Deb Butterfield Talks Learning Curves
Debra 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.