Life
has a way of sneaking up on us, sneaking past us, snaking its way through the
years in ways both familiar and alien. Familiar because we can look back and
pinpoint times when the longings felt the same and yet time reformed their
meaning and circumstances rerouted the hoped-for conclusions. Alien because the
decades spent putting dreams aside almost obliterated and made foreign the
unrivaled joy to be found in doing that one thing one was born to do.
I have been fascinated by words since the age of three and, from the moment I learned to read, have been delighted by the written word. However, no halls of higher learning beckoned me to explore possibilities or hone skills in the writing or journalism arena. Once in a while over the years a submitted essay, article or poem of mine would be accepted for publication in the local paper or a quarterly literary magazine. Writing courses fulfilled a need to practice my often solitary craft with like-minded people.
Two years ago an acquaintance hired me to format and edit her book of prose. In vastly different ways, that endeavor was a delightful learning experience for both of us. During that time I also edited and assisted in research for a
historical novel, copy-edited a series of short stories and worked with a burgeoning writer as she crafted her memoir. A year later I agreed to help a writer-friend with her work of literary non-fiction. In this instance I did developmental, copy-editing and proofing of the work. I am now in the process of copy-editing a chapbook of poetry. The author has long dreamed of getting her work to press and together we are making it happen.
These six events have helped me refine my editing skills and enabled me to zero in on my area of expertise, which is copy editing. Of course, understanding and recognizing that I had the ability to be a good copy editor meant acknowledging the need to become much, much more proficient.
Portions of the learning curve will be steep yet I feel totally up to the task. I recently enrolled in an advanced editing class, have begun volunteering as assistant editor of VoiceCatcher, an online journal of women's voices.Through research and hands-on endeavors will continue finding ways to educate myself.
Long in the tooth and short on time, I'm as delighted and mentally energized as a ten-year-old. At the moment, it's my definition of “unrivaled joy.”
I am a writer and a wordsmith with a gift but I have kept my light under the proverbial bushel basket. Now I’m letting others know of my availability and ability. In fact, two days ago a woman who has written several short stories marveled at our serendipitous encounter as she has been searching for a copy editor. It appears as though her search has ended.
I have been fascinated by words since the age of three and, from the moment I learned to read, have been delighted by the written word. However, no halls of higher learning beckoned me to explore possibilities or hone skills in the writing or journalism arena. Once in a while over the years a submitted essay, article or poem of mine would be accepted for publication in the local paper or a quarterly literary magazine. Writing courses fulfilled a need to practice my often solitary craft with like-minded people.
Two years ago an acquaintance hired me to format and edit her book of prose. In vastly different ways, that endeavor was a delightful learning experience for both of us. During that time I also edited and assisted in research for a
historical novel, copy-edited a series of short stories and worked with a burgeoning writer as she crafted her memoir. A year later I agreed to help a writer-friend with her work of literary non-fiction. In this instance I did developmental, copy-editing and proofing of the work. I am now in the process of copy-editing a chapbook of poetry. The author has long dreamed of getting her work to press and together we are making it happen.
These six events have helped me refine my editing skills and enabled me to zero in on my area of expertise, which is copy editing. Of course, understanding and recognizing that I had the ability to be a good copy editor meant acknowledging the need to become much, much more proficient.
Portions of the learning curve will be steep yet I feel totally up to the task. I recently enrolled in an advanced editing class, have begun volunteering as assistant editor of VoiceCatcher, an online journal of women's voices.Through research and hands-on endeavors will continue finding ways to educate myself.
Long in the tooth and short on time, I'm as delighted and mentally energized as a ten-year-old. At the moment, it's my definition of “unrivaled joy.”
I am a writer and a wordsmith with a gift but I have kept my light under the proverbial bushel basket. Now I’m letting others know of my availability and ability. In fact, two days ago a woman who has written several short stories marveled at our serendipitous encounter as she has been searching for a copy editor. It appears as though her search has ended.
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