Happy Thanksgiving week, First name / friend! Whether you live in the United States where we celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday or not, it's always a great idea to have a thankful heart.
I asked ChatGPT to help me write a limerick to express my thankfulness for this proofreading and editing community. I thought it did a pretty good job! What do you think? 👇
In this season of gratitude, I say, To proofreaders and editors, hooray! For the newsletters we share, With a plant-themed flair, Thanks for the community we've grown today!
What will you be doing this week to celebrate? Please reply to this email and let me know.
We had several interesting, informative discussions in The Trellis, our supportive community for proofreaders and editors:
In the Productivity Tools channel, we talked about Project Gutenberg, a library of 70,000+ free e-books, and the role proofreaders have played in its success.
In the Proofreader Mindset channel, we discussed the importance of having something to look forward to when we're done proofreading or editing a difficult file.
In the Random Ideas channel, we talked about the correct way to write “ZIP Code,” a trademark by the United States Postal Service.
In the Seeds of Encouragement channel, I shared a photo of a struggling Schefflera plant I saw in a shopping mall this week. As usual, I turned my experience into an analogy for proofreaders and editors.
Do you know the difference between “birth” and “berth”? The word “berth” has a few definitions, but one of them is a place to sit or sleep, especially on a ship or vehicle.
I knew the word because I'd seen the slapstick humor in the old Laurel and Hardy film “Berth Marks.” It shows the shenanigans of two guys trying to get a night's rest in a train's sleeping car berth.
This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor:
Eagle-Eye Tati Proofreading
The Proofreader Greenhouse asked:
What type of content do you proofread or edit? I proofread court transcripts.
Did you complete a training course for proofreaders, or are you self-taught? I was the editor-in-chief of my college newspaper, and my time there helped me become a better proofreader. For proofreading for court reporters, I completed the transcript proofreading course by Proofread Anywhere.
What is your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing business? The flexibility of it all! I set a goal for myself after I had my baby that I didn't want to have bosses or managers; I didn't want to ask for permission to take my daughter to school; I didn't want to skip out on vacation opportunities because I didn't have PTO. I promised myself that I'd find a way to make a living from what I love to do most in this world, and I did it.
What causes you the most frustration in your business? My biggest frustration is the unknown. When is my next job going to come in? Will I be as busy this week as I was last week? Those unknowns are frustrating because it can be difficult to plan a life around them.
What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors? (1) When someone posts "I need proofreading help" in the Facebook groups, don't be shy about responding. (2) Don't let clients forget you. I check in with my clients every now and then, especially when I don't have a lot of pages to proof. (3) Believe in yourself and your abilities. People are not wrong when they tell you you're great at proofreading or editing.
