Wednesday Wonder Woman: Brenda Pratt

Brenda Pratt is a single mother of four beautiful children and a grandmother to three beautiful granddaughters. She is a multifaceted administrative assistant with an extensive background in a variety of office administration duties.  She has well, proven organizational skills and can multitask while maintaining a high level of professionalism and has a strong attention to detail.

Brenda was the clerk at her church for over 15 plus years, working under the pastor’s leadership. In those years ministering at the church, she also worked with the youth at her church, coordinating youth Sabbath every month, building teamwork, and group building.  She didn’t think much of her gift, but she knew that whatever she did, it had to be right, error-free, and organized. 

Individuals started to notice her passion and gave her the extra push that she needed to try her hand at editing books.  She co-edited her first book in 2013, “My Sister’s Arms,” by Monique Elliott. From there on out, Pratt was the sole editor on several books. Brenda’s Editorial Services is her baby, and she is passionate about what she does. She loves editing and proofreading her client’s work and implementing her editorial services. Pratt loves putting projects together, the challenges and all, and seeing the finished project come to life. She’s not trying to keep up with anybody else. The editing process is a journey, and, on this journey, Pratt is learning to become a better person while providing a service that she loves.   

 

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Brenda, Brenda?

Brenda:  What makes Brenda, Brenda is my faith in God first; without Him, nothing would be possible, my “never giving up” attitude, my children, and my love for editing books

Christina: Tell us about Brenda’s Editorial Services. When did you start your business, and what inspired you to do so?

Brenda: Brenda’s Editorial Services provides proofreading, copy editing, content editing, formatting, typography, and I just added typesetting in November 2020 to authors. I started my business on March 18, 2014, after I co-edited my first project in 2013.  

Christina: How was your experience co-editing your first book, My Sister’s Arms?

Brenda: It was beautiful. I’ve been doing this service for many years now. I am my children’s first teacher, and I still check over their schoolwork, essays, term papers, etc., before they turned them in. To me, presentation is everything. 

Christina: What is the most important thing that you believe your children learned from you and why? 

Brenda: Being a single mother through our struggles and victories, I kept a smile on my face, and I never gave up. “Quitting is not an option.” We kept moving forward. I also encourage them in every aspect of their lives. I am my children’s biggest cheerleader. I tell them to do something that you are passionate about, and it won’t feel like work and to never stop learning. 

Christina: It seems that your work as an administrative assistant helped you to start your business. Do you think if you were not an administrative assistant, Brenda’s Editorial Services would exist?

Brenda: Yes, I think having an eye for detail played a major part in starting my business. I’ve been doing this in my mind for a while now. I was put on this earth to follow my passion, and it is a gift from God.  

Christina: What are four things you can’t live without?

Brenda: My faith, my family, my children, and my love for providing my editorial services to others.

Christina: Let’s say someone wants to edit their book themselves. What are some tips that you can give to self-editors?

Brenda:  Here are a few tips that I stand by:

• Do your homework; there are plenty of resources available.
• Print a paper copy out; a printed copy is easier to read than on a computer screen.
• Have another set of eyes read over your work.
• Read over your work yourself more than once if needed.   

Christina: What are four things that make a good book?

Brenda: In my opinion, four things that make a good book stand out are: a great title, the font of the text in the book(readability), a page-turner; it keeps you engaged, and it takes you on a journey.

Christina: Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like our audience to know about?

Brenda: I have two clients whose projects came out last year, “The Sun Daughter’s Gift,” a magical realism novel, by Eva Finley at www.schulerbooks.com. “Pursuing the Favor of God!” by Dr. William J. Lee, finding favor with God and discovering your purpose in life at www.wjlministries.org. In January 2021, my third client’s highly anticipated book will be out, “Detoxifying our Bodies with Fresh Juices and Smoothies,” with colorful smoothies and juice pictures and recipes, nutritional information, a list of vitamins and minerals, and the importance of eating healthy, by Rah’Shaun Shaffer at rahsnaturalhealth@gmail.com. 

Christina: Is there anything else you would like to share? 

Brenda: I would like to thank SwagHer magazine for giving me this opportunity to share my passion for providing a service. I love what I do, and it shows. Sometimes you must jump out of fear, and this is the year to start. 

 

Connect with Brenda below:

Email: brendapratt1010@gmail.com

Instagram: @addictedtwou

Facebook:  Brenda Editorial Services

LinkedIn: Brenda Pratt