A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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This week, two of my proofreading clients emailed with questions. One was curious about why I suggested removing a hyphen in a phrase like âfreshly picked blueberries.â The other needed me to resend a file she couldnât find in her email. (Good thing her files are always available in her client portal. đ) Letâs be honest: When a client emails you unexpectedly, it can cause either excitement (Yay! A new project!) or dread (Oh no! Did I mess up?). But questions donât always mean troubleâtheyâre often just that: questions. |
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When a client asks why you made a change, itâs usually because they want to understand the grammar or punctuation rule behind it. This is a great opportunity to teach them something new. The more they know, the cleaner their content will be next time. That's a win for both of you. đ How do you handle client questions? Do you have any go-to strategies for responding thoughtfully? I'd love to hear your approach. Reply and share your tips! |
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Holiday Heads-Up: Keep Clients in the Loop |
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Planning some time off for the holidays? Here's your friendly reminder to let your clients know. I like to add a note in my Airtable form that shows up in each client's portalâeasy and effective. |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn this week (shared with permission): - Do you offer clients a sample edit? A sample edit can be a great way to showcase your style, provide valuable feedback, and help both you and the author decide if youâre the right fit. Some editors charge for samples, while others donâtâboth approaches can work. Curious about sample edits? Adina explains in her post. âď¸
- Sometimes work can wait: As proofreaders and editors, we juggle deadlines, but it's okay to pause for what truly mattersâwhether it's supporting loved ones or taking time for ourselves. Clients often understand, and the balance is worth it. Amanda's story in this post is lovely. â¤ď¸
- The value of a fresh set of eyes on content: I loved Eliza's point that âFamiliarity with the content breeds blind spots.â A proofreader brings a fresh perspective, spotting small errors that can be easily missed by someone deeply immersed in the editing process. â¨
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The flu is what sends you to bed with tissues and soup. A flue is what sends smoke out of the chimney. Both can leave you feeling hot, but only one involves a thermometer! đ 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. |
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This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor: |
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Jaime from Sperling Editing |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Nonfiction, mostly short-form: general science, marketing and communications for nonprofit and corporate clients, educational materials, academic papers, and more
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
Not really. I learned on the job. I "backed into" editing by becoming one of the de facto editors at one job, which led me to an editorial role in communications at the same organization. I keep my skills up to date with webinars, workshops, specific training courses, conferences, and various editor groups on social media.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
As a freelancer, I have a lot of variety in the materials I work on. It keeps me from getting bored.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
The struggle to get people/potential clients to understand the value that copyediting and proofreading add to their work (and to pay accordingly)
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
This Word tip changed my life: In an open document, go to View > New Window. It opens the same document in another window. You can have Track Changes showing in one and hidden in the other, or you can copy and paste from different sections of the document without having to jump back and forth in the same window. (It also works in Adobe Reader.)
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If you think you have a âblack thumbâ with plants, I'd encourage you to start with an air plant. They're so easy to care for!
I mist mine a few times a week. No soil, no watering, no fuss! 𪴠|
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Let's keep growing together! |
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7893 Old US Highway 52
Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
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