‘I wanted to be home when my kids got home from school to be able to spend time with them. This business gave me that opportunity.’ - How Leanne built a business that works for her

Women to WatchB2B ServicesServices

17 Aug

Written By Ashlee Sturme

Book Coach and editor Leanne Wickham from Red Pencil shares her business journey with She Owns It.

What’s your biz?

Red Pencil - I provide all levels of editing solutions to businesses and indie authors including book coaching.

Who do you work with? What sets you apart?

I have two ideal customers. I provide editing solutions for businesses that don't have a permanent editor on their staff. They send out marketing materials, write blogs and need it to be professional and free from errors. I can work with them as and when required.

I also provide book coaching and all levels to editing to indie authors. I have over ten years of experience running my editing business and over that time I have continued training to provide more support to my authors. All authors need an editor to get their manuscript to a publishable level. I am not only available for their first book, I am always happy to provide assistance and advice at any part of their journey. My authors know that once I have worked with them I will always fit them into my schedule.

What sparked the idea behind your business?

I am immunocompromised from an organ transplant over 15 years ago. I knew early on in my recovery that working in a public-facing role would be hard due to illness so I looked for something I could do on my own to monitor my health.

Reading, spelling and editing had always been my favourite subjects so decided to use these skills to create a business that would give me the freedom to keep myself healthy.

I also wanted to be home when my kids got home from school to be able to spend time with them. This business gave me that opportunity.

What does a typical day look like for you as a business owner?

Working as an editor you need to take regular breaks to give your brain a chance to recharge. I tend to work throughout the day in two-hour chunks.

I vary my day doing business editing versus fiction editing. My day starts and 9am and finishes between 4-5pm depending on the day so that I have time to fit in my pole dancing classes.

I have a separate office in my house and once I am finished the door is closed and the phone turned off so that I am fully focused on my family.

What are some of the key milestones in your business journey so far?

The highlight has to be that one of my romance authors is in the final three for the Pacific Hearts award through the Romance Writers of NZ.

Another accomplishments is I have become a Certified Fiction Book Coach through Author Accelerator, the only fiction book coach in New Zealand.

I am currently in the process of co-writing my first book for indie authors in New Zealand.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced so far?

The biggest challenges have been dealing with imposter syndrome and raising my prices. Imposter syndrome has always been a challenge. It is one I still deal with today.

Talking with other editors, friends and business owners is very helpful as it lets me know that I am not the only one dealing with this. With raising my prices I had to tell myself over and over again that if someone told me my price was too high they were not one of my clients and to keep marketing to my clients. I always have a full schedule of authors waiting for a slot in my diary.

What are you most excited about in your business right now?

I love the level that my business is. I don't want to grow bigger and make millions I just want to continue doing the work I love alongside spending time with family.

My goal is to travel and work anywhere in the world. I love the idea of becoming a digital nomad.

What’s worked best for you to build brand awareness and get customers?

I work with a social media marketer (I found her on She Owns It). She manages all my social media including scheduling my social media posts, creates newsletters and writes blogs for my website.

I learned early on that it was better for me to hire someone to do this so that I could do what I am good at.

What is one of the important lessons you've learnt as a business owner? What advice would you share to someone starting out?

Business is hard and takes work and dedication. Often it can be quite a while before you earn a living. Make sure you have researched your business to see if there is room for you.

Also, join a networking group to learn from other business owners.

How does being a part of She Owns It help you in your business journey?

She Owns It is a gigantic source of information, there are so many wonderful women sharing things so that we can learn from each other.

I have made lifelong friends on this site and attended many networking events.

⚡️ FAST 5:

1. One thing you’d tell your younger self starting out?
Don't try and talk yourself out of your goals.

2. Your favourite biz or personal development books or podcasts?
Too many editing books to name.

3. How many tabs do you have open right now?
Nine tabs open. There is usually more!

4. What's your go-to power song?
Anything from the eighties.

4. A quote you love and why?
Audrey Hepburn: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" It says everything in the quote.