We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jill Yoder. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jill below.

Jill, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I took was deciding to return to school at the age of 50. I worried about the financial risks at that age, knowing that since I was debt-free at the time, I’d be accruing a substantial debt. The degree I pursued was in English and Creative Writing, with a concentration in Fiction and Poetry. I graduated in 2018 from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree.

But let me fill you in on why I wanted this degree. It started when I was about nine years old. My class was asked to write a short story of our choice for an assignment. I remember that story because I received an “A” on it. It was about a little girl who found an abandoned kitten on the side of the road. She adopted it and, along with her parents, raised it to be a happy addition to the family. I knew then that I wanted to tell stories.

However, I didn’t write much after that. I became a ferocious reader, and at the time, my favorite author was Anne McCaffrey, and her Dragon Riders of Pern books were my favorites. I often read a book per day when I was in my late teens. Book stores and libraries were the place to be, in my opinion.

It wasn’t until my late twenties that I began writing poetry. I entered a few contests and won an honorable mention for one of them. I then had several of my poems published in two anthologies: World of Poetry Anthology and Our World’s Most Treasured Poems.

So, coming back to the present, earning my degree was more than satisfying and has led me to a surprising career in copy editing. The risk is paying off.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

This certainly ties back to the previous question perfectly. My pursuit of a degree in writing helped me break out into the world of authors. Shortly after graduating, I applied for an internship at the eMagazine, Coffee House Writers. After completing the onboarding and required training within the platform, I was approached with an offer to become one of their beginner editors. At first, I felt a little intimidated. They want “me” to be an editor. I’ve never edited anyone else’s work before. But I accepted the challenge. At first, it was nerve-racking, but I soon settled in and relaxed.

That is also when I met my close friend, Julie Kusma. We quickly became very close friends, and after we both resigned from Coffee House Writers, we created our collaborative website, The “Dear J” Letters. https://thedearjletters.wordpress.com/

Around that time, Julie was looking for an editor and asked if I’d like to start editing for her. I didn’t hesitate. Of course, I said yes. Why not. That’s when I met Derek King, who also needed an editor. So, I also signed him on as a client.

I know that there are editors out there who insist that every little rule of writing must be followed. I am not that type of editor, especially for fiction. I believe, as Benjamin Dreyer does, that some rules must be followed, while others are merely guidelines that can be broken. My clients are always telling me that they like my good “bedside manner”.

When I edit, I always provide the reasons why they should make changes. I provide them with several suggestions and options, but I let them make the decision. After all, it is their story and their vision. I’m not about to change it. I believe in engaging in fun banter with my clients and maintaining complete communication. Why not have a laugh about a mistake every now and then? We all make those oopsies that we can’t believe we’ve made.

I can honestly say that I am most proud of the work I’ve done in collaboration with Julie Kusma. We’ve not only collaborated on a website, but we’ve also written three children’s books together: A Perfect Place for Scary Monsters to Hide, Eggie’s Easter Counting & Coloring Fun, and our latest, ABCs of Summer Fun.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a creative writer and editor, I have often compared myself to others as a way to gauge my relevance and skills. It is frequently called imposter syndrome. I used to question whether I had what it took to be a good writer or editor. The answer to that is, yes. I believe I possess the skills necessary to become a skilled writer and editor.

That doubt is what gave me pause when I was offered the editing position at Coffee House Writers. But I knew I had to take that risk and power through those doubts. I’ve always been that way; I’ve always doubted myself, until I realized I had what it took to do the job.

I’m not so doubtful anymore. The older I get, the more I plow through and pursue my dreams. Wisdom comes with age, so they say.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For 18 years, I worked for an archival company that provided microfilming and computer imaging services to its clients. It was an awesome job, and I was happy in that position. I had numerous duties that kept me busy. However, the economy took a nosedive and the company transitioned to website building and online equipment sales. I was laid off and looking for employment.

The quickest job I could find was retail. I’ve been in retail ever since. Some might think that’s a bad thing. But, for me, it turned out to be good. Retail is not a 9-to-5 business. I worked different hours every day, and never worked the same days every week. That allowed me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in writing. It also allowed me to have time to pursue copy editing. Ultimately, that quick pivot proved beneficial to where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: Jill Yoder, Author https://inspiredpensite.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillyoderauthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-yoder-inspired-pen/
• Twitter: https://x.com/JillYoderAuthor
• Other: The “Dear J” Letters https://thedearjletters.wordpress.com/