Tamar Hela is an independent editor, writer, and former English teacher from California. She lives and works in Shanghai as the “How-to Queen” at Sticky Steps, writing and editing digital education products for young professionals.
What led you to start working in digital/media publishing?
I began my writing journey in 2009 as a means to work through depression but also because I couldn’t get an idea out of my head. I felt compelled to write it all out, like nothing I’d experienced before. Three years later, I had a finished and edited manuscript and decided to go the self-publishing route so I could control all aspects of my publishing journey. I learned A LOT. Made lots of mistakes, met amazing people, connected with the digital and self-publishing community, and knew that this was now a part of my life. When I got into editing, I thought it would maybe be just a few manuscripts here and there, but after partnering with a small publishing firm from 2014-2016, and working with a handful of private clients, here I am, 40+ books later. I am now working in digital education (creating Udemy courses) and publishing, and recently gave a talk in Shanghai, China about DIY publishing. I enjoy being a bit of a publisher, editor, and writer rolled into one because it’s fun and challenging, and every day is different. I also like having control over the entire process because it makes me feel like my vision is coming to life just the way I imagined.What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day involves going into the office (in Shanghai), working with freelance writers, giving editing feedback for video scripts being written, having an offsite meeting with a content developer (some days; not all), and building systems for our projects while making publishing and social media marketing plans. Every day is a bit different, which is exactly how I thrive in my work life. I’m also constantly networking. There’s an amazing Girl Boss group in Shanghai, and we have breakfast and other networking events during the month. If I can make it to an event, then I go and meet other entrepreneurs.What’s your work setup look like?
Right now, I’m trying out Asana for our whole team. I’m still getting used to it and seeing how I can really make it work for us. I’m also a huge Evernote advocate. I use it for note-taking, checklists, writing/book ideas, clipping useful articles–you name it, I’ve probably got it in Evernote, digitally organized so it’s easy to find when I need it. I really like Scrivner, but I need to take a course on it (I have one waiting in the wings) so I can use it to my advantage instead of stumble around it. And I still take notes in a journal, as well as my to-dos for the day. There’s something about writing it all down by hand that helps it to stick in my brain better.What do you do or go to get inspired?
I read books, go for a walk, watch a movie I love, talk to other creatives, listen to music… so many things inspire me, so it’s a matter of what medium I choose and what it sparks in my mind.What’s your favorite piece of writing or quote?
Tough question! But if I had to choose just one quote, it would definitely be: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard ThurmanWhat is the passionate problem you are tackling at the moment?
I just finished writing scripts for a video course on Creative Problem Solving, and now my boss is finalizing them for production. I’ll also be writing a tips book on the same subject. It’s been a fascinating, difficult, and challenging topic to work on because we’re approaching it from a neuroscience angle. So, it’s a little different than what’s out there right now. But we are very pleased with how it’s going. People need to learn how to become creative and confident problem solvers. I really believe the world needs more of that.
