ABBEY MCLAUGHLIN
Are you trying to get to know me as a professional or as a person?
We'll start with as a person, then get to the professional business. If you can't wait, here's my resume:
We'll start with as a person, then get to the professional business. If you can't wait, here's my resume:
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On Life and Writing
I was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan with an older brother and two younger sisters. We lived that typical suburban life! Soccer games on Saturdays, complete with Kool-Aid Jammers and Cheez-Its afterwards. Church on Sundays, with a graham cracker square and a Dixie cup of water in Children's Worship. I have two amazing parents. My mom was the Children's Minister at the church, so I spent a lot of time hanging out in the church, trying on the costumes, getting into the craft closet, and playing with the sand box meant for telling stories about the Israelites in the desert. My dad was great at planning family trips on a budget. The McFam had a baller Chevy Express van that carried us around the country every year. We visited Grandma in Florida on spring breaks, and then in summers, went to places like South Dakota, Montana, California, Texas, and Colorado. The van had two TVs and a VHS player, but we gerry-rigged a DVD player and our Wii as well. One Christmas, when we went to Texas and California, we put Christmas lights in that van.
As my home page mentions, I started writing in the third grade, and I never stopped. I have journals from as far back as seventh grade, but books, booklets, and random "newspapers" from much earlier. My Mor-Mor (Grandma) had kept little hardcover, homemade picture books her kids had made when they were in elementary school, and I loved reading them. It made me want to be published.
In sixth grade, I remember writing a depressing book about a girl whose mom died. In high school, I wrote one book about a couple where one had cancer (John Green is jealous), and another about the foster care system after watching The White Oleander and crying a little too hard. I was spurred on my inspiration like my friend Han, who was writing 300-page Grey's Anatomy fanfiction at the time, and by Eragon because the author was seventeen when he was published. Despite how cringe I was, I'm so glad I kept writing. Choosing what to study for college became that much easier, even if everyone rolled their eyes and snorted when I said, "English and Writing." In my defense, I was an English Education major for three weeks. I really did try to be more "practical" in their eyes, but teaching was not for me.
My efforts were not in vain, though. For one, the short story I wrote for a class ended up getting published! And so did another short story I wrote for a Halloween writing contest my friends and I were going to do (everyone bailed but me, so I entered it to this literary magazine out of spite). My friend helped me connect with her editor sister my sophomore year of college, and I became her little understudy. By junior year, I was a subcontractor, then editorial assistant, and realized I loved working with words, even when they weren't mine.
Nowadays, I hang out with my dog, Peach, and my fiance, Seth. I visit Lake Michigan at least once a week in the summer. I'm writing a book about a Lake Superior haunted shipwreck, and I love talking about it and brainstorming if you ever want to help me. The goal is to finish that by the end of 2025, so hold me accountable, okay?
As my home page mentions, I started writing in the third grade, and I never stopped. I have journals from as far back as seventh grade, but books, booklets, and random "newspapers" from much earlier. My Mor-Mor (Grandma) had kept little hardcover, homemade picture books her kids had made when they were in elementary school, and I loved reading them. It made me want to be published.
In sixth grade, I remember writing a depressing book about a girl whose mom died. In high school, I wrote one book about a couple where one had cancer (John Green is jealous), and another about the foster care system after watching The White Oleander and crying a little too hard. I was spurred on my inspiration like my friend Han, who was writing 300-page Grey's Anatomy fanfiction at the time, and by Eragon because the author was seventeen when he was published. Despite how cringe I was, I'm so glad I kept writing. Choosing what to study for college became that much easier, even if everyone rolled their eyes and snorted when I said, "English and Writing." In my defense, I was an English Education major for three weeks. I really did try to be more "practical" in their eyes, but teaching was not for me.
My efforts were not in vain, though. For one, the short story I wrote for a class ended up getting published! And so did another short story I wrote for a Halloween writing contest my friends and I were going to do (everyone bailed but me, so I entered it to this literary magazine out of spite). My friend helped me connect with her editor sister my sophomore year of college, and I became her little understudy. By junior year, I was a subcontractor, then editorial assistant, and realized I loved working with words, even when they weren't mine.
Nowadays, I hang out with my dog, Peach, and my fiance, Seth. I visit Lake Michigan at least once a week in the summer. I'm writing a book about a Lake Superior haunted shipwreck, and I love talking about it and brainstorming if you ever want to help me. The goal is to finish that by the end of 2025, so hold me accountable, okay?
Professionally Speaking
My first official editing work was for Pique Publishing, Inc. in 2016. I was an editorial assistant helping with a bimonthly industry magazine as well as smaller projects that came along. My boss was amazingly patient and taught me so much by reviewing my edits and letting me know what I missed, why she might've corrected something, etc. Other editors now recognize her because she is the host of the popular podcast, The Editor's Half-Hour! I'm forever indebted to Pique Publishing for kickstarting my career. It's not the easiest industry to get into, and I'm not normally a networker, but someone was looking out for me.
I graduated magna cum laude from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in December 2017 with a Bachelor's in English and Creative Writing. My three and a half years at IWU were challenging and rewarding both in and outside of the classroom. As I mentioned, I was published for writing I did in the classroom, and I built great relationships with writing professors.
I also ran a nonprofit called the Table Ministries while at IWU that utilized unused student meal swipe funds to meet with families in need in the community. IWU students would cook a healthy meal with a family from Marion, Indiana and then eat around a table. The point was to build community, learn table etiquette, and provide healthy food. The nonprofit was largely successful because the nearby church, College Wesleyan, believed in the mission. They helped us write the proposal, study sustainable and thoughtful ministry practices, and provided the home in which we could meet. I learned a million things from this experience, much of them spiritual. But on a practical level, I galvanized volunteers, talked the food service company and IWU into allowing the program, organized with College Wesleyan and Kids Hope, planned meals (and shopped for them), budgeted, and trained everyone.
Once I graduated, I continued with freelance work. I was a copy editing contractor for Apex CoVantage, which published many dissertations and textbooks. As most fresh freelancers must, I also met clients via Upwork and built a portfolio, even if it required some questionable wages. I nannied little babies to make ends meet as well in this time.
And then God opened a huge door in November 2019. Proverbs 31 Ministries received my resume and gave me a call. I became their ministry copy editor for about a year, learning so much about the organization by proofreading and copy editing materials across the board. Their conference materials, book studies, Bible studies, devotions, marketing and social media, videos, podcasts, one-page resources, and more all taught me about the industry, the ministry, and God. I was soon promoted to Assistant Editor working with the First 5 team, which focuses on short-form and long-form Bible studies. Writers and I collaborated one-on-one to create engaging, original, accurate, and theme-focused Bible studies as well as Bible study books. The in-house theologian would review each piece and provide invaluable insight as well. I had the privilege of working with Lysa TerKeurst as the copy editor for 40 Days Through the Bible, which was later picked up by HarperCollins. I was working in my dream job when God abruptly shut the door in 2021.
A family emergency beckoned me back to Michigan immediately, and while I tried to work remotely for a month, it was clear I had to step away from the amazing opportunity. I gave each of my teammates a virtual hug and embarked on this journey you're a part of now: freelancing! And God has been so good. I have met incredible authors with insane talent, life-changing wisdom, and beautiful personalities. I bet you're one of them. Want to meet and tell me about you?
I graduated magna cum laude from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) in December 2017 with a Bachelor's in English and Creative Writing. My three and a half years at IWU were challenging and rewarding both in and outside of the classroom. As I mentioned, I was published for writing I did in the classroom, and I built great relationships with writing professors.
I also ran a nonprofit called the Table Ministries while at IWU that utilized unused student meal swipe funds to meet with families in need in the community. IWU students would cook a healthy meal with a family from Marion, Indiana and then eat around a table. The point was to build community, learn table etiquette, and provide healthy food. The nonprofit was largely successful because the nearby church, College Wesleyan, believed in the mission. They helped us write the proposal, study sustainable and thoughtful ministry practices, and provided the home in which we could meet. I learned a million things from this experience, much of them spiritual. But on a practical level, I galvanized volunteers, talked the food service company and IWU into allowing the program, organized with College Wesleyan and Kids Hope, planned meals (and shopped for them), budgeted, and trained everyone.
Once I graduated, I continued with freelance work. I was a copy editing contractor for Apex CoVantage, which published many dissertations and textbooks. As most fresh freelancers must, I also met clients via Upwork and built a portfolio, even if it required some questionable wages. I nannied little babies to make ends meet as well in this time.
And then God opened a huge door in November 2019. Proverbs 31 Ministries received my resume and gave me a call. I became their ministry copy editor for about a year, learning so much about the organization by proofreading and copy editing materials across the board. Their conference materials, book studies, Bible studies, devotions, marketing and social media, videos, podcasts, one-page resources, and more all taught me about the industry, the ministry, and God. I was soon promoted to Assistant Editor working with the First 5 team, which focuses on short-form and long-form Bible studies. Writers and I collaborated one-on-one to create engaging, original, accurate, and theme-focused Bible studies as well as Bible study books. The in-house theologian would review each piece and provide invaluable insight as well. I had the privilege of working with Lysa TerKeurst as the copy editor for 40 Days Through the Bible, which was later picked up by HarperCollins. I was working in my dream job when God abruptly shut the door in 2021.
A family emergency beckoned me back to Michigan immediately, and while I tried to work remotely for a month, it was clear I had to step away from the amazing opportunity. I gave each of my teammates a virtual hug and embarked on this journey you're a part of now: freelancing! And God has been so good. I have met incredible authors with insane talent, life-changing wisdom, and beautiful personalities. I bet you're one of them. Want to meet and tell me about you?