A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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This week, I’ve found myself paying more attention than usual to the maple tree just outside my front door. I've been watching a squirrel hang upside down from the branches, grabbing mouthfuls of those little winged seeds. Dozens are scattered on the driveway, but thousands are still hanging on the tree. |
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At one point, my husband said, “With that many seeds, you'd think we’d have maple trees popping up everywhere.”
But we don’t. A few might sprout, but most won’t.
It made me think about marketing. As proofreaders and editors, we put things out there—posts, messages, little bits of connection—and most of them won’t turn into work right away. But that’s okay. Not every seed has to grow. We just have to keep planting.
Here are a few seeds you might scatter this week: - A thoughtful comment on someone else’s LinkedIn post
- A quick check-in email to a former client
- A behind-the-scenes photo of your workday shared on Instagram
- A blog post or newsletter that helps others understand what you do
- A testimonial request from a happy client
- A compliment or shoutout to a fellow freelancer
- A fresh update to your website or service page
- A new connection request to someone in your target industry
- A tip or resource shared in a community group
You don’t have to do all of them. Just pick one or two and see where they land. Some might surprise you.
What small action could you take this week to keep your business growing? 🌱 |
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Samples or No Samples? Here’s What You Said |
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Last week, I asked proofreaders and editors to share how they handle sample edits for prospective clients. Some of you replied to The Leaflet email, and I also heard from many thoughtful voices over on LinkedIn.
Here are the questions I asked: - 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 compiled the responses into a pie chart. It was interesting to see the range of approaches and the patterns that emerged. 👇🏻👇🏻 |
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A. Offers a Free Sample
More than half of respondents provide a free sample—usually limited to 250–1,000 words. It’s a way for both editor and client to assess fit and scope before committing.
B. Reviews Without Editing
This group doesn’t edit for free but may review part of the manuscript to determine its readiness, provide a quote, or recommend a service level.
C. Declines to Offer Free Samples
These editors don’t offer samples because they see editing as professional work that should always be paid—just like you wouldn’t expect a free haircut from a stylist or a free tune-up from a mechanic.
D. Charges for a Sample
A few charge for sample edits. In some cases, the fee is applied toward the full project if the client moves forward.
E. Offers Samples in Certain SituationsThese editors offered free samples in the past or still do, but only under specific circumstances. Their policy depends on the project, client, or schedule. Were you surprised by these results? Which letter matches your approach? If you haven't chimed in yet, please let me know by replying to this email or adding a comment on my LinkedIn post. 🌟 |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently: |
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These two words sound the same, but they are not interchangeable.
Phase is a noun or a verb related to stages or periods of time.
For example: We're phasing out that overpriced software. Faze is a verb that means to disturb, fluster, or throw someone off. For example: He wasn’t fazed by his client's last-minute project request. 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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Hazel of Wordstitch Editorial |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
I have a couple of main specialisms. The first is large, complex projects. These are on a whole range of topics, but mostly art history and academic humanities. The one I'm working on now is about 750,000 words, but several of the projects I've edited and managed have extended into the millions of words and had hundreds or thousands of contributors.
My second main specialism is books, reports and policy papers in the business/nonprofit space. I work with a wide variety of clients on these publications, from publishers to university research institutes to global organizations.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I started out with the tutored course Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning from the Publishing Training Centre (PTC). Since then I've completed a variety of shorter proofreading, copyediting and editorial project management courses with the PTC and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. A few years back I also became certified as a PRINCE2® Practitioner.
Although I've been a full-time freelance editor for more than 16 years, I still try to ensure I always have some sort of professional development on the go, even if it's “only” attending webinars or reading books. The more experienced we are, the more vigilant we need to be against complacency, bad habits and skills going stale – but, at the same time, the more the scope we have for developing our deep, specialist knowledge.
In the past year I've released two training courses – Perfect Handovers for Editorial Projects and Handling Large Editorial Projects. I've aimed to reflect that philosophy in my courses, offering experienced editors something a bit different to expand their editing horizons.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
It's hard to pick one thing! Looking inwards at my business, it would be the freedom I have to go in whatever direction I want. I can have an idea in the morning and implement it in the afternoon. Looking outward towards my clients, it would be the energizing intellectual zing that comes from a great partnership, where you can see the text getting better and better as it bounces back and forth between you.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Scheduling. Some of my clients aren't in a position to commit to firm schedules until close to the start date. This can get tricky when I'm trying to schedule multiple large pieces of work for six months down the line but nobody knows exactly when they'll need me. I regularly review my schedules and check in with clients to try to mitigate this.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
Every month I publish The Edit Better Letter, which pulls together my blog posts from the past month and shares tips and insights from my client work and business management.
If I were to offer one tip based on my experience, it's that longevity as a freelancer comes from knowing yourself. Our personality traits (both positive and negative) will directly affect our success. Being a successful freelancer means doing the mental work needed to recognize when we're getting in our own way – and working out how to change that.
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My Painted Lady philodendron has been busy! Several new leaves have unfurled in the past week, and I just spotted another one on the way. Can you see it all curled up? 🪴 |
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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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