A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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Earlier this week, I stopped by a makeup and skincare store to purchase an item. When I checked out, the cashier tucked these lip gloss samples into my bag.
“It’s a new line we’re carrying,” she said. “We’re giving people a chance to try it.” |
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I’ve tested a couple of the shades this week (the light pink is my favorite). I might never buy the full-size version of this lip gloss, but if the cashier hadn’t given me the samples, I probably would've never known about the brand.
This experience reminded me of something I’ve seen debated quite a bit among proofreaders and editors: offering free samples of work to prospective clients.
And just to clarify, I’m not talking about showing a portfolio or before-and-after screenshots. I mean actually proofreading or editing a portion of the work (a chapter, a few pages, etc.) before a client commits or pays.
So I want to hear from you: - Do you offer samples of your editing or proofreading work before a client pays you?
- If so, what boundaries do you set (up to a certain number of words or pages)?
- If you don't offer samples, why have you chosen not to?
- Have you ever regretted offering a sample of your work or been surprised by how well it worked out?
I’ll share a roundup of your replies next week here in The Leaflet. Whether you’ve been offering samples for years or you're still figuring out your approach, I’d love for your voice to be part of the conversation.
Please reply to this email and let me know. 🌟 |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently: - Why self-editing matters more than you think: Michelle explains why self-editing is a crucial (and often skipped) part of the writing process. She breaks it down into clear, manageable steps. This is also a great reminder to gently encourage our clients to self-edit before sending us their drafts; it saves time and helps us focus on the deeper editorial work. 🔎️
- How to link smarter, not harder, on LinkedIn: If you’ve been tempted to drop a link straight into your LinkedIn post, think again. Maja explains how that can tank your reach, and she walks through a smarter way to share links. It's definitely worth flipping through her helpful carousel and heeding her advice if you want your content to actually get seen. 🧐
- Create your own go-to proofreading or editing guide: Jeanette shares a clever way to save time (and brainpower) by creating a personalized quick reference guide for all the style and grammar details we tend to forget. Her customizable Canva template makes it easy to include the tricky things you look up most in your own proofreading or editing work. ️✨
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A proofreader almost needs a magnifying glass to catch errors like this. Here we have a mix of two bracket styles: curly bracket on the left and square bracket on the right. 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?
I copy edit and proofread informational content, particularly in the areas of climate, public health, and social impact.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I got into publishing via an internship and learned editing on the job in in-house roles. More recently, I completed copyediting training from Queen's University.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
The opportunities for collaboration. I love getting to work with nonprofit, public sector, and research teams who are doing really cool work.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Getting my taxes done on time! It always takes so much longer than I expect.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
My favourite white noise generator to help me focus: the Irish Coast. A customizable soundscape of real coastal noise! It's wonderful. Here's a link.
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I enjoy displaying plants in interesting containers. My Plumosa fern is thriving in this basket. I love the green and brown combination. 🪴 |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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