Ten years ago today — September 23, 2006 — was my last day at my last desk job. Ten years ago today, I became a full-time freelance editor.

In the last ten years, I’ve:

• Edited about 80 novels, for at least 5 different publishers, written by new authors, major award winners, and nyt bestsellers
• Read about 800 novel queries and submissions
• Published 6 anthologies
• Read about 3000 short story queries and submissions
• Sold 14 short stories
• Sold 2 novels of my own
• Been a managing editor, a submissions editor, an acquisitions editor, a copyeditor, a proofreader, a special guest, an attending professional, a panelist, a lecturer, an apprentice, and a mentor
• Been interviewed by 14 magazines and podcasts
• Attended 5 workshops and retreats
• Got a wikipedia page
• Served on award juries 7 times
• Acquired the first works of about a dozen great new writers
• Acquired works that have won major awards
• Met my heroes
• Made countless deep and precious friendships and connections

Would I take a “desk job” again? Absolutely. I’d take one tomorrow, for the right desk and the right job. Am I supporting myself financially with writing and editing? No. Not really. But when I feel down about that, I look at that list above. No one goes into publishing to get rich quick. We knew ten years ago that getting established would be a long, long tail. I’m immensely grateful that I have the privilege to follow words rather than money. I promise to continue making the most of it.