Some of you have asked why I haven't been blogging more often. Wait. No. Maybe that was just my husband. Okay, maybe you've been wondering but were too shy to ask. Here's what happened.
I fell down the rabbit hole. I volunteered to help out with a local expat magazine, and now I'm running it. What the hell? How did that happen?
I really just wanted to copy edit. There are three kinds of dashes, and all of them were being abused. That's how it started, and along the way I've learned the hard way about some of the pitfalls of working with others' words. Too bad I didn't find the
Subversive Copy Editor sooner.
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| I had this great little story from Basel Fasnacht to post .... |
In the last few of months, I've merged our three house style guides into one and am now working on its umpteenth revision. I've written an editorial calendar. I've launched a reader survey and worked with a rather brilliant marketing director to build a new ad sales kit. I've spent the first week of every month in an intense copy editing grind to meet deadline. I've been cheerleader-in-chief for a rethink of our layouts and print design, something that will hopefully result in a new look for early fall. I've recruited endlessly: copy editors, sales people, writers. And I've gone back to school (online) to refresh my decade-old editing certificate and to get at least a basic InDesign competence.
Am I crazy?
Clearly.
Has it been worth it?
Sometimes. I do like a challenge.
Am I good copy editor?
Not yet.
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| I'm still going to blog about La Patatina. |
I've got a month off from the magazine (can you talk about time off if you're a volunteer?), and I want to get my balance back. I want to blog. I want to answer personal emails in less than three weeks. I want to get paid to copy edit. That last one is tough nut to crack here, but if there's method in my madness (see above), then that's the goal I'm working (for free) for.
Story by Kathy
Photos by tlyonbrew
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