Fall has definitely arrived here in Edmonton. Leaves are turning a beautiful golden yellow and the temperature at night is starting to dip below freezing. This year this also seems to be the season for an uptick in queries to index academic books, most of them ready for indexing in… Read More »When Potential Clients Ghost Me
From my perspective as a relatively younger indexer, it feels like indexing is in the midst of a generational turnover, both in terms of long-time indexers nearing retirement and in regards to software. A lot of programs developed in the 1980s and 1990s are still vital to our work, but… Read More »The Future of Indexing Software
A few months ago I wrote about financial practices for freelancers that I find helpful in my own business. I’ve been wanting to write about money again, specifically about setting rates. Rates are a constant and ongoing issue, of how to set rates, and when to raise rates, and whether… Read More »Setting Freelance Rates, Best Book for
A month ago I wrote about my ideal working relationship with publishers, as a valued member of the team. But not every publisher or client is going to be ideal, and sometimes you need to know when to walk away. Walking away from a project or client is scary. Especially… Read More »When to Walk Away
Freelancers are ubiquitous within publishing. Most publishers maintain a relatively small number of in-house staff, with much of the actual production work contracted out. What does this mean for the relationship between freelancer and publisher? Before I dig into this topic, I want to acknowledge that I write from a… Read More »A Member of the Team? Freelance Indexers Within Publishing
Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a fabulous start, whether you are hitting the ground running or easing into the new year. I recently heard the term “gentle January,” which sounds about right to me. Do I have goals for this year? Yes. Do I need… Read More »2023: Year in Review
It’s tough becoming established as a freelancer. In my last two posts, I’ve written about marketing and money. Today I want to acknowledge that it also takes time to become established as a freelancer. And that time can feel painfully slow and leave you wondering if you are ever going… Read More »Persevering Through the Dip
In my last post, I wrote about my two golden rules for marketing and building a client base. Today, I want to write about money. If you are a freelancer, or are thinking of becoming a freelancer, I assume at least part of your motivation is to earn an income.… Read More »Money Advice to Make Freelancing Easier
Marketing is tough. It may be the most fear-inducing part of being a freelancer. Especially if you are an introvert, like most indexers are. How do you find publishers and authors with books that need indexing? How do authors and publishers find you? Publishing is a vast, global industry. Where… Read More »Marketing and Building a Client Base, My Two Golden Rules
When I first began to freelance, I did not know how to set a price for my work. Instead of being proactive, I accepted what my first few clients offered me, as what they offered seemed fair, I had no prices for comparison, and I was simply thrilled to receive… Read More »How to Set Prices that Sell and Earn Profit