Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meisha Mayo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Meisha, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

In 2017, toward the end of my final course in UC Berkeley’s extension program, the “what’s next” conversations were trending on the discussion boards.

Several classmates began conversing about their plans to continue schooling to develop more technical skills that would increase their marketability and visibility as editors. As I read through the various threads, I started ruminating on what was realistic for my journey and peculiar set of circumstances. By that time, I’d spent the majority of my twenties living abroad and because of that fact, I knew entering the workforce in a traditional sense wasn’t going to be an option for me into the foreseeable future. Starting my own business, even though I’d only edited one published manuscript and a few creative pieces, had to be my path. It felt so silly to say aloud.

Many of my classmates were already working as professional editors or had more industry exposure altogether. I somewhat envied their experiences because, to me, they’d already had a “foot in the door” so to speak.

Sadly, the day I submitted my final exam for the program, my youngest brother passed away. The tragic and sudden loss of his life shifted my focus for some time. I had to give myself space and time to grieve my brother’s loss, but by the fall of 2019 my vision was restored, and I felt ready to forge a new path.

I started my journey by contacting a talented graphic designer to create a logo for this business name I’d come up with. Her onboarding process required new clients to fill out a questionnaire. Once I got my hands on it, I was blown away by the amount of detail each question required, but those questions really made me think. As I deliberated on my responses, I began to develop a vision for what I wanted my future company to be. The questionnaire also showed me the importance of doing market research in order to learn how to position my company as a solution provider in a niche marketplace. Afterall, editing companies and freelancers are a dime a dozen, so I really had to dig deep if I wanted to set my business apart from what already existed in the marketplace. After I submitted my questionnaire, the designer and I were elbow deep in vision boards and pinning color schemes to create a bespoke logo that told my company’s story in an artistic way.

During the logo’s creative process, I reached out to a friend who’s also a fellow entrepreneur to ask a business-related question. The simple asking of a question turned into that friend offering to mentor me. Once we connected on a more intimate professional level, she was a text or phone call away for whatever I needed. Her mentorship to me was the biggest gift and blessing to my company.

With the wisdom I was receiving from my creative designer and mentor, I knew I had something to work with. I spent most of my days in Italian cafes researching the best company to use for my LLC and the best platform and hosting provider for my future site. I also began perusing other sites to get a vision for the types of styles and themes I liked. Once all of those decisions were made, I started writing website content. I have a journal full of notes that I took from October 2019 until April 2020 (I still referred back to those notes during P2P’s infancy stage).

After several months of building, creating, and researching in beautiful Italian cafes, the pandemic hit. At the time, my family and I were living in northern Italy in the most affected region, so the shutdown hit hard. Justifiable fear spread as deaths were on the rise and by the second week of March 2020, we weren’t allowed any further than our front yard. The goal at that time was to return home. Thankfully, we were back on US soil by mid-March, but self-doubt sat in, and I questioned whether the pandemic was the right time to launch my business. I spoke with my mentor, and she assured me that I should keep moving forward, so with her encouragement and a date change, Pen2Paper Editorial officially launched on April 14th, 2020.

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 background and context?

Pen2Paper Editorial, affectionately known as P2P, represents an extension of who I am as a person: creative, passionate, authentic, with a little bit of flair. P2P is a woman-led boutique editorial company that was founded in April 2020. At P2P, I provide editorial services for children’s and young adult fiction & nonfiction, traditional fiction, poetry, and traditional nonfiction. I offer in-depth manuscript critiques where I share an editorial letter with authors that breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of their manuscripts, and I also provide creative writing services.

My work with children’s books continues to gain popularity. I didn’t see this path for myself at first, but I absolutely love helping others create content for children. When clients share their book covers with me for the first time, I’m awestruck. It’s a feeling of “wow, I had a hand in that!” It’s the coolest thing! However, if someone asked me to pick between writing or editing, I couldn’t because P2P is not a one-dimensional company, and I enjoy both creative spaces immensely.

In many ways, writing and editing has always been a part of my journey. I consider myself to be a quintessential logophile who spent much of my childhood at the local library learning the Dewey decimal system and feeding my voracious appetite for reading. I graduated college with a degree in communication and the student newspaper and campus television station served as the backdrops to my collegiate experience. For me, working as a professional editor is more than realizing a dream, it absolutely feels like I’ve found my place in the creative and professional world.

Something that sets P2P apart from others in the editing industry is my company’s constant evolution which is fueled by a consistent commitment to excellence. All P2P clients are met with a stellar onboarding process (which I’ve been told is very beneficial, especially amongst first-time authors). Clients and companies alike always applaud my professionalism and timely responses—those two things often help me gain new clients and certainly support customer retention. Fun fact: In Q1 & Q2 nearly half of my clientele were return clients, and I’m extremely proud of that! It’s so gratifying to know that people trust my expertise enough to return with subsequent projects.

I have a proprietary approach to children’s books that can also be a game changer for those who collaborate with P2P on that level . . . serious children’s book authors can contact me directly to learn more!

Another thing that sets me apart is the fact that I don’t aim to be a one-size fits all editorial company. Overtime, I’ve discovered that I add the most value to my clients’ projects by accepting pieces that I enjoy and doing work that aligns with my skillset and business practices. That means every manuscript or inquiry that reaches my inbox may not be a good fit for P2P, and I’m certainly not the best editor or creative for every project. I think having an enthusiastic creative partner is a pivotal first step on one’s journey to authorship, and because I want to be that for each client, I work to ensure that collaborations are a good fit for all parties involved.

There’s so much to celebrate and be proud of when it comes to P2P. When I was a child, my parents owned businesses and to be in this space, standing on their shoulders already feels like a major win. As the owner of Pen2Paper Editorial, my initial pride comes from P2P’s Hall of Fame Clients—without them, there’s nothing to talk about! To see people through the entire editing process from beginning to end will never get old. I’m equally proud that many clients seek my wisdom for certain decisions connected to their manuscripts beyond the editing process . . . I can hardly put into words how it feels to have people trust you on such a deep level.

A most recent source of pride and joy is a new series created for P2P’s subscriber base, Conversation with Creatives (CWC). Conversations with Creatives is a Q&A that highlights some of P2P’s Hall of Fame Clients and collaborative partners. With CWC, (which has now had three installments at the time of writing this article) select creatives and business owners have an opportunity to share their experiences with the Creative Community. The series has a two-fold benefit because it gives authors, business owners, and artists exposure to a new audience, and it also gives P2P’s subscriber base insight into the journey of becoming an author or business owner. Since creativity is the foundation of P2P, this series feels so right! I’m stoked to publish the next one and am already gearing up for the fall season.

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

Excellent communication, skilled work, honesty, good business practices, and a commitment to helping authors find their own voice.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?  

I stay connected to my clients via email. I love building relationships. When I worked in sales many years ago, I learned that people aren’t buying a product; they’re buying an experience. I want each person who interacts with me to feel that their investment was well worth it because of the positive experience they had with me. Part of that experience is staying connected even after the final edits/creative materials are delivered. I’ve been so fortunate to have developed many great relationships with a lot of my clients . . . I love it most when our chats have nothing to do with work, and I learn a bit more about them as a person.

Following up with my clients’ post-project is also one of the main ways I foster brand loyalty. During the editorial process, I also give my clients 110 percent which shows my dedication to their project. I also hope my commitment gives them confidence that they are getting the best version of me during our partnerships.

Giving clients an opportunity to be featured and showcase their work via the Conversation with Creatives series is a new way that I help to foster brand loyalty and support my clients. Creatives and business owners not only have a chance to share their books, projects, and social media handles, but they also receive free promotion for whatever they’re working on. Being featured on P2P’s Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages is the icing on the cake.

As of today, I’m fully into my second year of business and I’m always exploring other avenues to foster brand loyalty. I look forward to answering this question with even more layers a year from now. I do think I have a solid foundation though, and I’m proud of that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pen2papereditorial.com/
• Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/Pen2PaperEdits
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pen2PaperEdits
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meisha-mayo-163b5925/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pen2paperE

Image Credits
Raquel Rivera Photography Ayanna Parks