A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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Surprise! This past week, I woke up to an unexpected snowfall! It was just under an inch, but it was enough to cover my camellia bush in a light layer of snow. Snow is rare in our area, and I loved every minute of it before it melted away. ❄️ |
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Our unexpected snow made me think about the surprises that sometimes happen in our proofreading or editing work: tight deadlines, complex projects, or sudden client changes. But just like my camellias, we can thrive under pressure with a little planning and the right mindset.
Here are some ways to make it happen: - Start with a Plan: When surprises hit, pause and assess. Decide what’s urgent and what can wait. A to-do list or time blocking can help you stay focused.
- Communicate Clearly: If a client’s last-minute request changes your plans, let them know how you’re adjusting and what’s realistic. Clear communication builds trust and keeps expectations in check.
- Use Your Tools: Keep your go-to resources (style guides, apps, trusted websites) handy. Having the right tools at your fingertips makes challenges easier to manage.
- Take a Breather: Even a five-minute break can do wonders. Step away, stretch, or breathe deeply to reset your focus.
- Celebrate What You Did Well: After the dust settles (or the snow melts), reflect on what went well and what you learned. Recognizing your wins builds confidence for the next challenge.
Have you had your own "surprise snowfall" moment in your work recently? I'd love to hear how you handled it. Reply to this email to share your story. |
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Get-Together or Get Together: A Short Hyphen Lesson |
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My love of teaching started when I was a high school English teacher, and it’s stayed with me throughout my career. In 2025, I’m planning to share more short lessons on grammar and punctuation, like this one about “get-together” versus “get together.” This quick tip comes straight from my transcript proofreading work. Just click the image above (or click here) to watch the video. 🧠 |
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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): - Speak to one; connect with many: Rosanna has great advice for writing social media posts and marketing content: Write for a single, specific person. When we speak to one, we often end up resonating with many. 📣
- Focus like a pro: spotlight, starlight, sunlight: Nicholas shares a powerful 3-step approach to daily focus: “spotlight” for deep work, “starlight” for long-term goals, and “sunlight” for mental clarity. As proofreaders and editors, our work requires intentional focus. I think you'll enjoy this post. ☀️
- How a "mistake database" can help you and your clients: Michelle’s post on creating a personalized “mistake database” inspires me. I love her approach to tracking common proofreading patterns and client-specific preferences. It's a practical way to save time and provide tailored feedback to clients. ✨
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A “panoply” is a wide or impressive collection of something. It often refers to a full set of items. 💡 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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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Content and copy for content and copywriters. I’m the editor they've got in their corner while they're duking it out in the writing ring.🥊 I help content and copywriters get back to their highest revenue-generating activity >> the writing!
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
None! I started my business with just a course in how to run the backend, and I kickstarted it through simply taking on projects for ... yikes ... FREE. I shudder now thinking about how I gave so much away for free, but it got me both the *experience* and the *testimonials* to get my business going and to eventually bring in dream clients and partnerships.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
Just one? The genius (and absolutely lovely) writers I get to support. The incredible work I get to have my eyeballs on. Getting to support them to live their dream work-from-home lifestyles. And, probably most important, getting to live *my* dream lifestyle. Full-time mama, part-time editor. I get the best of both worlds and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Often we editors and small business owners experience that dreaded "feast or famine" cycle. It's something we all go through as we get started, and it's something I'm always trying to prevent in my business. Good news is it can absolutely be avoided! There are so many things we can be doing to keep a pipeline of clients coming in, through marketing, LinkedIn, content writing (and selling!), and so on. But being consistent is ... HARD.
Especially when you're busy supporting clients during the wee hours of the morning + naptime, and chasing around kiddos during all other hours. It doesn't leave a lot of time for marketing. Anyone have a few extra hours in the day they can spare for an editor who's short? 😜 24 just isn't enough these days.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
One word: Dubsado. If you don't already have a CRM, this one makes my life so much easier. I wish I'd known about it and started using it sooner! Notion is also pretty handy for keeping track of projects.
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My Thanksgiving cactus is coming along nicely. Several stems are in full bloom now. If you'd like to hear more about this cactus (and the fact that I mistakenly thought it was a Christmas cactus), you can read my LinkedIn post here. 🌵 |
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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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