A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
|
The first week of September is a magical time. Kids are back in school, the weather's getting a little cooler, and it's a great time to be productive. Many people call September “the other January.”
My husband and I took Harley for a walk in one of our favorite spots this week, and I was pleasantly surprised to see several things still blooming.
The plant in the left photo below is a Harlequin Glorybower, affectionately called a Peanut Butter Tree. If you crush one of its leaves, it smells just like peanut butter! And that reddish star isn't a flower, it's the fruit of the plant.
What's blooming where you live right now? I'd love to hear about it! |
|
✨ Something exciting is coming! ✨ |
|
Those who've been following The Proofreader Greenhouse for a while know I’ve had some laugh-out-loud moments with catches I've spotted in my transcript proofreading.
One of my all-time favorites was "myocardial infraction” (yes, that really happened!). |
|
I’m gearing up to launch some TPG merch later this year, featuring quirky illustrations like this, and I’d love your input! I’ve put together a one-question survey (thanks to my go-to tool, Tally). Would you take a moment to let me know which type of product(s) you'd enjoy with fun designs like this? Just click the green button below and cast your vote. If you'd rather email your thoughts, simply reply to this email. - Mug
- Calendar
- T-shirt
- Notecards
- Book (compilation of humorous catches)
- Something else (I'm all ears!)
|
|
Thanks so much for helping me with some market research! Stay tuned for more about this in the coming months. 🌟 |
|
Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
|
Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn this week (shared with permission): - What in the world is a clitic? Never heard of a clitic? Neither had I until I read Jeanette's post. But I'll bet you've used a clitic in your writing or speech today. You just didn't realize what it was called. Here's a hint: It has to do with contractions. I think you'll enjoy this lesson. đź§
- Tips for tightening up your prose: Are you looking to tighten up your writing (or the writing of your clients)? Laura's tips can help you reduce wordiness and improve flow—without sacrificing meaning. These quick fixes can make a big difference in your writing. 🖋️
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile: I've been more active on LinkedIn recently, and I've discovered so many smart, helpful people there! Michelle's post about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile is practical and informative. Be sure to check out the Buffer post she shares in the comment below her post too.đź’ˇ
By the way, if you're on LinkedIn, I'd love to connect! |
|
Hallowed ground is land that's seen as special or sacred, often because of its religious or historical importance.
Hollow refers to something that's empty or has a cavity inside. đź’ˇ Catch of the Week screenshots come from my transcript proofreading. I can't change what a person said, but I can make sure words are spelled correctly and punctuation marks are in the right spots. If you're interested in learning more about transcript proofreading, I wrote an article about it here. |
|
This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor: |
|
Jennifer from JH Manuscript Editing Services |
|
The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Academic psychology, mostly transpersonal, religious, or spiritual topics, along with organizational management and development dissertations
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I've been through several courses with the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Professional Editors Network. In addition, my work in graduate school involved editing as a research assistant, where I helped with the publication of a major textbook in my field, transitioning it from APA 5 to 6, and then as a professor teaching research methods and academic writing both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. I was also a peer reviewer for many years.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
That's hard to narrow down to just one thing! I love supporting writers, no matter where they are on their academic journeys. I love the content of their work, their brilliant insights, and the impact their ideas have on the world at large. Nothing brings me greater joy than to hear about my clients' success. My work is deeply meaningful, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to do it each day.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Hearing about the lack of professionalism and support some writers are facing in the industry at large. I'm often called upon to answer dissertation students' questions because advisors are not responding, or a young professor is struggling to understand a peer reviewer's criticisms because they were delivered in a critical spirit rather than one of critique, or a big publisher has rejected an author's book. I love what I do, and it's sad when people, because they're overloaded or too stressed, damage a writer's confidence and self-esteem.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
Cognitive load is high in this industry, so managing it is important. I do a few things to help improve time management and concentration. First—think of your work day in terms of blocks or sprints of time (my sprint is 120 minutes). Take the first five minutes of it to settle in, get the file open, scan through it, and note anything Word is catching on its own. The next 20 minutes should be focused on the work, followed by a 1-minute mindfulness break: I check in with my breath, drink some water, and note if anything in the content is having an emotional effect on me. It's easy to hold your breath while editing without realizing it!
Keep working in this way—20 minutes on, 1 minute off, until your sprint is over. When it's over, be sure to get up, stretch, move around, go outside if you can. My breaks are 10–15 mins, and I often do some light chores or anything else physical I can think of before diving into the next sprint. I do 4 sprints per day, sometimes 5 if I have extra administrative work to do.
|
|
This creeping fig is one of my favorite plants. It loves bright light and moist soil. Its leaves feel a bit crispy, almost paperlike. ️🌱 |
|
The latest from TPG on Instagram: |
|
Let's keep growing together! |
|
If this newsletter was forwarded to you or you found a link to it online, why not get The Leaflet delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe now for grammar tips, tricky word pairs, client strategies, and helpful online tools. |
|
7893 Old US Highway 52
Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
|
|
|
