style, went to a coffee shop, opened to page one, and began reading the style guide like I would read a novel. This preparation served me well when I took on my first clients.
What are you currently working on?
Right now I’m wrapping up details with an author and preparing for this next season! Several of my authors’ books are available for preorder right now, too. It’s fun to see them launch the books they worked so hard on and watch readers’ positive responses.
Where can people find you online or on social media?
Feel free to take this conversation further on social media or via my website! You can find me on Instagram and Threads @sarahjrexford. Leave me a note via my website at www.SarahJRexford.com. I love hearing from aspiring authors!
About PEN Tips Featured Editor Sarah Rexford
Sarah Rexford is an editor and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) copywriter for clients recognized by Forbes, The New York Times, Google, the United Nations, and Harvard. Trained by three bestselling authors, she combines her unique background in both creative writing and SEO to produce digital copy that ranks on Google and manuscripts that connect with readers. She coaches writers and speaks at conferences with keynoters such as Charles Martin. Connect with Sarah at her website, sarahjrexford.com.
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