When I was starting out in this field, I remember reading an interview with a successful editor. They said something that has stuck with me: “If you put yourself out there enough, people will find you.” A common challenge freelancers face is finding clients. But I’ve found that simple advice to be true. Even though […]
Putting Yourself Out There Read More »
We have been binging Schitt’s Creek on Netflix as of late. It’s a hilarious show and one I recommend fellow word nerds check out. The character Moira Rose (played by the wonderful Catherine O’Hara of Home Alone fame) has an extensive vocabulary, and you’re sure to learn dozens of fun words just by listening to
Moira Rose’s Vocabulary Read More »
I’m learning that part of being a freelancer means being okay with feeling uncomfortable. Freelancing is not like a normal nine-to-five where your hours are set, your income is steady, and you more or less know what to expect from day to day. There are times when I’m nearly bored work-wise, and then there are
The Uncomfortable Nature of Freelancing Read More »
Wanna know a weirdly regular thing I find myself correcting during proofreads? The correct way to write “T-shirt.” According to Merriam-Webster, this is the correct way to write out this noun, with a capital “T.” I think the most common way I see writers spell it out is with a lowercase “t.” But that’s actually
Did you know that *swan* can be a verb? According to Merriam-Webster, to *swan* means to wander aimlessly or idly; to dally. I was finishing up a proofread when I came across what I thought was a typo. The author used *swan* as a verb. I thought he meant to say *swim* (since the scene
Let’s Learn a New Word (2/7/22) Read More »
It’s February 1st, 2022, and my year has been off to a slow but absolutely acceptable start. In the month of January, I copyedited a blog for someone whom I work with regularly. I then started my newest venture of editing a text game for a games company I am super excited to freelance for.
February 1st Update Read More »
A year ago, I proofread a gentleman’s debut novel. Fast forward to today, and I’m currently proofreading a novella for him. The growth I see in his writing is impressive. It’s harder to recognize because I live it every day, but I know that in the past year, I’ve grown as an editor as well.
On Growing with Clients Read More »
Thanks to a bit of a dip in editing work over the holiday break, I’ve actually had more time to read for pleasure as opposed for work. I’m sure most editors will tell you that it’s hard to turn that part of their brain off when reading for fun. But you know what? That’s not
When You Can’t Turn Off Those Editing Impulses, Embrace Them! Read More »
Wanna learn a new word today? How about malapropism? According to Merriam-Webster, malapropism (a noun) is the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase. It’s especially the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in context. I love the example it gives: Jesus healing those
Let’s Learn a New Word (1/17/22) Read More »
I have an update about the “learned vs. learnt” thing. A colleague of mine who was taught UK English says she uses “learnt.” Now I’ve officially heard two different preferences on this, which makes me feel even more confident in the advice I always give writers: use whichever preference you wish. When editing fiction, I
Learned or Learnt? (1-13-22 Update) Read More »