We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Bauch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.
Amanda, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I consider myself extraordinarily blessed that I’ve always felt called to work with language, whether writing, editing, or teaching.
I was an early reader, and as long as I can remember, I’ve been enamored with the written word. Books and stories were like magic. They could transport me beyond the confines of my small town and dysfunctional home life, my imagination running wild and free. They could make me laugh, cry, and think. I sometimes saw my own experiences reflected back at me; other times I learned a lot from a character’s life that looked completely different from mine.
When I was old enough to discover that *I* could be the one writing such stories—that I could transport people and make them feel and think—I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
Now, I’m grateful to not only write my own stories but also help authors write their stories.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As I mentioned, I’m a writer, editor, and teacher. Anytime I’m engaged in any of these activities, I bring all of my experience from each sphere to bear on a project.
The longer I’m in the publishing industry, the more I appreciate how unique my experiences and interests are. Many writers aren’t editors, and vice versa. Not to mention that I work across all genres and types of books. Memoir, novels, Christian, children’s, cookbooks, memoir, health & wellness, business & leadership, academic textbooks, poetry, short story collections—you name it, I work on it.
One of the most exciting career developments over the past few months is that I signed a contract to publish one of my own books, forthcoming from Post Hill Press in November 2025. It’s a devotional to encourage Christian women to pray for the United States of America. I’ve been so busy and fulfilled helping others publish their books that it’s both surreal and thrilling to be in the author role for a change. I’m grateful to leverage everything I’ve learned from my freelancing and publishing career to foster my own book’s success.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Of course, the most obvious knowledge base for a writer or editor or is grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can learn a lot about these by taking courses (e.g., through the University of Chicago, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and other organizations) and reading books on the subject. However, these skills are only sharpened when they’re used, and the best way to learn writing and editing is by doing the work.
Understanding story is also critical. Again, you can take classes and read books about the craft of storytelling, and all of these will be helpful to some extent. But you can also learn from the things you enjoy reading, or books that are similar to books you want to write. How does the author weave their narrative strands together? What are the story’s strengths and weaknesses? Asking these kinds of questions will help you deconstruct stories in such a way that you can better identify the building blocks of a great story.
Finally, people skills are absolutely essential. Although the publishing industry is full of introverts—including yours truly!—at its core, it’s a relationship business. Human beings are involved in every step of the process, with all of their complexity and idiosyncrasies. The more you learn to extend grace to others and to yourself, the more joy (and less frustration) you’ll find along the way.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m pretty much always seeking to partner or collaborate with people who have a story to share with the world. I love working with authors who truly want to make the world a better place, who want to add value to reader’s lives.
Anyone who wants to partner or collaborate with me can reach me through my website, amandabauch.com, where I have a contact form for prospective clients.
Let’s make book magic together!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amandabauch.com/
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