A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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This week was one of the busiest proofreading weeks I've had in quite a while. At one point, I had 22 transcripts in my proofreading queue. 😯 |
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In the middle of the week, a client emailed to ask whether I could proofread a 300-page transcript. Under normal circumstances, I would've been excited to take it on. But when I looked at my time-blocked schedule, the reality was pretty clear: There simply wasn't enough time available for me to do the job well. I told her I could start the following Monday. She replied that she'd send the file to her other proofreader instead. My first thought was, "Ouch. There goes that income." |
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Here's what my Airtable spreadsheet looked like last week. |
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I was also surprised to learn she had another proofreader. For some reason, I'd always assumed I was her only one. Looking back, I can see that wasn't a realistic assumption. Having a backup plan is just good business. That evening, I told my husband what happened. His first question was the same one I was asking myself: "Is there any way you could fit it in?" A 300-page transcript would've been a nice payout, so I was tempted to find a way. But every time I looked at my schedule, I came to the same conclusion: I just didn't have time. By the end of the week, I knew I'd made the right decision. I finished all 22 transcripts on time, but I still ended up proofreading in the evenings a few times to finish everything. That's something I try not to do whenever possible. I was still disappointed to lose the job, but the week confirmed what my schedule had been telling me all along: I simply didn't have room for it. |
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Years ago, I thought having plenty of work would make these kinds of decisions easier. In some ways it does, but every stage of business comes with its own challenges. When work is slow, the challenge is finding it. When work is plentiful, the challenge is deciding what you realistically have time to do. Here are a few takeaways if you're in a busy season: - Know your capacity before you're asked to make a decision. It's much easier to respond to opportunities when you already have a realistic picture of your available time.
- Don't confuse capacity with desire. You can genuinely want a project and still not have room for it.
- A good system won't eliminate hard choices. Sometimes the right decision still feels disappointing.
- Trust the information your systems give you. Sometimes the answer isn't the one you're hoping for, but it's still the right one.
Have you ever turned down an opportunity you really wanted because you knew you didn't have the time or capacity for it? I'd love to hear about it. 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. Click the links below to read them. - The cost of accepting the wrong opportunity: I like Shulin’s reminder that interviews are a two-way street. Her advice is aimed at job seekers evaluating potential employers, but I think freelancers can learn a lot from it too. When deciding whether a client or project is the right fit, ask questions, pay attention to red flags, and trust your instincts. ✨
- A refreshing list of professional non-negotiables: Adina shares four things she refuses to compromise on as an editor, from giving honest feedback to staying true to her values. 💎
- More contemplation, less noise: I’ve been a fan of Laura’s LinkedIn posts for a while, so I was excited to discover her new monthly publication, The Margins. If you enjoy thoughtful reflections on books, editing, creativity, and the reading life, I think you’ll appreciate the approach she’s bringing to this publication. 📖
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foregoing: mentioned earlier; coming before in the text or discussion forgoing: choosing to do without something; giving it up
Think of a golfer yelling “Fore!” before the ball arrives. Foregoing refers to something that came earlier.
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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Maria from The Editor’s Margin |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Fiction, fantasy, thematic non-fiction, memoir, Christian literature
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
Editing internship, assistant editor, proofreading and editing courses from Knowadays, various courses offered by the EFA, and many books.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
Meeting authors and being a part of their creative vision. I love the collaboration and helping bring something true, good, and beautiful into the hands of others. I love that I get to work with words (that has always been my dream), but the people are the best part!
- What's the most challenging part of your work?
Not reading just for the story
- What tip(s) can you share with other proofreaders or editors?
Always follow up!
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I love the variegation on this Monstera deliciosa I spotted at a local greenhouse recently. Every leaf was a little different, which is part of what makes variegated plants so fun to admire. 🌱 |
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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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