I'm editing. A lot. This is a
Being a freelance editor can mean the work waxes and wanes
The whole thing has become a little more complicated since the beginning of May, as I began a new day job . . . my first have-to-leave-the-house-on-time job in twenty years, when I left the traditional work force to have a whole bunch of crazy kids. I love the new job and the people I work with, and some of the work I'm doing will both benefit from and sharpen my editing skills, but it's certainly put a dent in my free hours. Add homeschooling the last two teens to the mix and you may be wondering if I have any grey cells left at all. I've wondered that myself.
So in light of the fact that I used up twenty-six good ideas in April, and have almost missed the mark completely for May, I'm going to apologize in advance and try to get Editor's Notes back to their regular regularity on Mondays, beginning in June. In the meantime, I'm still doing Coffee Chat with S.K. Anthony on Thursdays, and I can't imagine skipping that unless she decides to head off to Jamaica again. Join us there for my favorite day of the week with one of my favorite people in the world—no, not Juan Valdez.
S.K. Anthony. She's like the prize in the cereal box. You're never quite sure what you're going to get, but you can guarantee you'll have a good time figuring it out.
See you all on Thursday!
Posting specific days on your blog works really well until it doesn't. Since I started this blog thing I have changed my posting goals repeatedly. The A to Z forced me to prepare my posts ahead of time. I didn't realize it until - just right now - that I am still doing that with my blogs. When I have a topic and free time I will save it into my Drafts. When I want to post it is there. That works better for me than knowing on a specific morning I better have a topic and some time.
ReplyDeleteYou are VERY BUSY so I know you will forget a system that works within the confines of your life.
I always manage to get a good routine in gear, which is immediately wrecked by the very next thing I add to my life. My A to Z posts were, I think, my last moments of genuine preparedness. Maybe my last moments of coherent thought. I'm not entirely sure . . .
DeleteWhen paid work takes up time, that's a good thing. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! I have no complaints on that front. I'm all for paid busyness. It's been a very good thing.
DeleteI am glad to see both your blogs getting back on track. I was starting to have Coffee chat withdrawal and I get some pretty good info from editor's notes. Plus I know what you mean about busy. Full time job, grad school working on 2 novels, social media busy and sometimes crazy. Glad your back AND SK is not allowed to go back to Jamaica unless she takes us.
ReplyDeleteBut . . . but . . . but . . . o_0
DeleteFine! :P
What? There's an option for "sometimes" crazy? Why didn't anyone tell me this months ago?
DeleteI've put my other-other blog (my Wordpress one) on hold for now, since it's my personal reflections, and I've had no time to reflect. ;)
Yes, there is an option for sometimes. but only if you are doing the few things I am. For best reflections I usually get a high quality mirror. Only chance I get to reflect on anything. OK Fine SK. You can go with special dispensation from Lynda or I. But not the Pope, he doesn't count.
DeleteHey, if we don't get to go, neither does the Pope. I don't care how much his bling reflects stuff, he can't give her any special dispensation.
DeleteThat is what I said the Pope can't give dispensation he doesn't count. And he especially can't go with us to Jamaica.
DeleteIt would be hard to give up that free time. You'll find a way to balance it all again.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is that I always felt busy before, too. Now I have less time for the self-dictated busyness, but the new job (worship arts assistant at my church) and the editing are both things I love, so at least it doesn't feel like a hardship.
DeleteWiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah! I'm the prize in the cereal box, yeah! Ahem, so to be a legit editor you have to work on editing jobs. That's fine. But going back to work, after staying home for 20 years to make crazy kids, that's just pushing it too far, no?
ReplyDeleteI'm an envelope-pusher. Live free or die, that's my motto. You know how I am . . . livin' life on the edge.
DeleteBut you'd know all about that, you cereal box prize, you!
Oh no! Not a day job. Commute? Coffee breaks? Shoes? That requires a whole new mindset, Lynda.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't miss Thursday's with the SK. and you. I always need to laugh by Thursday.
I know, Lee! The shoes are the hardest part. Thankfully, the dress code is pretty casual. It's that whole "clean clothes" thing that's craziness.
DeleteI actually did worry about the dumb stuff like, "What if I get tired of waking up early every day?" since my natural clock tells me to sleep from 2 a.m. - 10 a.m., not from midnight to 6:30. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that other people are awake then, too. I'd thought it was a rumor.
Oh, I so feel you! I work a random schedule assigned by a computer, so I have a couple of day shifts, a couple of nights, and a couple of days off. Those mornings when I'm not knocked out of bed by the alarm clock are the days I have to write; that's also the time I have to do other things, and other things are calling in loud, demanding voices. I have somehow found the discipline to post to my author site on Sundays, except when that's a work day. Then I move it a day or two in either direction. I'm also a member of a site where I go to immerse myself in the steampunk esthetic (my chosen field), and I follow the same routine there, except it's on Fridays. As an author, sometimes nothing dramatic has happened during the last week, but I check in with folks even it's just a funny anecdote or some little point I've heard that is calculated to make you think. I was going to suggest that to you, just say a few words to let us know that you're still alive and kicking, and I still will, but!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why Robin's method never occurred to me, that of putting something together when the inspiration is upon you, and saving it to draft. Thanks for that, Robin. A simple idea, but those are the kind I usually have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to. That's the mark of a great blog, I guess; I can't stop by here without learning something...
Have a great day, and "Ah'll be back!"
Jack, your schedule sounds just as crazy as anyone's. I need to build in time to visit the blogs I like, and have missed more than I've hit in the past two weeks.
DeleteI do like Robin's suggestion. I've done it every so often, but can't seem to manage it on a regular basis. Why am I so uninspired? I'm going with my excuse that the best ideas always come to me when I'm driving and can't write them down. I need a minion to follow me around, writing down things I say that have the potential to be profound.
Hey, no need to apologize. Life happens, and I'd rather be busy with stuff I love and missing posts than blogging endlessly about how nothing happened this week. Plus, I just learned that writing and editing can help me get out of household chores, so I need to exploit this pronto.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I *could* post what I had for breakfast, or what the weather looks like, but then people would think they were on Facebook instead.
DeleteHere's my best hint for the exploitation of household-chore-getting-out-of-ness (trust me, it's a word; I'm an editor): when someone approaches you, type faster and crease your brow. Look up at them distractedly and say, "What?" in a "hurry up" kind of voice. This gives you the extra seconds to close your browser and open a Word doc.
I have something to edit, too. It makes me happy. I don't like having a day job. It cuts into my movie watching time. No one will hire me anyway, so that's why my followers get MOVIE WEEKEND every week.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Movie Weekend sounds terrific! For years, my kids have been telling me I'm unemployable, and have insisted my editing jobs are "probably fake people" or people who don't know how unemployable I really am. I'm pretty sure they're convinced I drive around the block and sit there for hours before coming home. For some reason, they seem to value my bread-baking and cookie-making skills more than the ones that actually pay (but which don't directly benefit their stomachs).
DeleteI really am unemployable. I'm a lost cause, a hopeless case. I love it. It means I stay at home with the dogs and edit. At least my kids know that I really do edit. I've given them book that say in tiny print, Edited By Janie Goltz.
DeleteHi, Lynda,
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are one busy woman! All the bed with your balancing act. I'm sure you'll be brilliant...
Really enjoying your coffee chats with SK... you two have great chemistry... see you then!
Thanks, Michael! It does help that I like both jobs and the skills they employ.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoy our Thursday chats. I really can't imagine how I ever managed without SK . . .
Hi Lynda,
ReplyDeleteWhat am I doing? I wonder why I didn't get an email notification for your post. Bad email notification! Are you impressed that I'm comment at way past two on a Wednesday morning? Did you know that your Farcebook comment made me come here and check you out? Have you noticed I've asked a lot of questions?
Good grief, don't you keep busy. Somebody once told me that busy is good. I thought I should be busy sleeping. Your adoring friend, SK is a vital part of your interaction. This is awesome to know. Happy balancing, Lynda.
Goodnight. Time zones! LOL
Gary :)
So by reading this comment, I'm living life five hours into my future! How cool is that? And yes, indeed, I *am* impressed. I've noticed your questions and think they're spectacular.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think I'm crazy to be this busy. But I'm sure it will all balance sooner or later (school, at least, will be done by mid-June and then I'll only have one more child in high school for the next four years of homeschooling). I'm hoping to catch my breath sometime in July, perhaps while watching fireworks on Independence Day. Until then, I'm counting on SK to keep that coffee brewing!
Thanks for the visit! Now hit the sack, man. You need your rest.
I'm glad you are pleasantly busy, Lynda, but it'll be good to see your editing posts again.
ReplyDeleteRoutine always feels good when I can get back to it. Life will settle out soon, I'm sure.
DeleteYou do sound busy, and I love that you homeschool your last two teens! I admire anyone who homeschools -- takes such patience and devotion! Glad to see you're busy, busy as a freelance editor -- maybe I need to get your fee schedule...
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with everything! :)
This marks the end of our 16th year of homeschooling, so the final four years will be as much a celebration for me as it will be for my youngest. When she graduates, all the banners will say, "CONGRATULATIONS, LYNDA!" instead of, "CONGRATULATIONS, ELLIE!" I may even insist that people give me the gifts, too.
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