SD/PEN regularly profiles its members’ background and experience. These are valuable opportunities for members to introduce themselves to other members and prospective clients.
This month we feature Chris Zook, who specializes in nonfiction book and academic copy editing as well as grant, newsletter, web, and PR writing. His website is theconsciouswriter.com.
How do you describe what you do to someone you’ve just met at a networking function?
I edit and write content for nonprofit organizations, including grants, newsletters, web copy, marketing and PR materials, and reports. I also edit memoirs, books on self-help and spiritual topics, and articles in the social sciences for peer-reviewed journals (APA style).
Give a little background on you.
You could say I backdoored my way into a career as a freelance writer and editor. In one of my first jobs, as the PR officer for the San Diego Museum of Art, I had an amazing boss who was big on professional development. Knowing I’d be doing a lot of writing and editing for the entire organization, she had the department pay for me to take classes through UCSD Extension to hone the writing and editing skills I had developed over nine years in academia (studying art history).
Several years later, as part of an administrative restructuring, my boss was forced to resign. So of course they gave me her job along with the job I was already doing. Months later, completely fed up with the stressful situation, I remember standing alone in my kitchen, pondering what my next move would be. And I heard a voice, clear as day, whisper in my ear: “Do what you do” (mind you, I don’t hear voices). It immediately hit me that I could buy some time working freelance until another “real job” opportunity came along. Long story longer, by the time the Great Recession hit a year later (I would’ve lost my museum job had I stayed), I was finding enough work to keep the freelance gig going. Fifteen years later, I’m still “doing what I do.”
What accomplishment are you most proud of professionally?
It’s hard to name one, as I’ve essentially had three careers. As a graduate student in art history, I taught an upper division course in eighteenth-century European art at a major four-year university. As the interim director of communications at the San Diego Museum of Art, I oversaw the creation of marketing collateral for a nationally touring Annie Leibovitz exhibition we hosted. My understanding is the artist and her people liked what my team had created so much, they held it up as an example to other venues on the exhibition tour. In my freelance career, I’m most proud of successful grant applications I’ve worked on that have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy nonprofits.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of SD/PEN?
The opportunity to further develop new skills while serving on the SD/PEN board. Over a four-year span while on the board, I had the opportunity to produce the organization’s newsletter in MailChimp, update content on its WordPress website, coordinate educational programs and workshops, manage the organization’s finances in Quickbooks, and so much more. Many of those new skills led to additional work for clients.
What kinds of projects do you particularly enjoy working on? Why?
I prefer to work on a variety of projects—both in terms of content and type of project (writing or editing). I also like to continue learning in everything I do and to work in different subject areas. Thankfully, my fifteen-year freelance career has exposed me to a variety of experiences, people, and ideas, and enabled me to improve and develop new writing and editing skills.
What is the best lesson you’ve learned as an editor?
Never assume the writer knows the rules or standards of word usage, even when it comes to their area of specialty. When I first started, I worked with some highly educated and experienced writers, and I took it for granted they were using the proper form or spelling of a word. Nowadays, it’s so easy to Google any word or usage rule and paste a link to show your client if they question your change.
What do you like to do to get away from editing and refill the well?
This might sound strange for a professional editor to say, but about 10 years ago, I rediscovered pleasure reading. For most of my adult life, starting with college and graduate school, reading always had to have a practical purpose (school, work, self-improvement, etc.). But then a client, who was an avid reader with discerning taste, started lending me some of his favorite recent books. Soon after, I discovered the public library system had an incredible selection and availability of ebooks and audiobooks. Since I was decades behind on the kinds of books I might enjoy pleasure reading, I’ve had plenty to catch up on. I can now confidently purchase books by favorite authors, whereas before, I was reluctant to spend any money on a book I might put down after one chapter.
Describe a volunteer activity or cause you are involved in.
My clients for copy writing and grant writing work are mainly nonprofit organizations. One I’m currently working with is the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. For 10 years, they’ve been raising awareness and convening medical and patient safety experts to develop safety protocols for a variety of common preventable medical errors. It’s estimated that well over 200,000 people die every year in US hospitals from preventable patient harm, making it the third-leading cause of death. The issue is a lot bigger than most people realize (or even want to think about).
Describe one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.
I am a certified yoga teacher in Kundalini Yoga. It’s been more than a decade since I’ve taught a class, but I still practice every day.