DILIM Press is thrilled to share about our editors from Silverpress Edits, online at: https://www.silverpressedits.com/
Raquel and Sebbie shared a bit about their story, what editing is like, and what they’re seeking.
DILIM: Thank you so much for being our collaborator on the series. It’s so important to us to build a thriving network of Filipino professionals and to expand the literary landscape. First off, what is the origin of your name, Silverpress Edits?
Raquel: “Silver” comes from my initials (A.G.). I added “press” for fun, and “edits” for clarity. Other than that, it was completely thought up on the spot since I wasn’t sure how this little side hustle would fare. But it’s turned out so well, and we found exactly the community we needed!
DILIM: Who would you say is a typical client, and what might they expect:
Raquel: We service mostly marginalized and/or new authors who find the prices of editing a big hurdle, especially in self-publishing spaces. Having been there, we wanted to be the partner we didn’t have for ourselves.
As for expectations, we like to be as transparent, supportive, and as accessible as we’re able — so we try to be as communicative while offering our 200% for every manuscript we’re entrusted with. We’re also quite new to the formal and professional editing space, having done this unpaid and in-kind for many years.
So we’re still learning a lot!
DILIM: For Galleon Dreaming, work has been submitted fully-formed, so we are working with you only on copy-editing.
However, for full manuscripts, authors most likely undertake several rounds of editing including a developmental edit. Do you have any tips for authors as they engage with a firm like Silverpress?
At what point should they contact you?
Raquel: Contact your editor as early as the first draft! Aside from stuff like pricing and preferences, editing is a very subjective job so vibing with your editor is extremely important!
Scams are also prevalent in the industry, so make sure you get references, sample edits, and ask as many questions as you can — we promise the legit ones will be patient and won’t find you annoying!
DILIM: Do you have any ideas about what we can all do to increase the numbers of Pinoy authors and poets?
Sebbie: Gods, this is a heck of a question. I feel severely underqualified to answer it, but I will endeavor to do so to the best of my abilities.
I think there are many ways of approaching this. The first that I can think of is education, something that starts in youth, specifically, nurturing interest in storytelling and even wordplay. To me, any interest in writing starts with reading, consuming stories—whether that’s books, a TV show, games, comics, or some other “non-traditional” medium, nurture that interest and encourage them to create their own stories.
The second part is basically the thesis of A Room of One’s Own, so I can’t exactly claim the answer to be my own. But I do firmly believe that socioeconomic conditions affect an individual’s capacity to write.
If all of your focus is spent on working or providing for your family, what will be left of your time, your energy, or your soul that can be poured into writing?
I’m not saying that it would be impossible to write, but having the freedom, the space, the time—the Room, as it were—just to write? That’s a blessing and a privilege that I wish more people could have.
So, that goes back to having a robust literary community; a place for writers to land, to collaborate, to be seen and supported; more institutions that can host writing programs with stipends; places that could link writers to various jobs in the industry, etc.
I know it’s idealistic, but that’s the gist of my answer.
DILIM: Oxford comma fan or no?
Sebbie: 100% a fan. It’s very useful, and it makes things so much clearer. I saw a meme about it years ago, and sometimes, when I put down an Oxford comma, I still think: “this is not dedicated ‘to my parents, Ayn Rand and God’” (if you know, you know).
DILIM: Having all of our voices represented means we have a greater opportunity to share, learn, and illuminate our own thinking, and do so in a respectful and collegial manner. We’re grateful to work with you!
Sebbie: We’re also grateful for the opportunity to work with your team and the authors who have submitted their work to DILIM.
We believe this project is a fantastic gateway to showing that there is a space for Filipinos and their stories in the global literary space. We also hope that this will inspire more Filipinos to write, knowing that their work has a place to call home.
Raquel and Sebbie, from Silverpress Edits.