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Interview Questions/Answers
You were showcased on the NBC
Today Show, how did that come about?
It’s kind of a neat story. One of the correspondents for the Today Show
was trying to schedule an interview with a gentleman that lived in
Boston and he told this correspondent to schedule the interview
with his virtual assistant, who happened to live in Florida.
This piqued the correspondent’s interest. How can your assistant live in
a different state than you do? So the producer of the show started doing
some research on virtual assistants and came upon a virtual assistant
organization that I belong to. The producer contacted the president of
this VA organization to get more information. They specifically wanted a
virtual assistant that had a male client in a different state. So, an
email blast went out from this VA organization and I responded. I guess
I had the criteria they were looking for.
Many people now use virtual
assistants and most of us have heard of them. Give us some of the
examples of the best ways to work with a virtual assistant that you
mention in your book.
The book is literally an A-Z list
of all the services a VA can provide to the small business owner. A
person can use the list to check mark the areas of services they feel
they need to grow their business. The book also has forms like, Should I
work with a VA? What kind of VA do I need? What Will I allow my VA to do
for me, Where do I find VAs, and finally an Interview questionnaire that
the business owner can go through with potential VAs before hiring them.
You are also an author’s
assistant. How is that different from a virtual assistant?
We are very much the same as far as we both work virtually from our own
home offices, but the author’s assistant is trained at helping writers
and authors get through the sometimes daunting publishing process.
What are some of the skills or reasons authors should work with an
author’s assistant?
Authors are good at writing. So many times, once they have written their
book, the process of what to do next can be overwhelming. An author’s
assistant can help them find a good editor, a good cover designer or
indexer. They can help them obtain ISBN numbers, and Library of Congress
numbers, write proposal letters if they are publishing with traditional
publishing houses, or help them set up their own publishing company if
they want to self-publish. Then once the book is printed they can help them
with the marketing of their books.
You have also written a book
on grammar. Since so many of us are intimidated by all the rules of grammar, what inspired you to write a book
on the subject?
In 2006, I started writing short, little grammar tips that I would send
out in a weekly ezine. Because as an editor, I was always coming across
the same mistakes or questions about the same grammar rules. After over
a year of doing this, I found that I had over 100 grammar tips. So
naturally, a book needed to be born. Now all the tips are consolidated
into one easy-to-use guide that you can put right next to your computer
and reference whenever you need to.
Give us an example of a common grammar problem that you see when you
work with authors.
Ah, the ellipsis. The three dots that come at the end of a broken
sentence or interrupted dialogue. Many, many people overuse the ellipsis
thinking it can go anywhere at anytime
and with any number of dots they want. When in fact, believe it or not,
there is an actual rule for how to use the ellipsis. That’s one of my
favorite tips in the book.
Since you also work with authors as an editor, give us some ideas about
how authors should ask editors about using their services. How can an
author get the most from using an editor?
I would say contact at least three or four editors and ask them for a
sample edit and a price quote. A professional editor will always be
happy to read through 5 to 10 pages of a person’s manuscript and give an
example of their editing style along with a quote on how long they think
it will take. This way, you can see if you and your editor will be a fit
and if the cost is right for you.
Why do you think some authors don’t like working with editors, even
though most of us know how important it is?
Most authors fear the red pen. Mainly
because they feel their book is already perfect. Their aunt who’s an
English major or their sister’s best friend’s cousin already read it and
loved it! I think that once they do go to an editor they are shocked to
find that, no, their book is not as perfect as they thought. Another
major fear is people think the editor will change their “voice” which
will change their story. When in fact, an editor has no intention of
changing the voice of the story, they just want to help polish the book
so the author will be able to sell it.
Where do you suggest an author go to start looking for an editor who
will be a good fit for that author?
If you are an author, I would hope you belong to a few writing or
publishing organizations. Connect with people in that group. Find other
published authors and get referrals. Do an Internet search and look for
editors in your area. Call them. Get a feel for their experience.
How did you become a Virtual Assistant?
After spending 25+ years in the corporate world working with
top executives, the stress of balancing work and family became too much.
Immediately after 9/11, I realized how important life is and needed to find
balance. After researching many work-at-home opportunities, I came upon
virtual assistants and knew that this was for me.
What is a Master Virtual Assistant (MVA)?
A
Master Virtual Assistant (MVA) is a designation awarded to Virtual Assistants
for their professional development and skillset learned from hands-on
experience, continuing education and training in the virtual assistant industry.
The standards for achievement are set high and a great deal of verifiable
experience must be obtained to achieve this designation. An MVA is one who has
risen above the crowd and is considered at the very top of the virtual assistant
industry.
What is an
Professional Author's Assistant?
Having successfully
completed Tame the Publishing Process,
a three-week intensive training course tailored for
experienced virtual assistants that want to become author’s assistants and
passed the rigorous final exam, I now possess the practical skills,
knowledge, and resources needed to assist and guide authors in all stages of the
publishing journey and have
earned a spot in an exclusive
online directory of author’s assistants with AuthorSmart.com.
Contact
Information:
Karen Reddick, MVA
Karen at V and E Services.com
720-870-6435
SKYPE: karen.reddick
www.VandEservices.com
Contact Me Now!
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