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Debra Butterfield
Debra L Butterfield

Deb Butterfield is the author of four books, which include 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs, and Carried by Grace: a Guide for Mothers of Victims of Sexual Abuse. She is a freelance editor and writing coach as well as an editor for CrossRiver Media Group publishing house. Debra has been a freelance editing since 2010 and joined CrossRiver Media Group in 2014. Her editorial credits include three award winners: Wilted Dandelions, This I Know, and Bethany’s Calendar. She is a former copywriter for Focus on the Family.

Deb will be teaching two workshops: The Five Essentials to Every Manuscript Submission and Marketing Through the Use of Story. Visit the workshop page to learn more.

We asked Deb a few questions to help you get to know her.

Do you set goals for the new year? If so, does it help you produce more? Most definitely I set goals! Having no goals is like taking a vacation with no destination—you get nowhere. Goals keep me focused on what’s important and show me what I’ve accomplished at the end of the period I’m measuring, be it a day, 90 days, or the year.

Do you have anything posted around your writing desk–a reminder of why you sit at a computer for hours on end? I have several things posted, mostly verses from the Bible that offer me encouragement in doing what God has called me to do. I am currently creating a vision board that I will put on the wall next to my desk to keep my goals and vision daily in front of me, spurring me on to bring those things into my life.

Do you read for relaxation? If so, what authors do you keep close by? One would think that as an editor I get my fill of reading when I spend all day reading manuscripts. But I’ve always loved reading, and reading for pleasure is important to me. It’s relaxing, but I also learn about writing from reading other authors. I like mysteries; Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series and M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series are favorites. Mary Connealy’s westerns are always a treat, too!

Learn more about Debra on her website.

Deb Butterfield Talks Learning Curves

Debra L ButterfieldDebra L Butterfield is the author of four books, which include 7 Cheat Sheets to Cut Editing Costs, and Carried by Grace: a Guide for Mothers of Victims of Sexual Abuse. She is a freelance editor and writing coach as well as an editor for CrossRiver Media Group publishing house. Debra has been freelance editing since 2010 and joined CrossRiver Media Group in 2014. Her editorial credits include three award winners: Wilted Dandelions, This I Know, and Bethany’s Calendar. She is a former copywriter for Focus on the Family.

Check out her website at debralbutterfield.com.

If you were at a book event and someone asked you, “Why do you write?” what would you say? I write because I’m a servant and teacher at heart. I want to help others overcome situations in their lives, which is why I wrote Carried by Grace. But I also write books like 7 Cheat Sheets to teach the craft of writing and editing and enable writers to become better writers.

Share a tidbit that has helped you in writing and/or marketing. I’ve been editing a book for a college professor this past year. He talks about how our brain works, which is absolutely fascinating. Through this I’ve learned how to help myself set better goals and reach those goals. One tidbit was about using constructive motivation rather than restrictive motivation. I talk about what each is in a video on my YouTube channel.

What frustrates you the most, the editing or marketing? By far, the marketing. It changes almost as fast as technology does—the recent changes in Facebook as a case in point. That means a constant learning curve and the time spent to learn it and implement it, and conversely, less time to write and teach.

At this year’s writer’s conference, Deb will be teaching a workshop,

 Building That All-Important Email List. 

She’ll also be teaching

The Five Essentials to Snag a Publisher.