A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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Earlier this week, I walked into my living room and noticed something alarming.
There it wasâa single fiddle-leaf fig leaf on the floor. đ˛ If youâve ever owned one of these trees, you know they can be temperamental. Is this the start of a bigger problem? Will more leaves fall?
When I looked closer, I realized this leaf had been yellowing for a while. The rest of the tree looked strong and healthy. Whew! |
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Unfortunately, we sometimes experience the same uncertainty in our proofreading or editing business. A client moves on, a service we once offered no longer fits, or we let go of a project that used to be important. Does this mean our business is struggling?
Sometimes, a loss isnât a crisisâitâs just natural shedding. The challenge is learning to tell the difference.
Signs of Healthy Shedding: đ You drop a client or service to focus on better opportunities. (Like replacing low-paying work with higher-quality clients)
đ You stop offering a service because it no longer fits your skills or goals. (Maybe you tried copyediting but prefer proofreading.)
Signs of Deeper Trouble: â ď¸ A regular client disappears, leaving a gap in your workloadâor burnout forces you to turn down work you normally would take.
â ď¸ Cash flow is unpredictableâclients pay late, work is inconsistent, or youâre taking on too much just to stay afloat. The best thing to do when a leaf falls is assess the rest of the plant. If everything else looks strong, itâs likely part of a natural cycle. If there are other signs of struggle, it may be time to dig deeper. Whatâs one thing in your business that might need pruning (or closer attention)? Reply and let me know. You might also enjoy this post I wrote about this topic: Letting Go of Yellow Leaves: Life Lessons from My Houseplants |
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Got a question youâve been meaning to ask me? Now's your chance! - Want to know more about transcript proofreading?
- Wondering why I like time blocking so much?
- Have questions about my favorite (or most finicky) plant?
- Curious what my beagle, Harley, has been up to?
Whether itâs about proofreading, running a business, or something completely random, just reply to this email and ask away! Iâd love to hear from you. đ |
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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): - CMOS 18 vs. 17: hyphenation table updates: Timothy compares the hyphenation table in the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style with the one in the previous edition, noting that the changes are pretty minor. This breakdown is a fun read for style guide fans! đĄ
- Help your business stand out: avoid these roadblocks: Michelle breaks down two obstacles that keep us stuck: comparison and obscurity. Her solution? Get clear on your positioning and own what makes you different. Read this post if youâre ready to stand out instead of just showing up. đ
- Productivity without burnout: Jacquelyn proves that staying productive isnât about hustling harder; itâs about having the right structure. She shares her daily routine that balances client work, business growth, and family time, all while staying flexible. If youâre looking for a better way to manage your time (without burning out), you'll enjoy this post. â°
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Per se is a Latin phrase that means by itself or in itself. Itâs used to say that something is true on its own, without needing extra explanation or context. 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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Allison from Fox Street Editing |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Most of my work these days is copyediting social-science and popular-science trade books for a big university press.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
Iâd be happy to be a perpetual student, so more education is always a good time for me! After stepping back a bit from editing when my boy was young, I thought Iâd jump back into it (and boost my confidence) by completing Mount Royal Universityâs professional editing certificate. I had a great experience, and the courses were just what I needed to sharpen my skills and feel ready again.
Years before that certificate, though, I did a journalism post-grad diploma and then a professional translation certificate (French to English)âtwo fields, like editing, where language, style, and accuracy are central.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
Right now I love the variety of subjects I get to work onâfrom dengue fever around the world to the metaphor of fatherhood in politics. I also love the experiences Iâve had with the authors, who are really open and appreciative of my work. Theyâre also hardworking experts in their fields, which is heartening to be around.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Apart from endnotes? đ In general, though, I think time is my biggest frustration. With some projects, Iâm happy to get them done and out the door, but with others that have needed a heavier edit (or are just more interesting), I wish I could give them another pass for extra polish. But deadlines donât often allow me to get this persnickety.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
Iâve got a couple of tips that could apply to life in general too. The first might be good for newer editors: Remember there are many different paths to editing, and theyâre all valuable and worthwhile. I started editing as a teenager and never totally left the field, but other people have taken completely different routes to wind up here. Because editing often requires a broad knowledge base, each one of these paths can be a great background to being an editor.
Related to this idea is the second tip: Keep learning. I regularly take webinars from Editors Canada and other groups, and they always give me new ideas to ponder or put to use. The sense of community from them is a great feeling too.
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Can you spot the tiny new leaf growing beside the larger one on my mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma)? New growth makes me happy.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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