A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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My aloe plant has started leaning. š Ā My son gave me this plant in December of 2022, and we affectionately named it Spike. Over the past three years, it has more than tripled in height. Somewhere along the way, it stopped standing up straight. |
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I repotted it, thinking a slightly larger pot would fix the problem. It didnāt. This type of aloe grows upward faster than its roots can anchor it. The plant is healthy. Itās justā¦ tall. Ā So I added support: two wooden chopsticks and a piece of jute twine. Itās not exactly elegant, but it does the job. |
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It reminded me how growth changes what we need. Ā Many proofreaders and editors spend years building strong skills and steady work. Then the work shifts. You may be managing more clients, setting clearer turnaround expectations, adjusting your rates, or building systems to keep projects from piling up. Ā The leaning doesnāt mean something is wrong; it simply means youāve grown taller than your original support system. Ā Even established plants need help staying upright. Sometimes support looks simple: a conversation with a colleague, a shared resource, or a community where you can ask a question and hear, āIāve dealt with that too.ā Ā Growth and support belong together.Ā Ā That idea has been on my mind as I prepare to move The Trellis community to a new platform, which Iāll be launching in the coming weeks. My desire is to create an even stronger place for proofreaders and editors to connect, share ideas, and support each other as their work grows. Ā Stay tuned. š± |
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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. - How to recover from a big mistake at work: After making an extremely embarrassing work error of my own this past week, I needed this advice from Jenny. She explains exactly what to do after a cringe-worthy work mistake and reminds us that owning it briefly and moving on is usually all it takes. š
Ā - The truth about the āfreeā in freelance: Corinne explains what the āfreeā in freelance really means to her. She also acknowledges that if you're not actually experiencing that freedom, it's completely valid to consider a traditional job instead. Food for thought. š¤
Ā - Fresh eyes matter, even for editors: Julie explains why editing your own work is so difficult, from word blindness to wondering whether your message comes across the way you intended. Itās a great reminder that even proofreaders and editors benefit from fresh eyes and thoughtful feedback. š
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Iām pretty sure I've shared a disperse/disburse error in The Leaflet before, but it appeared again in my proofreading this week. Ā Hereās an easy way to remember the difference: - Disburse means to pay out money. Think of money in a purse, which rhymes with āburse.ā
- Disperse means to spread or scatter.
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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Jackie from Penrose Press, LLC |
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Ā The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?Ā
KidLit (any genre): Board books, picture books, early readers, graphic novels, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels
Adult Lit: nonfiction adult novels
Any Audience: Poetry
Ā - Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
In-house trade experience
Ā - What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
I love helping writers polish their work to true market standards while still honoring their unique voice. My goal is always for authors to feel proud of the final piece and confident that it still sounds likeĀ them, just clearer, stronger, and more intentional.
Ā - What's the most challenging part of your work?
Time ā there are never enough hours in the day to give every project the attention it deserves, especially when you care deeply about doing the work well.
Ā - What tip(s) can you share with other proofreaders or editors?
Start with the core of the story before diving into fine-detail edits. Applying story theory early and addressing structural issues first saves time and prevents unnecessary reworking later. Be strategic for your author. Youāre not there to co-create or rewrite the story; youāre there to help bring the authorās strongest vision to life.
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I donāt know much about plant bulbs, but Iām fairly certain the front plant is a hyacinth and the one behind it is a daffodil. I spotted these at a local plant shop this week, and theyāre a nice reminder that spring is getting closer. š· |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
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