Hi, First name / friend. Did you survive Black Friday? I usually stay home to avoid the crowds, but my husband and I decided to brave the craziness and visit our local shopping mall yesterday. We even saw a family walking around in their Christmas pajamas! 🎄
How do you approach in-person Black Friday shopping?
I carefully plan and have a list.
I might check out a few deals, but it's not a priority for me.
I avoid it altogether, preferring other shopping times.
We had several interesting, informative discussions in The Trellis, our supportive community for proofreaders and editors:
In the Productivity Tools channel, we talked about the power of habit streaks. I love how brain.fm helps me track how many weeks I've been consistently using the app.
In the Good Catch channel, we talked about correct apostrophe placement in the word “y'all.”
In the Proofreader Mindset channel, we were inspired by a quote from Dabo Swinney, head coach of the Clemson football team.
I shared this catch in a story on my other Instagram account (On the Dot Proofreading), but it's worth sharing again.
This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor:
LJ Pond | Editor & Proofreader
The Proofreader Greenhouse asked:
What type of content do you proofread or edit? Educational materials (courses, workbooks) and content for small businesses (articles, eBooks, web copy, marketing content)
Did you complete a training course for proofreaders, or are you self-taught? I completed an excellent course with The Publishing Training Centre (UK), and I'm currently working through the CIEP's popular copyediting suite. Before I undertook formal training, much of my experience came from sub-editing a magazine under the guidance of a talented editor and mentor. I still work on this magazine, but now I'm the mentor!
What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing business? I love building relationships and learning from my clients. In the time I've been doing this work, I've met people whose ideas have changed my life!
What causes you the most frustration in your business? Working alone can be tough sometimes. I have many wonderful connections in the industry, but reaching out to them virtually isn't quite the same as sitting down together with a cuppa!
What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors? Blocking time for myself each morning before I sit down to work has made a huge difference in my mindset and productivity. I used to focus on all the “must-dos” first and would often end up having no time left to do anything just for me.
