A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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Uh oh. Our beagle, Harley, has started “yipping” in the backyard again. Around here, that’s how we know spring is on the way. All winter long, he goes outside, does his business, and comes right back in like a perfectly sensible dog. Then, toward the end of winter, something shifts. The yipping returns. His nose goes down, and the hunt begins. A chipmunk has almost certainly made its way into our yard. 🐿️😄 |
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Yesterday morning, Harley went out for his normal potty routine and stayed outside for two hours. For an inside dog, that’s a long time to be completely absorbed in backyard detective work. When Harley is on the hunt, nothing pulls him away. Not me calling his name. Not an offer for a treat. Not even the neighbor dog barking at the fence, which normally sends Harley running over immediately. Good proofreading and editing require the same kind of attention. While we're working, email notifications can wait. Laundry can wait. Even that random thought about something we forgot to do can wait. We’re following the scent of meaning through a paragraph, tracking consistency across pages, and noticing what others walk right past. When we’re truly focused, the rest of the world fades into the background. That level of focus rarely happens by accident. We need to create conditions that help us stay on the trail: - Working in a space that signals reading time
- Turning notifications off or using Do Not Disturb
- Keeping a notepad nearby to capture distracting thoughts
- Taking intentional breaks so our attention stays sharp
- Giving ourselves permission to disappear into the work for a while
Harley may be tracking a chipmunk, but we’re hunting for errors and tracking clarity. The instinct is surprisingly similar. 🎧 Want to hear Harley on the hunt? If you’re curious what beagle detective work sounds like, click here to listen to a 15-second audio clip. 😊 |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently. Click the links below to read them. - Is grammar jargon confusing your clients? Kristi makes me realize how often I use grammar jargon in my comments to clients, like talking about dependent clauses or misplaced modifiers, without considering whether my clients understand it. She reminds me that clear writing comes from understanding sentence structure, not just identifying parts of speech. 🧠
- Should you keep marketing when you're already booked? Kat explores what to do when your marketing efforts pay off but your schedule is already full. It pushes me to think more intentionally about how I handle new opportunities when I don't actually have the capacity for them. 🤯
- Lessons from an editor’s early missteps: Ashley shares the early mistakes that shaped her editing career, from over-editing and undercharging to saying yes to everything. She explains how real growth comes from building confidence, boundaries, and solid business systems, not just sharpening your editorial skills. 🌱
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Leaving out the syllable “er” in the middle of this word changes the meaning entirely, doesn't it? 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?
News articles, feature articles, non-fiction
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Journalism and a Minor in English – Writing and Language from Virginia Tech. I also earned a Certificate in Media Writing Essentials from Yellowbrick.co/The New School.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
I am pleased when my editing/proofreading work leads to clear and concise text and makes it easier to read. I also enjoy finding and correcting mistakes in copy.
- What's the most challenging part of your work?
Not being picky about every little thing that is wrong in an article or other written material can be challenging.
- What tip(s) can you share with other proofreaders or editors?
I use a digital calendar to keep track of deadlines and progress on projects/assignments.
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This week’s plant photo comes from Leaflet subscriber Lara, who shared her beautiful “spoon agate.” Lara is originally from South Africa, and this plant has its origins there too, which makes this one feel especially meaningful. I love how she’s placed rocks from her travels on top of the soil, little reminders of places she’s been.
If you’d like to see one of your own plants featured in a future issue of The Leaflet, just email a photo of the plant to julie@theproofreadergreenhouse.com. 🪴
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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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