We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffiny Spire a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tiffiny, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
For many years, no one aside from my husband knew I was a writer. I felt like I couldn’t use that label for myself since I was unpublished. To combat my imposter syndrome, I took writing courses, and joined organizations, and eventually started my own critique group. Over time, I began to share my aspirations with friends and family members who were nothing but encouraging. It wasn’t until I heard other people refer to me as a writer, that I started to believe it for myself. But imposter syndrome is something that many people never fully overcome, and it reared its ugly head again when I wanted to retrain and go from being an elementary school teacher to an editor. I’ve always known I’m innately good at proofreading, but I constantly questioned my skills even though there was “evidence” that I was capable of this career shift. I’m the go-to person in my circle of friends and family members when someone needs a piece of writing looked over. I love to get nerdy about the origins and usage of words. After years of my husband encouraging me to transition into editing, I dipped my toe in the water. I began taking courses and practicing my skills for free. Some of the members of my critique group were kind enough to let me practice my new editorial training on their manuscripts. Eventually, I felt (mostly) ready to open shop as a freelance editor. I offered my early clients discounted rates since I was still learning on the job. The real-life experience has been just as valuable as the courses I took. I don’t think imposter syndrome will ever fully go away, but now I have confidence in my voice when I tell people I’m an editor and a writer.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
It’s a dream come true to work in a field that allows me to be a digital nomad. I love to travel; I love to get out in nature; I love to explore new cultures and try their foods. Over the past couple of years, I’ve tasted ceviche in Peru, toured the fjords of Norway, and visited the Christmas market in Prague. I couldn’t have done this without having my portable freelance editing career. This freedom makes the challenges of running a freelance business worth the effort.
I named my editing business The Pink Pen (because red ink is too harsh). As a sensitive person and a writer myself, I understand how difficult it can be to receive criticism on your work. I am fortunate enough to work alongside authors to shape their work into its best version possible. This can only happen if the author trusts that my feedback is always coming from a constructive, non-judgmental place. I work hard to foster that supportive relationship with my clients.
Being an avid reader, I’ve focused my services on editing fiction novels (young adult, middle grade, romance, Christian, fantasy, etc. . .) But recently, one of my clients asked me to also edit her blog posts, and I realized just how much I enjoy that kind of editing, too. I decided to start offering that service to others now on a retainer basis. Anyone looking for an editor or for writing advice can check out my website. I post monthly tips for writers, and subscribers to my Writerly Resources newsletter get a free copy of my Self-editing Checklist.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
What advice do I have for people who are early in their journey? There is no substitute for on-the-job training. We learn best by doing, but it can be difficult to gain that experience. I’ve found that offering to do something for free provided the learning opportunity I was looking for. Also, when I was first starting out, I listened to a lot of podcasts on freelancing—I was trying to learn as much as possible from others. I heard multiple people say that the first two years of running a freelance business are hard because it takes many long hours to get it up and running. This was true for me, too. Because I had heard others share their experiences, I knew I wasn’t alone when I was feeling overwhelmed during that beginning stage of being a business owner. I got through it and so will others who are willing to sacrifice in the short term in order to make their dreams come true in the long term.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The biggest challenge for me right now is finding a work-life balance. Working freelance means the line between work and home blurs quite easily. I have to be extra diligent to stop myself from working through the evenings and weekends. Part of the reason for this, I know, comes from that imposter syndrome monster. If I’m not careful, I find myself wondering if I’m doing enough to keep this business sustainable. There’s always more that can be done, but I remind myself of my original goals of freedom and flexibility. I’ve learned it’s important to foster other areas of my life, too. Maintaining relationships and getting out in nature are different kinds of investments worth spending time on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiffinyspire.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffinysbookshelf/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffiny-spire-05119a1a9
- Twitter: https://x.com/TiffinySpire
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/tiffinyspire.bsky.social
Image Credits
Photo credits: Beba Photography, Eli Pfau, myself
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