Extracurriculars

I’m volunteering with a group to sponsor refugees through the US Welcome Corps program. One of our members, Assim Sallih, is trying to bring his brother and family out of the escalating violence in Sudan. They had to leave everything behind and flee to Egypt. This program helps them get to the US safely. We’ll take donations to help provide this family with food, clothing, and other necessities.

Otherwise, l enjoy gardening, being in nature, and hiking. I love taking walks with my dog, Scout. Because I edit books in my day job, I love reading fun, entertaining books in my free time. My favorite genres are celebrity memoirs, autobiographies, and romance novels. If I’m reading something that doesn’t engage me, I’ll put it down in a heartbeat. I don’t have time to read things that aren’t interesting to me. I’m also a lifelong movie buff who enjoys watching and talking about old movies.

Why we love Bethany

It feels strange to write this about myself, but I will say that last year, I won the Cowork Frederick Award for “friendliest.” I was pretty proud of that.

Q&A with Bethany

How did you get into writing, book editing, and ghostwriting?

I started my business in 2019 to provide blogging, copywriting, and other content writing services to business owners. Recently, I’ve been focusing on my business’s book editing and ghostwriting side. Editing means more than just fixing grammar and spelling. As a developmental editor, I help authors find their stories, improve the flow of their manuscripts, and sharpen their writing skills. A skilled editor helps the author create a manuscript they can be proud of.

There is a particular craft to writing a book that people will want to read. Ghostwriting is for folks with a story to tell but may not have the time or writing skills to put it all together. That’s where I come in. I help people tell their stories to their audience.

Any tips for others who want to do similar work?

Learn to overcome your fears and put yourself out there. I use LinkedIn to look for publishers, authors, or other businesses that could use my services. Freelancing means doing a lot of networking, building relationships with people, and introducing other freelancers to helpful contacts. There is an element of positive karma involved. So, for example, let’s say I have a potential client who needs some services I don’t provide. I will introduce them to a colleague who does. This builds goodwill and trust in both directions. That way, my colleague or potential client might refer me later. Freelancers really have to help each other.

Which of the guiding values defined by Cowork Frederick members speaks to you?

Curiosity. I cannot overestimate how much I love learning new things. I have always been curious about the world around me, so I developed an early love of reading. If you have an open mind, you can learn from others and grow as a person. Curiosity and creativity are connected.
I parlay this curiosity into my work because I can always find something new and fascinating about my clients or the industries they are involved in. You wouldn’t believe some of the surprising and beautiful things I’ve uncovered by interviewing people. I’m always interested in learning more about people and what makes them tick.

How do you define success?

Success looks different for everyone. For me, it’s about stepping outside my comfort zone to achieve things I never thought possible. I’ve been too afraid to put myself out there for much of my life. To have other people read and judge my work. In 2019, I decided to be brave and try to make things happen for myself. I realized that no one will give you opportunities unless you ask for them. Starting and running a business has been really hard, but also rewarding. I’ve learned a lot and accomplished more than I ever thought possible. I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved over the last 5 years.

Who/What inspires you and keeps you going?

I’m fortunate to have such a supportive group of people in my life. My husband has always supported my dreams and encouraged me when I was down on myself. I started my business because he believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. My kids inspire me to show them what a strong, hardworking, and capable woman can do. Other women and minority business owners also inspire me. People who have decided to ignore the naysayers and go after their dreams anyway are some of the most inspirational people.

Why Cowork Frederick?

I became a member in the spring of 2021. Being lonely and needing to leave the house drew me to Cowork Frederick. I love my husband and children, but I needed to be around other adults. I’m so glad that I made that choice. What keeps me here are the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve been fortunate to build great friendships with my wonderful coworkers. I’m grateful that I found the Cowork Frederick community.

For those who want to learn more, how can you be reached?

My website: goodwritingco.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-good-writer/