Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Flores.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with words. I’ve loved learning about the ways in which they come together to make coherent sentences, paragraphs, and stories. To me, putting words together is like doing puzzles with unlimited outcomes.
After graduating from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a minor in art history, I quickly decided that my interest wasn’t so much in public relations as it was in creative writing and editing. Upon graduating, and for the next five years, I had a blast writing as a relationship advice columnist. Believe it or not, I’d been through enough in my life by that time to justify giving relationship advice to others, and it was received very well.
In the meantime, I stuck my face in every book and article I could find about what an editor does and needs to know. After working a few jobs for free (hey, we all start somewhere, right?), I absolutely fell in love with editing. I feel like I’m working my dream job, and I plan to do this for as long as my fingers will let me type and my eyes will let me read.
Write Down the Line, LLC – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Write Down the Line, LLC is a full-service editing company (line editing, copy editing, and proofreading) for individuals, companies, and magazines, though my main focus is on book editing. It’s where my heart is. I work on all genres—fiction, nonfiction, self-help, and children’s books—but I think I have the most fun with fiction and children’s books. Many of my clients lately have been in the thriller and historical fiction genres, which make for exciting work days, but I’ve yet to edit a genre I don’t like.
The thing I’m most proud of about my company is the feedback I’ve received from clients. It’s been five stars across the board, and I believe it’s because of the personal attention I give to every client. I try to go above and beyond by not only giving the authors’ books the dedication and diligence they deserve, but I also guide authors through any part of the publishing process they might need help with.
I also give authors all the feedback I can to help them improve their writing in subsequent books, and I do it in the kindest way possible. I never want them to think I’m ridiculing their work. It’s cliché, but in this case, it truly is constructive criticism. (I don’t think I’ve made anyone cry, but if I have, they sure haven’t told me about it!) I’m also the author of two children’s books: Tree Soldier and If Animals Could Wish.
After my daughter was born, I felt inspired to write my own children’s books with her in mind. Because of my experience with publishing, I know it can be a tricky business. There is a lot of information out there. Much of it changes every few months, much of it is false, and there are a lot of companies that try to take advantage of new authors. I don’t mind holding my clients’ hands and getting them through the publishing process in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. I want to see them succeed!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally define success for my business by the success of the authors I work with.
When they publish their books and receive great feedback, I can’t help but feel excited and proud. I know how much time and heart authors put into their books. When they spend months banging away at the keyboard, often doing this after their full-time job and at the expense of family time, it becomes more than just a story—it becomes an emotional undertaking. When they finish their books and trust me to edit them into the best versions possible, I truly feel honored.
Besides the fact that I love my job with a passion, one of the greatest things about being a book editor is the relationships I form with such diverse and interesting people. I work with and get to know authors from all over the world. Whether fiction or nonfiction, their stories all come from somewhere deep down, and because I work closely with them, dissecting every letter within their stories, I sometimes get to know a deeper side of them.
This advantage helps me preserve the author’s voice in everything they write, but even better, it’s like making a new friend with every job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.writedowntheline.com
- Email: sarah@writedowntheline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_m_flores
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writedowntheline
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiveGoodWriting
- Other: https://reedsy.com/sarah-flores
Image Credit:
Shannon Stroubakis Photography
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