A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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While watering my Philodendron Congo Nuclear this week, I noticed something interesting about a few of the leaves. One side is solid lime green. The other side is variegated, full of color and pattern. I really need to research and find out why this happens. It's fascinating. |
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It reminds me of the way many proofreaders and editors are often tending two sides of life at once. There’s the work side: deadlines, client emails, style sheets, invoices, marketing, and all the small decisions that come with running a business. Then there’s the life side that's often very patterned. Maybe school is out now and your children are home. Maybe you’re helping an aging parent get to appointments. Maybe you have health concerns, volunteer work, home projects, or a calendar full of obligations that don’t look like much until they stack up. Your clients may not see those details, but you feel them. |
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Here's another two-sided leaf from one of my plants, a Marble Queen pothos. |
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Often, what’s exhausting isn’t one specific task. It’s the constant decisions you have to make: - Can I do some focused work right now?
- Should I answer this email now or later?
- Can I fit this project around that appointment?
- Will saying yes to this client mean saying no to something I actually need?
That’s where boundaries like one of these may help: - “I’m available for client work Monday through Thursday because I'm keeping Fridays free for family logistics.”
- “I’m checking email only once per day this month.”
- “I’m adding extra buffer to deadlines.”
- “I’m not taking rush projects right now.”
You don’t need to explain every personal detail to clients. The point is to stop pretending those responsibilities don’t affect your workday. They do, so they need a place in your schedule. A clear boundary gives your brain fewer decisions to make. When you know your client days, email window, rush-job policy, or deadline buffer, you don’t have to renegotiate those choices every day. That clarity protects your clients too. It helps you offer realistic timelines, cleaner communication, and better attention when you’re at your desk. |
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This week, take a few minutes to compare your client calendar with the responsibilities already filling your week. Choose one boundary that would make your schedule easier. Sometimes you just need a clearer line between the work side and the life side so both sides can get the attention they need. |
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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 mistake everyone missed: I love Lisa’s story because it shows exactly why professional proofreading is so much more than “just checking for typos.” The most obvious-looking errors can slip through when we’re too close to the work. 👀
- Clear clutter, create calm: Gretchen is celebrating the seventh anniversary of her book Outer Order, Inner Calm. In this post, she shares her book's manifesto. Number 10 on the list is my favorite. 💡
- The customer service move that builds loyalty: Abbey’s story shows how great customer service can turn a frustrating moment into a brand-building one. Personal touches can make our clients feel remembered and genuinely cared for. 🤗
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stent: a tiny tube placed inside a vessel or passageway to help keep it open stint: a limited stretch of time spent doing a job, task, or role 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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McKenzie Lynn Tozan from Lit Shark Magazine (and Freelance) |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
I’m open to editing and proofreading most genres, but I have a special place in my heart for poetry, memoir, and many types of fiction.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I received a B.S. in Secondary English Education and a B.A. in English, with a focus in Professional Writing and Publishing, which is where my journey began. Then I went on to receive my MFA in Creative Writing. I have over 10 years of field experience and on-site training in proofreading, editing, curation, and publishing at small presses, literary magazines, and educational resource centers, and more than six additional years of freelance experience.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
I believe that everyone has at least one important story to tell, so I feel honored when I can be a part of a writer's journey to getting their work out there. I love being able to put that final "polish" on a story before it goes out into the world, and I love watching how a story transforms. Much of that happens during the editing process.
- What's the most challenging part of your work?
Honestly, I sometimes struggle to stay in my lane, but I think that's a strength! In the past 16 years, I've filled nearly every editing position out there, and I've worked hard to perform well in each of those roles. So sometimes when I'm doing an editing project, I might note something that I loved as if I were a beta reader, or I might note something that the writer needs to address, even if it's outside of what I should be looking for as an editor, just to make sure it isn't missed. These additional comments have been appreciated by my past clients, as the point might have been missed, or it may have affirmed something someone else said along the way.
- What tip(s) can you share with other proofreaders or editors?
Read for joy, but also factor in time to read like an editor. It's important to look at what's current on the market, the topics, the story flow, and of course, the editing. Think about how you might have edited the piece differently, and what you feel may have been missed by the publishing team. We're all human, so sometimes, there are genuine mistakes in a top-five publication (one of my favorite Stephen King books has a GLARING typo in it!), but sometimes, they represent differences of opinion/style. It's important to distinguish whether you believe these are errors or differences, and if they are differences, why you'd stand by your choice.
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I spotted these cheerful daisies in a local garden this week, and they're the perfect way to end this issue of The Leaflet. I hope they brighten your day. 🌼 |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
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