Member Spotlight: Brittany Passmore!

This week’s member spotlight is Brittany Passmore from Logan, Utah!

What inspired you to become a writer/musician/publisher/creative in media?

In high school, I read The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (finished by Brandon Sanderson). I was so moved by the journey I’d gone on in this fictional world that I knew I had to have a career involved with fiction. I went to college hoping to improve my writing skills and ended up falling in love with editing. Someday, I hope I can share my love of writing with the world too, but I’m really passionate about helping other writers refine their writing and accomplish their publishing dreams.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I’ve loved seeing how the authors I work with grow through the various phases of revising and editing. It’s amazing to see how not only their stories but their writing skills can completely transform for the better from manuscript to manuscript with just a little guidance!

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative work?

I think the best advice I’ve been given has actually been in the example of one of my professors at BYU, Matt Baker. He was always so kind and generous in the way he interacted with others. But also so careful in how he carried out his responsibilities so that he truly gave his best work. I think that combination of attributes is what makes others trust and respect you and helps you find satisfaction in your daily work.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

If you want to be an editor, you need to be willing to really study and learn about language. I started out thinking I knew a lot about writing and grammar (and I did, to an extent), but I quickly learned that you need to be humble enough to know that you have a lot to learn and you need to train yourself to always double check yourself so you don’t add your own errors to another’s work.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

My family is a big inspiration for me right now. My husband is still in school, so I’m taking a big role in helping to provide for us. When I think of my little boy, Parker (who is almost two!), I just want to work harder to give him everything I can. But I’m also really inspired by Christ’s example of service. When I think about how I’m really providing a service for others and not just trying to make money, I look at my daily work in a better way and find true joy in helping others in their creative writing.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I’m learning that my creative work goes a lot better when I keep my priorities balanced. For instance, I’m trying to be better about praying before I work to show the Lord that He is the most important aspect of my life and so I can have His spirit and strength to guide me.

Tell us about your work!

In my freelance editing service, I provide developmental editing, substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, and manuscript evaluations for novelists, especially those writing in science fiction and fantasy genres. (If you’re confused about what these different kinds of editing are, just head over to my website; I explain the difference on my contact page!) Sometimes I blog about writing tips, too.