We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Bauch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
My husband nodded his head as I spiraled yet again.
“Maybe I should go back to work full-time. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so dismissive of that job offer this summer. Maybe . . .” my voice trailed off as I fantasized about having a job where I showed up, put in my time, came home, and no longer had to think about work. No phone calls, texts, or emails at all hours of the day.
It was time for what I’ve coined “My Annual Freakout.”
Book publishing essentially comes to a screeching halt during the winter months, something I know only too well after twenty-plus years in the industry. Even so, this dry spell never ceases to catapult me into panic mode—especially my bank account balance dwindles to nothing.
When I decided to leave my full-time corporate publishing job three years ago, my husband and I agreed we’d take it one year at a time. I had a monthly income threshold I needed to meet, to ensure we had the funds for what my income provided for the family. In spite of my endless hustle, I often fell short of this goal, leaving me guilty and stressed. And feeling like a failure.
How could I let down my family and put their well-being in jeopardy, just because I wanted to have professional freedom? Not only this, but as someone who grew up poor, the scarcity mindset and fear of not being able to afford groceries and other basic necessities always hovers at the edge of my consciousness.
After a few moments of silence, my husband asked, “Are you done?”
I sighed and said, “Yeah. I guess so.”
“You’re not going back to corporate publishing. I don’t think you remember how awful it was for you—for all of us. If it’s the money, I’m telling you not to worry about the money. Let me worry about the money. Just keep doing what you’re doing—reaching out to your network, staying the course. It’s going to be alright—you’ll see.”
As he hugged me, frustration, exhaustion, and relief all swirled within my body as tears welled in my eyes. I was grateful my husband had so much confidence in me. And I knew he was right: going back to full-time corporate publishing wasn’t an option. Although that experience had been a huge blessing in many ways, it also took an unbelievable toll on me, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
If there’s anything I’ve learned during this season of freelancing, it’s that operating from a scarcity mindset leads to poor outcomes—whether it’s saying yes to projects that are a bad fit, getting myself so worked up my stomach is perpetually tied in knots, or allowing the stress to short circuit my creativity. The more I’m able to operate from a place of abundance and generosity, the better.
Granted, that’s sometimes easier said than done, but when I’m intentional and focused on what I want for me and my business, the results and successes speak for themselves.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Under “future plans” in my fifth-grade yearbook, you’ll find the following: writer, editor, teacher. For as long as I can remember, this work has been my passion. Although I’ve taken job detours in support of these pursuits, my love of language has always been my North Star.
The thing that sets me apart from many who work in this space is my diverse experiences, both personal and professional. My multifaceted approach contributes to my unique ability to help writers present their best work to the world—one of my greatest joys in life.
Although I enjoy working with authors from almost any genre, nonfiction is my area of expertise, and I have a particular interest in memoir, autobiography, personal essay, self-improvement, health/wellness, and cookbooks. However, I’ve also edited children’s and young adult books, as well as dozens of novels, particularly in the self-publishing industry.
My current focus areas are ghostwriting/collaborative writing, coaching, and high-level editing. Of my recent titles, Invisible Generals by Doug Melville was featured on The Daily Show, PBS NewsHour, CBS Saturday Morning, and other media outlets (cowriter). Two other projects were selected for Oprah Daily’s “Most Anticipated Books of 2024”: New York Times bestseller By the Time You Read This by Cheslie Kryst & April Simpkins (collaborative writer & developmental editor) and Wild Life by Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (collaborative writer). A recent publication from one of my coaching + editing clients, Your Journey to Financial Freedom by Jamila Souffrant, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Nonfiction.
Before returning to freelancing in 2022, I worked at HarperCollins, where I helped launch two nonfiction imprints: HarperCollins Leadership and Harper Horizon. I worked on almost 100 books in various capacities, from acquisitions and developmental editing to serving as the production editor on almost every title published. Highlights include the following bestselling titles: for Harper Horizon, Make Life Beautiful by Syd & Shea McGee, Willie Nelson’s Letters to America by Willie Nelson with Turk Pipkin, Mooncakes and Milk Bread by Kristina Cho, and The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook by Lisa Steele; for HarperCollins Leadership, Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall and Shut Up and Listen! by Tilman Fertitta.
My formal editing career began at Ithaca College, while pursuing my bachelor of arts in English literature. I served a brief stint as chief copy editor of the school’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Several years later, after I received my master of fine arts in creative writing at Lesley University, I stacked up more editorial experience, including volunteering as a manuscript reader for Post Road, serving as assistant editor for Relief: A Christian Literary Expression, helping dozens of self-published authors launch their books into the world, and editing college textbooks and courses for SIRIUS Academics. Additionally, I assisted students with successfully completing their theses or dissertations, prepared articles intended for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and revamped résumés and CVs for job seekers. For several years, I taught various English and writing classes as an adjunct instructor at different institutions and worked as an instructional designer to develop online courses.
As with editing, my writing career began at an early age. I garnered my first writing honor my senior year of high school, when a creative nonfiction piece won first prize at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Writers’ Competition. Since then, my fiction and nonfiction has appeared in MOTIF: Writing by Ear, Empowerment4Women: The Online Magazine, Tainted Mirror: An Anthology, Bent Pin Quarterly, Writer Advice, The Hiss Quarterly, and 30 Points of View. My work also received an honorable mention in The Writers’ Workshop of Asheville, NC, Memoirs Contest; second place in the 2006 Lantern Books Essay Contest; and selection as Best of the AWP Pedagogy Papers in 2008. I was a contributing author to English Composition II: Writing about Nonfiction and the lead author of Introduction to Literature. My other works in progress include an essay collection about growing up mixed raced, a memoir, a contemporary adult novel, a romance novella series, a young adult novel, and numerous shorter pieces.
After many years of helping authors with their books, I’m excited to finally be pursuing my personal writing career once again—beginning with a devotional to equip people to pray for our country, forthcoming from Post Hill Press in November 2025.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I’m fond of saying that although I’m in the publishing business, I’m actually in the relationship business. In publishing, human beings are involved every step of the way, from authors and agents to graphic designers and editors to marketing and public relations teams. It’s impossible for a book to exist without some level of human involvement.
I sometimes refer to myself as my authors’ “emotional support human,” which is a bit cheeky but not entirely untrue. Authors want to work with me because they recognize that I’m just as passionate about their projects as they are, and that I’ll be their biggest cheerleader every step of the way. And agents, a major source of referrals, want to partner me with their authors because they know I provide unparalleled support.
If you want to succeed in publishing, managing relationships—in all their complexity—is critical.
Many of my authors have also become dear friends, and we share our lives with one another. Yes, this is my job and my business, and it provides financially for my family. But it’s also my ministry, a way for me to care for others in a special and sometimes powerful way.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Overall, I’ve been blessed to work with authors who love me and my work. But a couple of times, the author-editor relationship was less than ideal.
Years ago, I was engaged through a vendor I’d worked with for many years, to edit an action-packed novel. After corresponding with the author—we’ll call him Derek—we agreed that though I was hired to copyedit the manuscript, he was willing to let me do a “kit-and-kaboodle” edit, meaning that I’d make whatever changes I felt were necessary to improve the work.
I spent weeks doing what turned into more of a line edit and submitted the manuscript to Derek.
Sometime later, I heard from the vendor that Derek was extremely unhappy with the edit, and in the body of the email Derek had sent, among his many complaints, he indicated his doubts that I was even a professional editor. (Note to all you bosses out there: Consider whether it’s appropriate to share unfiltered client feedback with employees.) He also demanded a full refund.
Thankfully, the vendor knew my reputation, so that relationship remained intact. Regardless, they asked me if I’d help them make the situation right. I agreed to re-edit the manuscript for free (frankly, the last thing I wanted to do!), and my work would then be reviewed by someone higher up in the organization, who Derek trusted was more authoritative than I was.
Was this humiliating? Yes. Was I frustrated and angry? Yes. Did I learn something from this situation? Absolutely. Here are the two most important lessons:
The first thing I learned is that when working with a new client, always provide them with an editing or writing sample before marching forward with a project. Give authors an opportunity to indicate whether you’re doing enough or not enough, and allow them to guide you. This can help prevent ugly and unwelcome surprises down the road, after you’ve already invested a ton of time and energy into a project.
The second, and probably most valuable, lesson I learned is that I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. When I read Derek’s criticisms of me and my work, it sent me into a tailspin. I thought, Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am a horrible editor. Maybe I should quit before I ruin someone else’s manuscript. But when I shared this story with a friend and mentor, she gently reminded me, “Amanda, this is just one author, and one manuscript. How many dozens of authors have you worked with who have told you you’re the best editor they’ve ever had? How many have come back to you again and again to work on their books? If you weren’t good at your job, no one would ever want to work with you. Don’t let this one bad experience undermine your confidence and destroy your love for what you do.”
In addition to taking her words to heart, I acknowledged that my ego had been wounded. But when I put myself in the client’s position and asked myself how I would’ve felt if I were on the receiving end of those edits, I admitted that I likely would’ve been upset too. We’re only human, after all, and we all have our hangups and make mistakes. Ever since then, I’ve tried to keep my ego out of the equation as much as possible, while also extending grace to both my authors and myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amandabauch.com/
