Military Editor and Military Author Internship

The Career Skills Program (CSP) is for transitioning Servicemembers.

See my article about the CSP and Skillbridge programs.

At the end of this program, you will know:

How to use the Story Grid methodology to self-edit your book or assess a manuscript
How to write more compelling stories and scenes
How to invoice and accept payments from clients
How to use other administration platforms to manage your business
How to make money as a freelancer with multiple streams of income

You can apply to intern as a potential freelance author and/or freelance editor.

Hi, I’m Randy Surles.

I’m one of only a small handful of Story Grid Certified Editors in the world. I trained as an editor under Shawn Coyne, who originated the Story Grid method based on his 25 years’ experience in New York publishing, and I’ve been using Shawn’s techniques to help make authors better, as well as to write my own books.

I spent over 20 years in the U.S. Army as a Ranger and Green Beret, working in the Middle East, South America, and Africa. While in the Army, I earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso so I could pursue my dreams of writing and editing once I retired.

While I am open to editing all genres, because of my background I find I am a huge benefit to authors writing novels with a military flavor. I am a big fan of Action, Thriller, Science Fiction, and Fantasy novels. I love a good story, but I want my clients to become writers of great stories. To do that, I give them recommendations on how to move their projects forward, identify those parts that are ‘just not working’, and make them better writers overall.

Military Editor Internship Details

Title: Freelance Editor and Author

Upon completion of this training, the Service Member will be familiar with the software for running their own freelance editing/writing business, which includes but is not limited to: accepting payments online through Paypal/ Stripe/ Venmo/ Zello, controlling a virtual interactive calendar and workflow with Calendly, create and use a webpage to market your business. Additionally, they will become familiar with manuscript editing methodologies such as the Story Grid and Save the Cat in order to self-edit their own writing or developmentally edit client manuscripts. Lastly, they will receive training on the use of manuscript writing software, which includes but is not limited to: Scrivener, Aeon Timeline, and Pro Writing. They will be exposed to learning how to earn multiple streams of income as a freelance editor/author, which includes: Medium, YouTube, accepting tips, and affiliates.

Training Plan

Week 1 Intro – Making Appointments, synching calendars, and understanding the Story Grid Tech: Watch Calendly Videos (links provided)/ access to business emails and share folders/ Editing/ Writing: Watch Story Grid Videos (provided); Read Story Grid Book (Book provided)

Week 2 Story Grid Method – Accepting Payments, leaning Scrivener, and exploring Story Grid more Tech: Discussion of payment methods (PayPal/Stripe/venmo/Zelle); Intro to Scrivener writing software (30 days free) Editing/Writing: discussion of the Story Grid method with examples

Week 3 Editing – Using Webpages, conducting meetings, and learning how to edit manuscripts Tech: Creating/ Improving websites; SEO for webpages; using Zoom Editing/ Writing: Co-edit client manuscript

Week 4 Marketing – Advanced software, other streams of income, further study, and contracts Tech: intro to Aeon Timeline and medium; Intro to Youtube; Editing/ Writing: contracts, services, advanced course/ training options, affiliates

Week 5-12: Practice – Reinforcing editing and software Continue to use software and co-edit/ write. 5-12

Positions

Position Training for: Freelance Editor and Author

Position Description: Developmental Editor, Book Coach, Scene Coach, Ghostwriter

Salary: $30K – $80K

Availability: Variable