Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Barnes.
Hi Megan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am someone who grew up dreaming about working in “The Industry.” Not the kind of industry that most people in Los Angeles think of (Hollywood, film, television, etc.), but the book/publishing industry. For someone who spent all her time reading books, buying new books to add to the TBR pile, and strolling through Barnes & Noble, choosing a career where I got paid to read books seemed like the perfect fit. I envisioned cozy evenings with candles lit, a cup of tea in hand, a curled-up cat on my lap, and a manuscript to edit. Sounds dreamy, right? Fast forward several years, and I learned that the publishing world was much more of a grind than I assumed and that even working retail in a bookstore might not be enough to pay the bills.
After college, I chose the path of graduate school and earned my Master’s in English Literature at Loyola Marymount University. Fast forward another several years, and I have now been a full-time Instructor of Writing, Speaking, and Argumentation at LMU since 2016. Although education has partially satiated my childhood dreams of working with books (I get to teach literature, comprehensive reading and writing skills, etc.), it no longer felt like “enough” once Covid-19 hit and the reality of education and classroom experience shifted in ways that no one could have anticipated.
Like so many people, I spent a lot of time during lockdown contemplating and researching how I could take the skills I brought to the classroom and transfer them into something I was even more passionate about and something that felt more fulfilling on a day-to-day basis. I had worked as an editor for an academic journal, and international life sciences company, freelancing fiction editor for friends, and what is grading papers if not its own form of editorial work? Combine all of that into a total of eight years in editing experience, and you’ve got yourself a business model. In January 2022, I opened an LLC and kicked off my editing business, Two Tales Editing.
Today, although I still teach writing at LMU, Two Tales Editing has skyrocketed into something I was too nervous to let myself dream beyond my childhood. The candles, cups of tea, two cats, and countless manuscripts is now my official reality. I wish that I could go back and tell my younger self to just hold tight and hold onto the dreams, because one day, they would look better than we could have imagined.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been both bumpy and steadfast. Honestly though, I don’t love talking about the road in past tense. I feel like I am still on the road, and it continues to extend and weave and change directions. When starting a business, the opinions of others typically fall under one of two categories. The first: “I’ve heard it’s actually way easier to start a company than people make it seem.” The second: “I feel like it would be so hard to actually start your own business; I could never.”
I did extensive research into what it takes to start an LLC, build a website, be successful, but everything online is just as juxtaposed as the people in my life. I think that is part of what made it so bumpy. I went into a task thinking it would be super difficult based on what I was hearing from others but found it took me two seconds, and vice versa. If someone right now asked me for advice on starting a new business, it would be first and foremost to be patient with yourself as you navigate the minefield of opinions, targeted ads of “5 Easy Steps,” and constantly feeling like you have no idea what you are doing.
Sure, there have been bumps (and there will be more I am sure), but the road has also been steadfast. That may be an odd choice of word for some, but I think it perfectly encapsulates how the last year has treated me. Every time things look like they might wane, new opportunities arise. Every week that goes by has brought more exposure and incredible clients my way. If anything, the biggest obstacle is my own fear of failure, but so far, Two Tales Editing has been anything but, and I hope to keep it that way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I like to tell people that Two Tales Editing is a one-stop-shop for all their editorial needs. So, what does that mean?
Say someone is an academic by field but creative writer by passion. In many cases, that one person would have to seek out two different editors/services to suit their needs. At Two Tales, they can get both at the same time! No need to dive into the rabbit hole of Google searches for who to separately hire. When I was writing up my business model, I kept going back and forth between what type of client I wanted to attract. I have years of working with students and faculty at all stages, so maybe academics and academia in general should be my target audience. But I love literature more than anything in the world and have read more books than most people I know, so wouldn’t creative writing make the most sense? Yet, what about all of those other people who may not be academics or creative writers but who also need help with writing? Don’t they deserve someone specific for their needs too? I was so hesitant to limit myself because I know that I have the experience to help all types of writers. In order to stay both relevant and competitive, I opened up editorial services for all writers, regardless of field/genre, at every stage of their writing process.
Ok, that all sounds great, but what about a writer who has plenty of grand ideas but no idea where to start? Believe it or not, we have also recently opened up Book Coaching services to help guide writers with direction, planning, and purpose. Coaching sessions can be as infrequent as every few months or as frequent as weekly meetings. All meetings are held via Zoom so that no one has to worry about the limitation of time zones and geographic accessibility. Coaching has become one of my favorite aspects of the job because I really get to know people on a deeper level and help them articulate and actualize their hopes for their writing.
Two Tales was recently hired by author Eugenio Volpe (whose novel “I, Caravaggio” is coming out July 2023 via CLASH Books) to be the publicist for his debut publication. The world of publishing – in both the traditional and individual fields – is quickly changing, and Two Tales is happy to help authors navigate that change.
Like I said, a one-stop-shop! Whether it’s fact-checking, formatting, fantasy world-building, or even just an unbiased opinion now and then, we’ve got you covered.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
As much as I hate to admit it, the power that social media holds for small-business marketing is only going to continue to grow. The more people who follow, like, and share accounts, the more exposure the business will gain. Two Tales’ Instagram account (@twotales_editing) is where we post writing tips, inspirational quotes, company updates, and the thing everyone likes to see -when we have sales on pricing! Even if you are not a writer or someone who needs an editor, social media is a great way to still support without having to commit to anything or spend any money.
For people who have worked with us and for future clients, writing reviews and sending testimonials is an incredible way to support the business. I can sing my own praises as much as possible, but most people want to hear it from someone else before making a decision.
Pricing:
- Editing ranges from $40.00-$55.00/hour, depending on the type of project, deadline, etc.
- Book Coaching- $75.00/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: twotalesediting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twotales_editing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085893247827
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/megan-barnes29
