We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcella Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcella, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I’ve made as a business owner has been in professional development. This includes taking courses, going to conferences, and connecting with others in the field. My motto was to learn and talk to people.

When I started my freelance editing business, I was new to the field. I did not come from publishing or a related writing field. I worked in healthcare for 15+ years and was transitioning into a completely new industry. As such, I didn’t know anyone. I was just starting with a desire to move forward on this freelancing path. The rest I would have to fill in—things like how to get clients, what are best practices, what other types services do editors offer. And I found the best way to learn was through professional development.

In 2019, after taking a course in proofreading, I decided to join a professional organization for freelance editors. From there, I started reading all the material I could that was available to members. I started to connect with active members on LinkedIn and asked for informational interviews to introduce myself and learn about the field. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that people were willing to speak with me and share their wisdom. I learned this was quite a collaborative community of freelancers.

After a few months, people started reaching out to share information and connect me with others. I started attending webinars/meetups and joined a couple Southern California chapters. Soon after, I began volunteering and met even more people. I gained knowledge on the intricacies of freelancing and where to find information. People started knowing me and asking for my help volunteering.

Over time, these connections led me to speaking opportunities, co-coordinating programs, starting up a San Diego chapter, finding clients, and gaining a community of editorial freelancers (e.g., editors, writers, graphic designers, translators, etc.). So, by and large, professional development has been my best investment.

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.

I’m a Mexican American woman, born and raised in Southern California. Up until a few years ago, I had a fairly linear career and educational trajectory in the healthcare and business space. I climbed the career ladder quickly and earned multiple higher education degrees (MPH, MBA). At the top though, I realized that spark was not quite there for me anymore and that I was not doing what I was meant to be doing in life.

​In late 2019, I took a bet on myself and left my leadership position and took some time off to re-set. After some inner work, I decided to make a career pivot toward freelance editing (which eventually led me to want to write). This road led back to my natural love of stories and the written word.

Now, I copyedit and proofread nonfiction manuscripts related to business, healthcare, and academic topics. I also do authenticity (a.k.a. sensitivity) reading for Mexican American characters and topics related to the Latinx community. My clients are typically indie authors, businesses, universities, and publishers.

A couple of years ago, I ventured into writing. While I’ve always been a strong writer in school and work, I never thought to write [for the public] until my intuition told me it’s something to look into. I’m currently working on a children’s book, and I contribute to my blog (a mix of editorial topics and my personal journey). Writing has been new territory for me. I think it’s something that makes sense for me now, after I’ve shed some armor and started showing up more authentically in life. Writing helps me feel more aligned with my authentic self. It’s cathartic and honest and forces me to think about what I want to say and how I feel.

I believe it is important to be yourself and to chart your own path. I want to use my voice and skills to support others with their expression. This includes providing a diverse perspective in storytelling and in the editorial space. There are not many Latinx editors out there (compared to the field overall), and I feel like I am providing a service to the world by providing space for BIPOC individuals and perspectives. I want to bring out the best in people and make sure the message my clients want to communicate is done as clearly as possible. All in all, I see my work as a way to help cultivate authentic expression in the world.

I am also a co-coordinator of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) San Diego chapter and am involved in various other editorial organizations, such as PEN, ACES, and SCBWI. I enjoy community building through volunteering and connecting with people. I am a first-time dog mom to a Golden Retriever puppy, avid women’s soccer fan, dabbler of painting/drawing, runner, yogi, reader, and decaf coffee drinker.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think volunteering helped put my reputation in a positive light. I’ve volunteered for editing and writing events, such as the LA Festival of Books and the Orange County Indie Authors Day. I also volunteer in different capacities: San Diego chapter co-coordinator; a co-coordinator for the Welcome Program; occasional host for Zoom socials; booth worker at conferences; article contributor for newsletters; etc.

Each volunteer activity allows me to connect with at least one person, sometimes many people. It shows I am genuinely interested in helping out in the community. In return, people get to know me and learn about what I do and what services I offer. As a result of volunteering, I’ve gotten client referrals, advice, book recommendations, speaking engagements, goodwill, and community connections.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think it’s hard for those who do not do traditionally “creative” things (e.g., painting/drawing/writing) to think that they can also do those things. I am someone who didn’t consciously perceive myself as a creative until later in life. I’m sensitive and intuitive, and grew up knowing I loved to read, was always a strong writer, and enjoyed doing art on occasion. I guess I should have seen the writing on the wall, but I only started exploring the arts in an intentional and conscious way in 2019. I think this may be due to what I was allowing to take up my mental space, as well as any ingrained societal or familial messaging on what constitutes a “creative.”

That’s why I think it is so important to clear the noise in your head and hone in on what your natural gifts and interest are. What does your intuition tell you? How might you express it?

In addition to writing a bit, and reading, and appreciating the arts, I also dabble in some painting and drawing. I’m not formally trained in painting or drawing, but I listen to my intuition now in terms of what I want to express and when it would be helpful to express it. And if I want to create something more structured, I take a class or search online for tutorials. It’s definitely possible to do creative things even if you don’t think you’re “creative.” Art doesn’t have to be perfect; letting go of perfectionism and sequential tasks has allowed me to let my mind explore my creative side more.

I believe everyone can do some form of art. And I believe that everyone should do some form of art; because it is freeing and calming, and it allows for the expression of thoughts and ideas in a way that can’t always be expressed verbally. I see creativity as essential to the human experience. It helps balance out all the tough stuff we go through in life and it can show all the beauty that occurs in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marcellalopez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcellalopezeditorial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcella-lopez-mph-mba/
• Other: Blog:
  https://www.marcellalopez.com/blog