I am up to my ears in reading other people's writing.
It's a good thing... a really good thing, especially considering every bit of it represents extra income. But there's a LOT of it these days.
I am into my third semester of editing papers for graduate students before they turn in those final projects...
...and I have just expanded that role as a professor's assistant, reading and editing grad students' papers for the errors they missed in their proofreading...
...AND I have been hired to edit an honest-to-goodness book that is about to be published. The author got my name through the editing grapevine, he approached me about polishing his book on his behalf, and we hit the ground running. It's due to the publisher by the end of the month, so we have our work cut out for us. Or rather, I do. He has finished his part.
Just when I thought I had envisioned all the titles that would go with my name, I have a new one: Professional Editor.
In an effort to wade through the masses of double-spaced essays, I packed the boys up for a play day with my sister-in-law (to whom I am graciously indebted for giving me the morning "off"), and I settled in at Caribou Coffee.
It was glorious.
I just might be a Caribou convert, after many years of loyalty to Starbucks. (Okay, not diehard loyalty... since I hate coffee. But I do love a good mocha with a splash of raspberry. Anything to give me the sophistication without the bad taste.)
After nearly two hours of reading, highlighting, and finding errors of varying degrees of minutia, I truly felt like a new woman.
I love this job.
ps - If you have any editing needs... I'm your girl.
2 comments:
First of all, I LOVE it that you posted this after midnight because I'll be posting a graduate school paper later than that tonight! :) Now on the subject of grad school and editing. The problem with having you expertly edit my paper is that it is never finished until literally the moment before it is due. I'm not a procrastinator...I'm just deadline motivated! aaaaarrrrgh!
I have to say, I'm having a hard time not being jealous. I always loved proofreading papers! Puts the writer, the grammar lover, and the English major in me into full bloom. How I love to look for those extra spaces and extraneous commas!
Post a Comment