We had the good fortune of connecting with Anita Mumm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anita, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

This has always been one of my biggest challenges of being self-employed. When do you shut down for the day? How do you build vacation time into a schedule that is flexible but tends to always fill up with one more work project?
I think of my work as a vocation rather than a job, but that doesn’t mean I have to be “on” 24/7. Over the years, I’ve learned the hard way that you have to set personal boundaries or burnout will start to creep in. I do this by building fun activities into my schedule: for example, a “play date”with close friends on the same day/time every week. Friends can help keep you accountable. Or, I’ll plan a fun weekend outing and force myself to leave the laptop behind. Finding the right work/life balance is a tough process and different for every individual, but it is crucial to both happiness and success. I think of it as a work in progress–kind of like life in general!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I started Mumm’s the Word Editorial services in 2014 as a way of bridging the gap between a writer’s dream of publishing a book, and holding that published book in their hands. I offer editing services to develop and polish manuscripts in preparation for publication, in the realms of both traditional publishing and self-publishing. I’ve also added ghostwriting to my roster, which is great fun, and I serve as a publishing consultant to demystify the process of getting an agent or publisher. In the fall I co-host Salida Writers Retreat, an annual gathering in beautiful Salida, Colorado, with fellow editor Ben LeRoy.

For me, it’s very important to work on projects that I connect with on a deep level so that I have a passionate stake in the author’s success. I strive to bring a blend of creative energy and empathy to my work and to life in general. And I believe that work should be fun!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many fun places to visit in Denver that it’s hard to know where to start. A lot of my friends are in creative fields (photography, writing, etc.), so I would definitely include an afternoon visit to the amazing Denver Art Museum. Then we’d go for a stroll around Union Station and a happy hour beer at the Terminal Bar–I love the blend of historical and modern in the atmosphere there. We’d finish the evening with a sunset dinner on the rooftop at Los Chingones in RiNo. That’s my idea of a perfect day, and our week of adventure would flow from there!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a wonderful Colorado writers organization that brings together a community of writers from our state and around the country for their Colorado Gold conference each fall. They also sponsor educational events for writers, both online and in person, throughout the year. They’ve been very supportive of my work and in turn I’m honored to help their members reach their goals.

Website: www.anitamumm.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mummsthewordeditorial

Image Credits
Head shot photo credit: Phreckles Photography

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