What is Yaupon Berry Press?

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed for a small business spotlight. If you’re curious about how Yaupon Berry Press got started and want to know why I love editing so much, check out the interview!

“I just love my job, and I really love stories, and I love helping people tell them.” Dawn Husted

​Transcription (*unedited)

Amy (00:03):
Hey, everybody, it's me again. And this week we're here with Dawn Husted of Yaupon Berry Press. Dawn is an editor owner of her own company and a published author. I am super excited to share this interview with you. So keep watching and have a great day.

New Speaker (00:21):
Hey everybody, we're back again. Today I'm here with Dawn. I had to ask her how to pronounce her name as usual, just so I didn't mess it up. She is the owner of Yaupon Berry press. And she's also a published author. Tell us a little bit more about what it is that you do and how you kind of got started.

Dawn (00:41):
Okay. So I first, before I was a freelance editor and started my own business, I was a writer and I didn't start that until about 2008, 2009, and I literally knew nothing about the industry.

So I was starting from scratch. And then over the years, obviously I learned a lot more and joined organizations and joined groups. And there's so much information out there that you can find, especially nowadays, even compared to back then. But anyways, in about 2016, I became a ... I got an editorial internship and that was my first like dip into the editorial world. And I realized from writing books and doing that, that I had a knack for, for grammar. I would never have thought that back when I was much younger, but to me, the grammar rules and the stylistic guides are almost kind of like math to me, meaning like they're specific answers to a question. Sentences can change, it can be grammatically correct, but may not sound like you should, you should write some different, but for the most part, there is a rule.

And I loved that. And so I also thought I had a knack for plotting, obviously. So that's a lot, not everybody has an knack for plotting. And so I found that I was a really good developmental editor, and then I dove into it more and became more of a line editor and copy editor, which I can explain the difference later. But in that in 2019 is when I officially opened my business. So I was editing before then, but I didn't open my actual own company until 2019.

Amy (02:15):
So what kind of services, like if someone were to like, how would someone know that they needed you?

Dawn (02:22):
Right. So, you know, in 2019, my idea was okay ... I was already editing books. And so I knew for sure I had a foundation...

Amy (02:31):
Editing for other people or editing your own books?

Dawn (02:34):
Editing for other people.

Amy (02:34):
Okay.

Dawn (02:36):
Right. So from there I thought, okay, well, I'm going to open my business. And then I'd like to start also diving into the small business world, because I also found that I had gotten ... I believe it was the beginning of 2019, I'd grabbed a job with a company who had hired me you know, freelance wise to edit their website, edit their packaging material, edit, proofread, etc. Right. Editing a lot of different things for them, different material. And I realized, you know, that is something that I felt that small businesses can lack the resources for. They may not have departments for, you know, editing. They have to hire outside sources or outside resources. And that's where I come in. So my idea was I really wanted to also grow that side of the business, but I didn't start my company till the fall of 2019.

So then by 2020 is when COVID hit. Right. And so trying to grow my business for small businesses who are now trying to watch their funds. Yeah. I just started getting some gigs in the beginning and then we had to put a stop to that. So since then, I've still been editing books because my clients are all around the country, so that hasn't stopped. A lot of people have been writing since then. But I really, haven't gotten to edit a lot of small business stuff, which eventually I think I will start heading that direction again. Cause I think finally now things are getting more normalized. Like people are finding their grooves again for their business and knowing, you know, where to save money, where to spend money. But that's where I come in. So people don't realize they may, you know, I found out a lot of people are small business owners.

They either give their material to like their assistant or a friend or their mom. They just need somebody to edit to real fast. But which is completely fine. Hey, I've been there, right. Hey, can you look at this, you know, this sentence, but to have me in your corner, I know that I'm like always there and I literally just charge by the hour. So, if it takes me an hour to edit your stuff, you only get charged for the hour. If it take three hours, it's three hours. I'm very, I'm very upfront. I'm very, I'm type-A personality. I don't just say I've been working on it all day if I haven't. So I think trying to get the word out to small business owners that I, I do do that. They kind of think editing, like, 'Oh, do you edit videos?' No, I don't edit videos.

Amy (04:58):
No. You just edit text.

Dawn (05:01):
Exactly. Exactly.

Amy (05:03):
That's cool. Well, so but have you always, I mean, you said that, you know, that English and grammar are kind of like math to you. Have you always kind of had that knack ever since you were younger? Or was that something that developed later on in your life?

Dawn (05:18):
Actually, it definitely developed later on. I was never a reader. I was a slow reader. I still am a slow reader to this day. I like to really take the text in. I don't, I, unless I just hate the book and I just need to read it real fast and it's editing, and I'm just simply trying to, like just trying to finish it. Usually I'm a slow reader. I like taking in every single word and every single sentence. And I'd say, you know, back when I was a teenager, I was not, I was not grammar oriented. I was more focused on pretty much everything else. And then outside of college, I went to school for human resources, development and business minor. And then when I had my oldest, my daughter, that's when I started reading more and realized, Ooh, you know, I really, I could see like a map of the book in my head. I could see how the middle kind connected to the beginning and the end, and see how all the elements connected, and I just thought that was really, really neat and entertaining. And I've always loved stories. Even before books. I mean, I've always loved stories in general. And so to be able to tell a story, whether it be for a newsletter or a blog post or anything, but it's a story, that's how you connect to your reader. I love that. And so that's when I started diving deeper into it.

Amy (06:28):
Cool. So when did you ... You've written, I know at least one, but obviously multiple. How many books have you written and how long have you been doing that part of your kind of ... Side hustle. I mean it's a business, but ...

Amy (06:40):
You're good. Yeah. I've been writing since 2008, so I didn't have my first book come out till 2000 ... I think it was 2013. And even then it was self-published so I had three self-published novels, no, wait, yeah. Three self-published novels, one short story published, and then a non-fiction guide, which is what I'm using right now. Hold on. I'll show it because I'm literally working on a new book today. So I buy my own book when I'm working on a new book, because it has like everywhere for me to outline my book for me. Cool. Keep it to the side. And that's how I work my books, but, and then this year is when I got an agent. So I have two books with her that are currently being submitted to publishers.

Dawn (07:27):
So I'm trying to break into the traditional world. And that was one of my goals. I really wanted to become a traditionally published author because to for me ...Everything's different for everybody, but for me, I could only grow so much on my own. I really needed someone else in my corner to help me grow further.

Amy (07:46):
Oh yeah.

Dawn (07:47):
But it was a long process. I mean, I think I've probably queried close to a hundred agents for just one book and finally got a yes. You know, so it a process. But because of that, I know that I'm also able to help writers even more, because coming from as as an editor and a writer, I'm really able to see what writers need from the editor. Because when I send my stuff to my editor, you know, I don't edit my own books. I have some else edit them. So I'm able to see both sides of the road. And I really know what, even if it's like a said it's a newsletter, a blog, or website, I really know what that person is needing from their editor because I've been there. And I'm still there.

Amy (08:31):
Yeah. No, that makes perfect sense. It's kinda like you're, you're working at two different ends of the process, but because you do both things, you understand how to kind of, you know,
how to guide people.

Dawn (08:45):
Guide people. Exactly. Exactly.

Amy (08:47):
That's really cool. So what is your like I bought one of your books as a gift for one of, for my, one of my family members, but what is your genre?

Dawn (09:00):
So, unlike some authors, they definitely stick with just one genre, but for me, like I write young adults and then I wrote my first middle grade book. So I have a YA, which is young adult and middle grade MG. I have one YA and, one MG with my agent right now. That was my first middle grade I've ever written. Mostly I write YA. But when it comes to genre, I definitely don't stick with just one genre, meaning like I have, the one book I wrote was, you know, a thriller with the ghost involved, and the other one I wrote, how do you know the angel of death involved. So there's always some type of dark twist in all my books. I definitely don't write, just straight romance, you know, but I usually have romance elements in all my books. I just love, I love the romance angle.

Amy (09:46):
Well, I mean, it's interesting. I like the fact that I've never known someone who wrote young adult books and, you know, one of my things is I like to read like sci-fi and fantasy and stuff like that. So a lot of this stuff, because I've poured through a lot of adult books, I've ended up pouring into the young adult novel type things because, you know, there's just not a whole lot of it. As an adult, once you start getting through. Cause I've always been a reader. I was that kid in, um, when they were younger, they got in trouble for like reading books under under the blankets at night.

Dawn (10:24):
That's like my dream kid, like that's awesome. My daughter's wanting to read more, and I'm like, yes.

Amy (10:29):
I used to get in trouble probably not real trouble, but you know, I used to get, 'You know, Amy, it's dinner time, put your book down.

Dawn (10:39):
I get in trouble for that now. They're like 'Can you pay attention to the family?' And I'm like, you know, in the corner. So it's super too late, and I'm exhausted the next day because of it.

Amy (10:50):
A book hangover.

Dawn (10:51):
Yes, exactly, exactly

Amy (10:54):
So what would you say is your favorite part about owning your own business and doing your own thing? Instead of more traditional style of, you know, employment.

Dawn (11:11):
For me. That's probably, I mean, it's a no brainer for me, meaning like I get to be in charge of my own schedule. I can be with my kids wanting to be with them, and I can be at work at home wanting to be work at home. You know, I don't know, like, I guess to me the biggest draw is being able to make my own schedule. Now, could I do this if my husband didn't also work, probably not, like, you know, like obviously I'm not the sole income of the family. This is something that I enjoy, and I definitely make money at, but I don't know if I could, you know, hold down a house by myself, but I do this because I'm able to spend more time with my family.
 
Amy (11:56):
I mean being a mom, it takes a lot of time. Trying to balance it all is very difficult. And one of the, I agree with you that being able to make your own schedule is, is very, is very helpful, especially like for me, right. I work on weekends sometimes a lot of the time. So it's, it's hard sometimes to balance being home and working and you know, the things that your family needs. And so it's nice to be able to kind of be able to step back a little bit and not be in that hustle mindset all the time. And, it's really nice. Sorry, my cat's trying to, Oh, no, you're good open my blinds over here.

Amy (12:41):
She has a kitty-cat friend that comes to visit her outside.

Dawn (12:45):
No way. Is it like a neighbor's cat? Yeah. Okay. That's awesome.

Amy (12:48):
That's pretty funny. It's pretty funny. So where like, do you have plans to, I mean, you already have books with an editor or I'm sorry with an agent right now, is that like you have, you obviously have more ideas, but where do you see your business in a year? Two years? Five years?

Dawn (13:07):
I definitely want to keep growing it. Meaning like as an editor. Okay. We're going to talk about the book side. So as an editor, you know, we all have different niches. So I edit young adult and middle grade and adult. However, there's definitely different genres all in between them. So the more I learn as an editor of the different genres and of the different expectations of those readers inside those genres, the better editor I can come. So my goal is just to keep growing that side of the business. I realized I just, there's always someone who needs an editor, and I'm always there. Like, I just love my job because I really love stories and I love helping people tell them. And, and I almost, I found out that through word of mouth, through the different organizations I'm involved in, you find people who just really don't know where to go next, like, or especially I'll get phone calls from people who have met, and they've written a story, and they don't have any connections with any other writers or editors. And they really just have no idea what to do next with it.

And that's kind of where I come in because I've been there, and I know how to explain to them, like it can be overwhelming. So sometimes, I can give too much information. So there's lots of different paths. Like I said, the traditional route, as well as the self publishing route. But I'm, I'm just basically, if you think of me as not just an editor, but also like a consultant. Yeah. Like I can basically help you figure out where you want to go. And depending on which path you want to take, then here's the next step. And then one of the newest things I started offering was because I got an agent, which is one of the things I was also waiting for to get an agent was I wanted to offer query helps, for queries and synopses.

This is what writers have to send off to agents in order to be even considered. And if you don't have it ... It's basically a cover letter, and if you don't have that cover letter done well enough they won't even read the opening pages of your book. So I literally just started offering those services. Some people don't want to hire an editor for the book, but they need help with the cover letter. That's that's what I'm here for the query. And I can also, yeah. Just help you with those two short documents, which can be such a big deal.

Amy (15:30):
Yeah. Well, and that was, that was kind of my next my next question, you kind of touched on it already, you know, how does someone who does what you do find your clients? Like, do you know, are you thinking, you know, let's, for lack of a better term leads, are you getting online leads? Are you buying, you know, do you have a magazine article or, you know, magazine ads? Do you just word of mouth? Like what's, what's that look like?

Dawn (15:56):
To me, it's two things. And it's definitely different before COVID and now, right. So before COVID, I would say even, I guess, mostly now too, most of my leads came from people who have met me through different organizations I'm involved in, whether it be a writing group or whether it be a small business group. Because you'll find writers who are in small businesses, as well as people who just need small business help. But so a variety and it's usually like, oh, someone told their cousin or someone told their friend or a friend of a friend. Since COVID, a lot of things are just online. So I'm involved in lots of groups online, and I've really had to overcome the fear of advertising myself. Like, you know, if someone says I need something I will say, you know, here's the answer, but if you want further help, go to my website, I offered these services.

I don't know why that was kind of a barrier in the beginning, just because I felt like, what if I, what if I, if I'm on my phone and my thumbs typed the wrong word, and then I'm here offering my editing services, and I typed the wrong word, you know, like I've had to overcome that. Just be like, you know, put my stuff out there. Usually I edit my comment. I'm like, wait a minute. That, that, that I missed the word 'it,' like typing from my phone is way different than typing from my computer. But usually I'm on my phone if I'm doing something mobile, but I will say I, like, I got one, another one through my DMs on Instagram. So I started my Instagram. I have a separate one for my author account, which I keep separate from my editorial account.

Amy (17:33):
Sure.
​
Dawn (17:34):
So I offer free sample edits. So when people are like, you know, what does an editor do? Or can you even help me? I'm like, well, send me the first 500 words of your manuscript, your book. Yeah. I'll edit the first 500 for free, so you can kind of see what you can get from me as an editor. Yeah. Before we go further, because it's a scary step. I mean, it's I usually have someone's book for a month or two and they get it back with like thousands of change, like read on it. You know, it's a scary process for someone who hasn't done that before or having to try to find a new editor, like I had an editor but she recently got some book deals for her own books. And so, and so she's been too busy, so she could edit my last book. And so I had to find a new editor and I'm I'm with an editorial group online. So I was able to find someone through that. But it's scary trying to find somebody new because just because I edit doesn't mean I'm the right editor for you. Right. You may not want someone who's going to do all the changes. That's something that we also have to find out is that if we mesh well.