Yearly Reflections 2021-2022 (Free Workbook for Editors!)

Sophie Playle

I find it so useful to spend some time to slow down and reflect on the months gone by, using that insight to point me in the right direction for the new year ahead.

Last year, I didn’t do this. (Hmm, I wonder why? Could it have been to do with a global pandemic eroding my mental energy? Maybe.) But you can still take a look at my goal blog posts for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

This year, I’ve decided to share a few thoughts but I’ve also put together a brand-spanking new workbook to help other editors with this reflect-and-plan process.

To download the free Yearly Reflections 2021-2022 workbook for freelance editors, click here and follow the instructions.

Now, onto a few of my own reflections and goals …

2021 highlights

Well, it’s been quite a year for Liminal Pages!

I’ve started migrating my courses (which previously PDFs delivered by email) to a dedicated online platform, and so far so good. I now have two self-study courses available, and these have been selling steadily.

I also feel like I’ve done some pretty darn good editing this year, if I do say so myself. I’ve had some wonderful feedback from clients. Honestly, I feel as though my skills and knowledge get deeper and stronger every year, which I think is testament to the fact I have a true interest in storytelling and writing craft and so I absolutely love learning more, more, more about it. There is always more to learn!

Lastly, I spoke (virtually) at two conferences this year. Both sessions went pretty well, and I’m glad I did them. Read more about my experiences in this issue of my newsletter.

Biggest lesson

The biggest lesson I learned this year is actually one I’m still learning. It’s how to deal mentally with the limitations of time.

If that sounds like a big, nebulous topic, it’s because it is! But I’ve realised that I have a lot of mental hang-ups relating to my perception of productivity and time usage.

Nearly every year, I’ve set big goals for myself then fallen short. Or at least felt like I’d fallen short. This year, I realised the answer isn’t in productivity hacks, better scheduling or better planning. It’s all about mindset.

I’m sure I’ll talk more about this over the coming months in my newsletter, as I continue to dive into this topic.

Looking ahead to 2022

I’m not setting any concrete goals for next year.

Instead, I hope to take things as they come and follow my instincts. Where I am now in my business, I know what I’m doing and where I’m going. I just need to trust that I can continue what I’ve set in motion.

The pandemic isn’t over, but I hope that with every day that passes, we’re closer and closer to it coming to an end. So here’s to 2022 – with hope.

And in case you missed it, or scrolled frantically to the bottom of the post to find the freebie, here’s the link again to the Yearly Reflections 2021-2022 workbook.

Sophie Playleis a professional fiction editor. She specialises in developmental editing, critiquing and copy-editing, and loves working with authors and publishers who are passionate about high-quality storytelling. Speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction and literary fiction are her genres of choice. She's an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading and has a Creative Writing MA from Royal Holloway, University of London. Find out more: liminalpages.com

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Editorial considerations, creative revelations and the occasional existential lamentation – sharing my experiences and personal recommendations exclusively with you.