Editcetera Bulletin, December 19, 2014

Contents
Directors Report
State of the Business
Educational Opportunity for Members
Thanks to the Board
December Time Out
The Financial Picture
Important Reminders
Year Wrap-Up and a Look Ahead
Goals Achieved, Goals in Progress
Gathering to Welcome New Members, January 11
First-Quarter Board Meeting, March 21
Annual Meeting and Dinner, April 19
Membership Update and Client Overview
Opportunity to Make a Difference
Edit1971: Come One, Come All
Workshop News
Bay Area Book Festival Coming
Notes from a Digital Nave
A Last Laugh for the Year

Directors Report
By Barbara Fuller
State of the Business
As of November 30, actual billings for 2014 were just under $1.4 million, about 3.3
percent below budget. Income and expenses are both under budget for the year, with
Editceteras net gain close to our expectations. Its still too early to predict total billings
for December and thus to have a final estimate for the year.
Billings this year are down significantly from last year, by about 9.8 percent. There are
many reasons for this, but I have recently been looking at individual member earnings
this year compared to earnings for the same member last year. Some Editcetera
shortfall this year has occurred when particularly high-earning members shifted to work
Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 1

outside the group (leaving Editcetera jobs that another member was not able to fill). This
is not necessarily a bad thing; Editcetera is one source of job leads for our members,
not an exclusive source.
I am more concerned about other members who have seen a drop in Editcetera income
this year from last. Sometimes this happens because a members skills and work
requirements do not match the needs of our clients (i.e., members work only from a
home office rather than being able to work on-site, have a relatively high minimum rate,
etc.). I want to make sure, though, that I am not overlooking members for work that
might appeal to them. Every now and then, someone unintentionally slips from my radar
because, for example, the person was unavailable for new leads for a while and
neglected to tell me when that situation changed, or because a member gave me an
elevated rate at a busy time but would be interested in work at a lower rate when leads
are fewer.
Let me know in January, or anytime next year, if you would like more leads. Its possible
that Ive had you in mind but just havent had many good matches for you. Its also
possible that you will need to adjust your work habits or your expectations. But lets
work together to see if we can better help you.
Educational Opportunity for Members
Do you work directly with self-publishing authors? Or do you want to work with these
authors? Such work can be challenging but also rewarding, and opportunities with these
clients are plentiful. If you do or would like to do this type of work, take advantage of
your member discount to attend Editceteras upcoming webinar, The Self-Publishing
Scoop, at half price. Program leader Patricia Heinicke Jr will address topics relevant for
editors who want to best guide their authors: How do you evaluate platforms? What
other vendors should be involved in a project? Should the author publish in print or as
an e-book? How can you help with marketing? Even if you already have experience with
self-publishing, hear what others have to say about this evolving industry. The webinar
is January 10, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Sign up
for $32.50 by January 3 or for $37.50 thereafter.
Thanks to the Board
Huge thanks to our board this year and, once again, to the board members who ended
their term in spring of 2014. This was a particularly difficult year because of our need to
step back, be realistic about our changing business, and make some difficult decisions
to keep us strong as we move forward. Our board membersfor both 2013-14 and
2014-15deserve thanks from all of us for their patience, dedication, and ongoing
support and commitment. Once again, thanks to Steven Hiatt, current board president;
Karen Ohlson, current chair; Michael Mott, current secretary; Phyllis Elving, current
personnel liaison; Jill ONan, current board member at large; Mary Calvez, current chief
financial officer; Irene Elmer, former board member; and Anne Szabla, former board
member.
Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 2

December Time Out

The Editcetera office will be closed from December 24 to January 1, with no services
available during that time.
I will also be on personal time off December 22 and 23 and January 2. David Sweet will
cover routine business during my absence, Carl Grundberg and Naomi Permutt will
work as usual, and Loralee Windsor will sign checks one last time on December 23
before we close. Also, David will be able to reach me in case something requires my
attention at the last minute. In such a case, I cannot guarantee immediate response
but Ill find time to help if possible with a last-minute problem before we close the office.
Happy holidays to all!

The Financial Picture

By Mary Calvez
Because of the early publication of the December bulletin, these figures are from
October, the most recent month that has been closed.
Billings (a.k.a. service fees) are the total amount Editcetera has billed clients combined
with an estimate of the amount members have directly billed their Editcetera clients.
(The estimate is based on the direct commission that members pay Editcetera.)
Billings January through October 2014 were $1,293,355. Billings budgeted for the
period were $1,311,383. Billings for the same period last year were $1,438,782.
Commissions consist of commissions withheld from service fees billed by Editcetera
on behalf of members and direct commissions paid by members.
Total commissions through October 2014 were $159,093. Total commission budget
for the period was $160,892.
Gross profit is all income (commissions, dues, application fees, workshop/distance
learning tuition, and interest income) minus workshop/distance learning expenses.
Gross profit through October 2014 was $169,991. Gross profit budgeted for the
period was $173,357. Gross profit for the same period last year was $193,969.
Net income is gross profit minus expenses. This is our bottom line.
Net income through October 2014 was ($15,927). Net income budgeted for the
period was ($22,932).

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 3

Total equity consists of our reserve and our working capital. The reserve is our
emergency fund (in case of the loss of a major client, economic downturn, expensive
legal defense, etc.). Healthy organizations should have the equivalent of at least six
months operating expenses in reserve. As of now, based on our operating expenses,
our board has set a goal of $140,000 for our reserve.
The equity figure tends to be high throughout the year because taxes and other yearend expenses havent yet been paid. As of January 1, 2014, we were $9,930 short of
our reserve goal. Ideally, the reserve at the end of each year is as much as it was at the
start of the year or, if we have not yet reached our goal, higher. If it is lower, it means
we have dipped into our reserve. If it is significantly lower, we are jeopardizing the
health of our business.
Total equity at the end of October 2014 was $114,144. Total equity as of January 1,
2014, was $130,070. Our total equity goal is $140,000.
Note: Financial information about Editcetera is confidential. Dont share it (deliberately
or inadvertently) with anyone who is not a member.

Important Reminders
By Barbara Fuller
As we prepare to close the office for the holiday, please wrap up any end-of-year
business. The following are a few reminders, as distributed in more detail by email on
December 12.
Category 2 membership request. Any member planning to request Category 2
membership ($450 dues, 12 percent commission) must do so by December 31, 2014,
and must pay dues by January 31, 2015. Submit your request in writing, either by email
to info@editcetera.com or by snail mail. Make sure to get confirmation that your request
has been received.
Category 1 and Provisional membership dues. Provisional and Category 1 members
must pay dues of $50 by April 1, 2015, to avoid a late fee. Those who want a 2014 tax
write-off may submit dues early.
Direct commission. Please pay any direct commission owed to Editcetera within the
tax year, if possible. If you need a form to submit with your payment, you can get one
from our member website (www.edit1971.com, password Dingbat). The direct
commission form is at the bottom left of the Editcetera Documents page under
Resources. Category 1 members pay 13% direct commission; Category 2 members pay
12%; and provisional members pay 15%.

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 4

Advances. If you need an advance to get you through the holiday period when the
office is closed, please contact me right away. We will do our best to accommodate
requests.
Work over the holiday. Members who want job leads over the holiday may post a
notice about that in the forum on our member website. Members who would like to refer
a client to another member while the office is closed may check the forum for
candidates. If you refer a client to another member, tell the client that the office is closed
but that you believe your referral might be available to do the job.

Year Wrap-Up and a Look Ahead

By Barbara Fuller
Goals Achieved, Goals in Progress
As we close out 2014, I am happy to have checked off most of the tasks on my to-do
list, some of them after years on that list. These projects include

Updating and improving our website (with help from Mike Mott)

Catching up on all application reviews (with help from Loralee Windsor, Melissa
Stein, Frances Bowles, Zippie Collins, Lura Dymond, and other reviewers)

Creating a new proofreading test (by Karen Seriguchi, with oversight from
selection coordinator Loralee Windsor)

Launching our webinar program (with pilot programs under the direction of Karen
Seriguchi and Melissa Stein)

Increasing our admin support to five days per week, thereby improving efficiency
and member services (with help from Carl Grundberg and Naomi Permutt)

Reviewing and updating our member fee structure to meet the changing
conditions of our business (with help from our board and all of you)

Updating our phone and email system to decrease cost (with help from Steven
Hiatt, Mike Mott, and Naomi Permutt)

Analyzing and updating our computer system (with help from Steven Hiatt)

Many thanks to all who have been involved in these efforts.

High priorities for 2015 are two long-term projects remaining on my list:

Completing our new copyediting test (in progress, by Zippie Collins)

Overhauling our member database to help us better track and match members to
jobs
Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 5

Finally, and very important, with all of these projects now completed or near completion,
we plan to step up efforts to improve marketing and outreach to clients.
In sum, 2014 has been a year for catching up and bringing our business into the present
day. Next year, 2015, will be the year for moving ahead.
Gathering to Welcome New Members, January 11
We will be hosting a member gathering and dinner in honor of our newest members on
Sunday, January 11, 2015, 4:00 p.m., at my home, 3979 Cottonwood Drive, Concord
with dinner provided by Chef Kevin. All Editceterans are welcome and encouraged to
participate. New members need only attend; others are asked to contribute a dessert or
a beverage of choice for the gathering. We will be collecting RSVPs the first week in
January, but mark your calendars now and save the date.
First-Quarter Board Meeting, March 21
Our first-quarter board meeting will be Saturday, March 21, 2:00 p.m., at my home in
Concord. On the agenda will be a report from the director, a report from the CFO,
planning for our annual meeting and dinner, and discussion of our workshops, selection,
and marketing. If you have input, questions, or suggestions for additional agenda items,
please contact me or any board member.
Annual Meeting and Dinner, April 19
Save the date Sunday, April 19, for our next annual meeting and potluck dinner. Watch
for details, including the time. Also, if you have a home large enough to hostor a
community space that we could use or rent for a low costplease let me know. We
hope to have good attendance this year as we move forward.

Membership Update and Client Overview

By Barbara Fuller
This has been a record-setting year for admitting new members, at least for recent
years. We added 8 members to our roster in 2014, including 2 affiliates, bringing our
total membership to 109. A few more candidates are in the final stages of reference
checks and are expected to join us early in 2015. Our newest members have
outstanding skills and will, I am sure, contribute to our reputation for providing
exceptional freelance service. We look forward to getting to know them, bringing them
into our active pool, and providing them with good leads.
With enough highly skilled members in many categories, and with some of those
members wanting more work than they are getting, we are closing all categories for
Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 6

application except for indexing, in both publishing and business/tech, and proofreading,
copyediting, and substantive editing, all in publishing. We will reopen categories as we
build work in other areas, and we will continue to review skills for current members
interested in expanding their categories of qualification.
To determine which categories of membership to keep open, we think about where we
need more members to better serve our clients. To determine which categories to close,
we think about how best to serve the members we already have. Mismatches between
members and clients tend to fall into a few categories:
Independent authors. We fill many jobs directly with authors, but we also leave many
unfilled, sometimes because a client has gone elsewhere or decided not to follow
through with a project, but sometimes because no one is available and qualified to work
with the clientor interested in doing so. We especially need members who are able
and willing to help authors through the self-publishing process. Anyone who can pass
our new publishing tests and is interested in this type of project is sure to find work
through Editcetera and to represent us well. Thus we continue to search for talented
professionals to serve these clients as well as our more traditional publishing clients.
Clients on a small budget. Many potential clients still pay $35 an hour or less for
copyediting. Our business is competitive, and when pay is too low for our members,
clients find people outside Editcetera to take their work. I understand that the quality of
work from lower-paid freelancers is sometimes poor, and I do what I can to convince
clients that we offer exceptional value. But when the clients budget is limited, the choice
might be between a less expensive editor and no editor at all. When I can see that a
client is not going to pay respectably, I try to stop the conversation before investing a lot
of time; our improved website has helped with this effort. In other situations, however,
some of our members enjoy the work that comes from these clientstypically book
projects that appeal to members on the publishing track. And with an overflow of this
type of work, we could benefit from a bigger pool of publishing-oriented members who
can meet the needs of these clients.
Companies looking for tech writers and editors. We have plenty of talented tech
writers and editors, but often clients are looking for very specific skills. Sometimes they
want people on-site (not an option for many of our freelancers) or people who work for
lower rates than our members want to accept. Sometimes they are looking for people
through agencies with structures different than ours, most often agencies that refer
workers employed by the agency. We always try to work with these companies, and we
will continue exploring ways to improve placement. I expect to reach out to some of our
tech writers and editors for support and guidance in this effort next year. Until we are
better able to place our current tech editors and writers, however, we will discontinue
screening for new members in these categories.

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 7

As director, I am committed to (1) serving our current members and (2) serving our
current and potential clients. These two goals are interdependent.

Opportunity to Make a Difference

By Barbara Fuller
Do you want to learn more about Editcetera and to have a bigger say in how we
function? We have three openings for members to join our board beginning in April.
Dont be shy; even if you are relatively new to our organization, consider taking an
active role. We can make the best decisions for our business as a whole if all areas of
our membership are represented on our board, including members with different types
of skills and clients as well as different levels of organizational history. Benefits include
an opportunity to work with other committed and talented individuals and to contribute to
decisions that affect us all. Contact me or a current board member if you are interested
or have questions.

Edit1971: Come One, Come All

By Mark Woodworth
Our member website, which launched in July, is gaining more attention from members.
Please consider contributing a personal note or classified ad.
Site:
Password:

edit1971.com
Dingbat

The site is refreshed monthly, depending on what flows over the transom, and new
material is highlighted. Also posted: the latest roster and the previous months bulletin.
MEMBERS/Creative Projects page. Help fellow members get to know you by sharing
a sample of your essay, poem, book, or blog post. Or submit a short document or PDF
file, or even a lively quotation from a book or white paper youre currently editing
(permission not required, since ours is a private site).
NOTICES (that is, free classified ads). Finally, our first actual notice from a member
(Susan Moxley). Youll need to sit down, twice, for this one!
MEMBERS/Milestones page. Any news to announce or photos to share with your
colleagues? This page will grow and help keep our friends in memory.
RESOURCES/Usage Tips page. Usage notes from previous bulletins are updated
monthly on this page.
FORUM. This page has its first actual note from a member; thank you, Nancy Bell.
Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 8

Workshop News
By Barbara Fuller
Webinars start right away in January 2015, with some of particular interest to our
members. See our website for complete course descriptions of these and of
correspondence programs open to enrollment at any time. To get your member
discount, register by phone at 510-849-1229, or mail in a registration form with the
correct member fee. Member discounts are not available through PayPal.
Heres what we have available now:

The Self-Publishing Scoop, with Patricia Heinicke Jr (webinar, January 10;

$32.50 for members through January 3; $37.50 thereafter)

Grammar Guidelines and Mechanical Mastery, with Melissa Stein (webinar,

January 14; $32.50 for members through January 7; $37.50 thereafter)

Writing Concisely, with Melissa Stein (webinar, January 28; $32.50 for members
through January 21; $37.50 thereafter)

Copyediting Cookbooks, with Zipporah Collins (correspondence course, ongoing;

$67.50 for members)

Copyediting Fiction, with Zipporah Collins (correspondence course, ongoing;

$67.50 for members)

Bay Area Book Festival Coming

By Zippie Collins
Some of you may remember with pleasure the annual San Francisco Book Festivals in
the 1990s.
A dynamic book lover named Cherilyn Parsons has been working for more than two
years to reincarnate them into what she has dubbed the Bay Area Book Festival, now
scheduled for the weekend of June 6 and 7, 2015, in a variety of venues in Berkeley. It
will be a free event, with author readings, panels, exhibit booths, the whole shebang, for
young, old, and all those in between. So, mark your calendar!
Cherilyn has gathered an impressive list of sponsoring individuals and groups; a small,
talented, dedicated staff; and a great list of author participants (well, the Bay Area has a
wealth of wonderful authors, as we know). More details are at www.baybookfest.org.

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 9

Just recently the festival launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise the last $50,000
needed for festival expenses. I was asked to participate in the fundraising video and
appear in a small snippet of it, at www.indiegogo.com/projects/bay-area-bookfestival#home. If youre moved to contribute, they have some nice gifts at various levels,
and they are happy to get even tiny donations.

Notes from a Digital Nave

By Barbara Armentrout
Imagine the phone rings at 8:15 a.m. and an Indian-accented voice says, Im a
Windows technician, and weve been noticing activity on your computer that indicates
youve been hacked. But we can fix it if youll let us access your computer. Imagine you
dont know whether there are people out there actually monitoring individual computers
for signs of hackers. Imagine too that you have no idea how youd start fixing your
computer if it was hacked.
So I let Dave Jones log on to my computer. And then he said it would cost $220 for
two years or $300 for three. He had control of my computer, so I was afraid to say no
and I gave him my credit card number but told him I felt like I was being blackmailed.
After he installed some programs on my computer and defragged it, he let me go.
Feeling uneasy, I contacted a tech-savvy friend, who told me Id been scammed
(Google India Windows phone scam for articles). He recommended immediate
installation of MalwareBytes and SuperAntiVirus. They helped, and I uninstalled the
programs I could remember being installed, changed credit card numbers and
passwords, told the credit-reporting agencies to activate a fraud alert, and reported the
incident to the FTC.
But then I started getting phishing emails that made me suspect the con artists were
reading my email. For example, the day after FasTraks email confirming my credit card
change, I got an email saying Id used a toll road without paying and needed to click
here. I tried getting help from Dell and from Geek Squad with no success. Just when I
was despairing, a neighbor recommended a local computer repair shop. These guys
cleaned up my computer, helped me set up new email accounts and retire the old one,
and have given me help with subsequent problems (including how to get rid of the
scareware and browser hijacker that FileZilla is now installing along with itself).
Yesterday I got another call from a Microsoft Windows technician. I hung up.

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 10

A Last Laugh for the Year

By Rebecca Pepper
We leave you with this e-card, passed along by Julie Holland, poking fun at self-styled
language experts. We all know at least one. All the best to our members for 2015.

Editcetera, 2034 Blake Street, Suite 5, Berkeley, CA 94704, www.editcetera.com,

fax 510-848-1448
Barbara Fuller, director, 510-849-1110, barbara@editcetera.com
Carl Grundberg, administrative assistant, 510-849-1229, info@editcetera.com
Naomi Permutt, administrative assistant, 510-849-1229, info@editcetera.com
Mary Calvez, chief financial officer, marycalvez@sbcglobal.net, 707-586-9967
Phyllis Elving, personnel liaison, phylliselving@gmail.com, 510-763-2767
Steven Hiatt, board president, shiatt@earthlink.net, 415-751-5122
Michael Mott, secretary, mpmott@gmail.com, 510-703-5384
Karen Ohlson, chair, kjohlson@mindspring.com, 510-336-9469
Jill ONan, board member, jill.onan@gmail.com, 650-493-7479
Bulletin compiler this month: Rebecca Pepper
Send your news and views for the January issue to Susan Lang, susnlang@gmail.com.

Editcetera Bulletin, December 2014, page 11