Interview: Bonnie Davis
Bonnie Davis is Blue Crab Knits, a technical editing service for knitting and crochet patterns. She edits accessories, household items, and children’s and baby wear. She has 60+ years of experience in yarn crafts and 5 years of experience in tech editing. Her previous careers include 15 years as an X-Ray/Nuclear Medicine Technologist and 15+ years in mortgage banking services as a customer service representative. Bonnie is a published writer for both online and in print children’s and adult magazines with credits in fiction, articles about writing, and children’s non-fiction. She has written an, as yet, unpublished middle grade fantasy novel.
Work with Bonnie: https://bluecrabknits.com/
Follow Bonnie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/techeditor.bluecrabknits
Let’s get into the interview!
What are you making with yarn right now?
I am currently knitting learning swatches for sock heels. I edit lots of sock patterns. And, though most employ short row heels or standard flap and gusset heels, there are so many different and interesting ways to make heels. I recently finished editing a pattern with a double gusset heel, a traditional heel flap with the gusset in double decrease lines on the bottom of the heel rather than at the back of the heel. So, I have embarked on what may well be an unending quest to discover and swatch as many different heel types as I can find.
What were you doing before you became a technical editor?
Oh, how I wish I had known more about career opportunities in textile industries when I graduated from high school in 1971. At that time, women were newly liberated, we thought, by Gloria Steinem and Helen Reddy. Women were just beginning to enter the work force in fields never before open to them. However, my parents could not afford college and, quite honestly, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I literally stumbled on a local 2-year training program for x-ray techs at our local hospital. I got my certification for that and a few years later, I spent a year at Duke University to add my nuclear medicine certification. But after 15 years in that field, I experienced the common problem of burn out.
I decided at that time, to take my savings and invest in a college degree. I earned a BA in English, met my husband and spent 3 years as an elementary school librarian. It was not for me. That is when I ended up in the mortgage servicing business where I made good use of my communication skills. I retired from there at 62 to follow my husband from Kentucky to Maryland where he was transferred by his company.
What made you decide to become a technical editor?
I had been following discussions on Ravelry for several years regard technical editing. Although it sounded interesting, I knew I was not as strong in math as I was in writing and grammar. Also, I was afraid that editing patterns would turn a hobby into work, which I didn’t want.
A few years previously, I had enrolled in TKGA Master Handknitting Course. I completed the first of three segments but bogged down working on the second. I was so focused on making every stitch perfect that I lost all the enjoyment that I experienced with knitting. Working the TKGA course made me so tense and paranoid about every yarn choice, every stitch, every aspect of my knitting, that I could not knit for pleasure anymore. It was so consuming that I had to walk away from the course in order to start knitting for fun again. I was afraid that technical editing yarn patterns would cause the same problems.
However, I liked the idea of a job I could do at home on my own schedule. A job that was not physically demanding. And a job that would let my use both my writing experience and my degree. So, I checked out The Tech Editor Hub’s course, the only one I was aware of at the time. In working through the program, I soon discovered that I really enjoy editing. Even though I still struggle with marketing and technical areas such as producing promotional material, I think technical editing is a great fit for my skills and my semi-retired lifestyle.
What's your workspace like?
I am very lucky in my workspace areas. I have two. I have an older, 4-bedroom house. One of the upstairs rooms was converted to a craft room at some point before we bought the house, This room is paneled with built-in cabinets and drawers for yarn storage and blocking pads and such. I added a collapsable table with a light box for photos, or for blocking, or a sewing machine, etc., as needed. There is also a very small spare bedroom downstairs with built-in book shelves. I use this as both a guest room, with TV and futon, and my actual office with computer, current WIPs and all my craft and reference books.
What has been the hardest part of tech editing for you?
I lack social media technical knowledge and am totally ignorant of marketing skills. I have made lots of progress by teaching myself how to use annotation software, Instagram basics, and limited spreadsheet how-to’s. I still struggle with marketing and technical areas such as producing promotional material. I have started learning Canva but am still in kindergarten with so much technical stuff. I think, no, I know, that my age at 71 has, somewhat, hindered me. I seem to be able to learn any new knit or crochet technique that comes along, but technology is a bugbear for me. Guess that is a bit ironic for a technical editor.
What references and tools do you find yourself always reaching for in your work?
Gosh, I have shelves and shelves of reference books. I also make frequent use of YouTube and Google searches. I love the YouTube videos of Suzanne Bryan and Roxanne Richardson. Even though I didn’t complete the Master Hand Knitting program, I still keep my TKGA membership. They have a handy online index for technique and teaching articles.
As for books, I have several grammar and style guides because there are different major writing styles including book, news, science, and academic styles. I tend to use The Chicago Manual of Style most often.
For general knitting and editing, I use Vogue Knitting, The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt, The Knitter’s Book of Finishing Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe, The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth, The Beginner’s Guide to Writing Knitting Patterns, by Kate Atherley, and Knitting Pattern Essentials by Sally Melville. I also like Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture, Alasdair Post-Quinn’s Double or Nothing: Reversible Knitting for the Adventurous, Ashleigh Wempe’s Mosaic Knitting Workshop, Kate Atherley & Kim McBrien Evans’ Custom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter, and anything by Barbara G. Walker and Elizabeth Zimmermann.
I am just starting my collection of crochet references. But my most used so far are Complete Crochet Course by Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby and The Tunisian Crochet Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide by Toni Lipsey.
What's the best piece of wisdom you've heard or read lately?
Several months ago, I was thinking about retiring. I was becoming frustrated and discouraged about marketing my tech editing business. I felt certain that my age was becoming a liability because of my lack of skills in technology and social media content production.
In a coaching session with Sarah Walworth, she provided several techniques for helping me to improve some of my skills in this area. Additionally, she gave me this insight. She told me that my age was an asset and not a liability. My years of experience in knitting and crochet gave me an in-depth knowledge base. She also pointed out that my work experience in customer service was an advantage in knowing how to communicate with clients and suggest changes without intimidating.
Most of all, she suggested that my experience as a published author meant that I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of the editing experience, and as such, some idea of what a designer might feel about receiving my edits. She said this perspective could only help me to better communicate my edits to designers.
Life experience is a good thing.
Do you have any advice for editors who are just starting out? Like, if you could travel back in time to old Bonnie and whisper some wisdom to yourself, what would you say?
First, if you don’t already feel comfortable with spreadsheets, learn how to use them. Even after 5 years as a tech editor, I still do my math checks manually. Not a big deal since I prefer to edit accessories. But if you want to edit sweaters, spreadsheets are a big deal.
Second, take time to learn what you want to edit and what you prefer not to edit. Tons of math is just not in my wheelhouse. I sometimes think that I want to learn grading, but I have procrastinated to the point that I realize I probably never will. The true desire to do that is just not there. That’s okay. I am happiest working with accessories. They are graded, as well, just not to the extent that sweaters are graded. In other words, it is fine to specialize. Edit what you feel comfortable with and knowledgeable about. Do what makes you happy.
What is something in your business that you're happy worked out differently than you expected?
This is not different from my expectations; however, it is what I like best about my business—flexibility. I set my own hours; I can work around life happenings—vacations, unexpected medical issues (cataract surgery); I can accept work that I am happy with and exclude projects that I don’t feel qualified for; I can choose to set flat rate fees rather than hourly so that I don’t feel pressured to complete projects within a set time frame.
What is your favorite way to take a break from editing?
I vary my routine. Sometimes when I am really in my editing groove but know that I need a break, I will only stand up, move around, grab a cup of coffee or check email. Then I get back to work before I lose the flow. But there are also times when editing is being problematic (a polite euphemism) that I need something more mind clearing. I am a strong believer in subconscious problem solving. As a writer, I used to take a complete break when I suffered from writer’s block. I would set aside what I was working on and walk away from it for a time. The subconscious can work wonders.
Often, when I returned to work, the solution felt intrinsic, obvious, or natural. That works for me with tech editing. Sometimes the solution works from picking up the knitting needles rather than the keyboard. More often, it requires a complete change of pace. It might require that I sleep on it, or it might only require me to take the dog for a 15- minute walk. Either way, recharging my mental batteries seems to help.
What are your hopes for yourself?
I want to enjoy my retirement. My tech editing business is a project I started hoping it would be my ideal retirement job—a way to bring in additional income while working from home at my own pace. It has turned out to be all of that and more. I sometimes forget that it is a retirement job. I get frustrated with my lack of social media skills. I frequently see other tech editors whose businesses seemingly thrive and grow more than my own. I chastise myself for not being on top of technology that could advance the business. I could go on. But I hope to be able to determine and establish a business profile that allows me to enjoy tech editing at a pace that satisfies my desire to continue working throughout my retirement at a scale that I can enjoy and feel productive.
Yes, I do wish I were busier at times; there are also times that edits all seem to arrive at once making me feel overwhelmed. I would like to find a way to spread out my edits more evenly over the months. However, the nature of tech editing is to be seasonal, so that might be unrealistic. I want to accept that there are certain areas like technology that will always be a challenge. I may always find them too intimidating to conquer.
Conversely, learning new knitting and crochet techniques is a joy. I hope to continue learning new techniques so I can edit patterns that I currently find challenging—and to learn them for fun, for the sake of discovering new skills. Learning is a way to exercise my brain and to continue to feel vital. Learning is living.
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Thank you for being here, dear tech editors! Leave a comment below (I read each one!) ~ Sarah Walworth