Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in writing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Samuel Verdin, a freelance editor and copywriter based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I run a freelance editorial and copywriting service that accommodates clients with a wide range of requirements. Many of those I work with are conventional book publishers and authors, although my client base also extends into retail, marketing, and specialist sectors. In a nutshell, I work with the written word from its initial production/creation all the way through its particular revisions and onto its publication, either physically or digitally.

Tell us about yourself

As a writer, reader, and editor, I cherish language and literature, and it's because of this that I wish to surround my life, both personal and vocational, with the written word. To do so, I believe it's important to be realistic and rational about what our life's passions can provide for us financially. Commonly, writers struggle to make a lot of money, so I decided to begin my own freelance editorial practice in order to one, further involve myself with the production of literature on all levels, and two, subsidise the lesser earnings as a writer. Now, I enter each day excited about both the writing that I wish to accomplish for my own projects and also about the writing that I will encounter from others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment came in mid-2022 when I was finally able to significantly reduce the number of hours I was putting into my previous career as a chef. Whilst I still dip into the hospitality trade from time to time for some extra financial security, I am hopeful that by the end of 2023, I will be working with literature full-time. As a self-employed freelancer, I have found that it's incredibly important not to rush into anything. When I first started, I didn't want to do anything else, so I stepped away from several other paid projects, but there is no guarantee that the work I receive from clients one week will be the same the next, so I learned to take measured, slow steps into this new venture, building a strong and credible portfolio of work and endorsements as I go.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

In my experience, the hardest thing was to keep myself motivated for a year or two before I finally started to receive payment for the work I was doing. Nowadays, experience and wisdom are key - there are too many inexperienced, unopinionated editors out there - but to acquire that knowledge, one must spend a long time working for free. After a while, this can obviously become quite tiresome, but continuing to push through those early stages in order to create a strong portfolio is key to building a strong foundation upon which further growth can be made.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Interrogate everything you do and continuously seek feedback. If your product or service is strong and viable, it will withstand criticism.
  2. Ask for advice. There are countless others that have been where you are, and most will be willing to shed some light on their own experiences. Look for those that are succeeding in your chosen market and reach out to them.
  3. Be confident, not cocky. You need to know that the world wants more of what you are doing or what you are selling, so let the product or service speak for itself.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.samuelverdin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuel.verdin/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-verdin/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.