A day in the life of a freelance editor & writer
A very typical day
Fun fact, I once wrote a Money Diary for Refinery 29. I was broke and they’re anonymous so I’ll never tell, but it was fun and illuminating to write out. I could pore over every penny that left my account, scrutinise the flimsy excuses I used to justify splurges and overall, just had fun baring it all. I wonder what patterns I’ll find in this…
7:00 am: I had an awful nights’ sleep last night. So I kind of lounge in a pile on my bed listening to my husband potter around. I usually wake up at around 7:30, when he leaves the house for work, as if I can sense the moment I’m alone (spoiler alert I’m alone a loooot). I get up, usually grab my phone to meditate for 10 - 15 minutes but I’m skipping it today to my detriment. I’m a naturally anxiety-ridden person, meditation keeps me to a manageable level. Along with ashwagandha gummies.
What I do do though is switch on my oven – I’ve got a loaf of sourdough cold proofing in the fridge.
7:45 am: I get myself a big Sports Direct mug full of ginger/lemon water. My husband often leaves me a mug full of chopped ginger as he potters around much earlier than me, which is always a nice way to show he’s thinking of me.
Then I score my sourdough loaf and put it in the oven.
8 am: I finally sit down on my sofa – but not to work, yet. I usually study languages whilst my brain is fresh – a few pages of exercises from my Spanish textbook, followed by a few exercises on the HelloChinese app. I’ve been learning Spanish on and off for years, but Mandarin is very new. I’m sitting here debating on doing it though because of the aforementioned awful nights’ sleep. I compromise by doing it snuggled up on the sofa.
My loaf is like a 7/10, I’m pursuing the perfect loaf, so if I have any IRL friends reading this, I’m practising and I’ll gladly make you a loaf.
9 am: I plan out the rest of my day – the essential tasks. I want to head out for a run but it’s raining and I run on an already muddy trail so I’ll have to do it in the afternoon. Getting outdoors at least once a day is another thing that’s essential for my mental health. I’m starting to notice a theme now aaaahhhh.
9:30 am: I finally have breakfast, usually eggs and sourdough toast. Then I start my work properly.
Today, my first task is updating and expanding the copy for my new website, Midier Editorial, which I’m working on with Merula Marketing. It’s exciting to be investing in myself and my business for the first time.
Whilst I work, I like to listen to helpful podcasts. Today I listened to
talking about the business side of book coaching as I’m adding it to my editorial services when I relaunch. I’ve been dev.editing this whole time and she has helped me to realise I possess the skills already, as I do this unofficially for even my friends who are trad-published – reassuring, giving support, and using my trad editorial knowledge to answer Qs they might be nervous to ask their editors. I’m so excited to bring this service to my business.12:00 pm: I need a screen break so having a coffee before my run.
1 pm: Back from my run, lunchtime. I’ve meal-prepped salady bits so throw together a salmon salad in a few minutes and yay – get to watch an episode of something. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with social commentary and critiques from Black women on Youtube. Or pop the balloon dating videos. Don’t judge me. I’m so fascinated with dating, culture, and how our lonely society operates right now.
2ish (I may have stretched lunch a bit): Back to work, I usually ramp right up on work for now until the end of the day. My other key task today is to finish writing up a five-page editorial letter for a Nigeria-based fantasy writer. I’ve loved working on this book so much, I’ve worked so hard on it and also given her significantly reduced rates. I want to stand on business when it comes to making publishing more accessible, but not sure how much money I can currently afford to turn away – I’m brainstorming ways to do this – maybe a monthly open Zoom question hour? Or coffee shop/walk for anyone local? Any ideas are welcome, please!
5ish pm: Hubs home so we’re eating a quick dinner - some meal prep I made earlier in the week.
This is a bad habit, but I’ll sometimes check my emails now, when I’m feeling like I’ve not done enough for the day… Usually while we watch reality TV like MAFS UK or Kitchen Nightmares for a couple hours.
The truth is, I love my work so much right now; the actual work of helping writers, as well as the flexibility that sometimes it feels like I’m not doing enough.
Like: if work doesn’t feel like I’m shackled to a desk, overrun with unfinished tasks because my day is taken up by endless Zoom meetings that could be emails then I must be doing it wrong.
7:30pm: Winding down for the night, I get ready for bed and… my writing hours.
8:30 pm: This is definitely one of my favourite times of the night. Usually my partner is snoozing next to me or reading, I’ve got my Scrivener open and there’s something about the profound silence as it gets later and later that allows me the comfort to be in my own world and sets my imagination aflame. My writing self-examination with regards to writing has revealed that this time of night is best for me to write new drafts, where I’m required to be properly creative and focused on the new. It just isn’t the same in the busyness of the day - that’s my editing time.
I have some goals atm which I’ll be sharing in a post in a few months! But once I’ve hit my minimum word count, I keep going or stop there.
This is a very average, productive day. My productivity tends to dwindle as the week progresses, so I always try to set important tasks for earlier in the week. And it’s so refreshing to feel I have the flexibility to do so. I always used to say ‘Friday Mina’ is a different girl, which when my office was in a WeWork 5 years ago meant lots of pool, 3 pm desk beers and just chatting with my colleagues. Now it means reading, watching informative videos and podcasts and doing more research-y things later in the week, as well as calls or lunches with friends in London instead of feeling forced to stay at my desk and faux work.
I love it here.
On my shopping list this week.
What I made/ate:
I was still super sick this week, but I noticed I was coming out of the funk because I spent Sunday having a creativity day with my husband where he painted a portrait and I sewed my first full dress, ever! It’s from a sheet, so not really wearable but I’ve learnt loads, cutting is EVERYTHING in the sewing process.
What I watched:
I Wanna Dance with Somebody – the Whitney Houston biopic. It wasn’t the most comforting sick watch because she had a tough life but I did enjoy it. I love watching biopics of people who have achieved so much in a short space of time. Self- belief seems to be the defining feature they share. Side note, I must be too young but I didn’t know she was queer and it is now an openly acknowledged fact.I was glad they included that in the film, even if it was brief and glanced over, I can’t imagine how much suppressing it affected her.
What I read:
I’ve finally started reading Piranesi. I’m not yet sure how I feel about it, it’s extremely mysterious and labrynthic. Though I’ve already seen some glimpses of profound lessons in it, so let’s watch this space.
I’m a simple man. I see a "day in the life" post, and I read it.
Obsessed with Refinery29 Money Diaries and I am now desperate to read yours.