Hey Cass, Steph, anybody else working in an edit-y field?

I'm really wanting to try to transition more in this direction career-wise. Any advice for someone with a degree in Liberal Arts (and zero urge to acquire one in English) looking to aim in a more edit-y/proof-y direction? (ie software I need to learn beyond being excellent in Word already, resources, etc.)?

Thanks in advance for any and all advising. Profile addy's good if anyone feels long-winded.

(Really hope I don't look like I'm trying to bogart the attention, I've just been meaning to ask for an age, but never remember when I'm online).

now the time for my bitch about life.

Tomorrow I will be going to the doctor and will be put on high blood pressure medicine.

3 daily meds for allergies/asthma

1 2x a day for allergies/ asthma

1 for b/c

1 for cholesteral ( working - yay HDL is very high)

1 2x a day for diabetes (a new one - that isn't working any better)

I am so very pissed off. 4 years ago I started really takeing care of myself. More exersize, , better eating habits, and goodbye to 20 lbs.

I feel betrayed by my body. I feel betrayed by me. and a little scared.

I feel betrayed by my body.

Beth, that sucks. If it's any comfort, I take two diabetes meds a day, too. Still, exercising and eating better *is* paying off, if it doesn't seem like it right now.

Any advice for someone with a degree in Liberal Arts (and zero urge to acquire one in English) looking to aim in a more edit-y/proof-y direction?

This may depend on what kind of experience you have now, in terms of transitioning. I worked in editing, but in book editing. Are you wanting to go that route, or more in-house technical editing, that kind of thing?

That's a lot of meds, beth. But surely you are better off for taking better care of yourself than you would be if you weren't, right?

More exersize, , better eating habits, and goodbye to 20 lbs.

This is all great! You're taking positive steps. Just keep up the good work and try not to beat yourself up.

Are you wanting to go that route, or more in-house technical editing, that kind of thing?

Ideally, wave-your-magic-wand-time, I'd be interested in books. (No seriously, I'm getting paid to read!!! ). But I'm open to anything. Part of my job is in document control in sort-of High-Tech (and the last job, too), and I find that's what I most enjoy (esp. in the new job) - getting somebody else's document, finding the errors, making suggestions, helping to polish, etc. I proof everywhere I go (the menu at Leucadia Pizzeria consistently misspells "Caesar"), and I'd like to help fix stuff before it goes to print and looks bad. I proof/edit a friend's newsletter (strictly voluntary, only every couple months), and I so much more enjoy receiving it knowing it won't be error-filled and typo-ridden, y'know?

And thank you for the questions, too. I'm so un-knowledgeable, that even helping me to focus is helping.

P.S. Irony of ironies - if you google me, I don't come up, but there's a MyFirstName MyLastName (and it's not a common name) working as a children's book editor in NYC. I wonder if she looks like me...ogodI'mjustaclonewaitingforwhensheneedsspareparts!!!

I had my 10 minute cry in the shower.

Which is the shortest one in three weeks. So I am getting used to the idea. sort of.

When i first was diagnosised with diabetes ( 3 yrs ago) - I was ok with it. Not thrilled - but I had been working on doing better things for me and it was good.( 4 yrs ago) and not hard.

If it wasn't for the asthma, I'd proabably be ok with everything. Even paitent with the new diabetes drug.

and to go back to the old conversation. My parents will be here this weekend ( yay). But I am unlikely to mention it to anybody that i am takeing a new drug. Not that they will say anything, but because I need to adjust before I can hear any comments with out shoveing a judgement factor in the comments.

~ma, Stephanie!

Which is the shortest one in three weeks. So I am getting used to the idea. sort of.

{{{beth}}}

Ideally, wave-your-magic-wand-time, I'd be interested in books.

Only drawback here is that *most* book publishing jobs are in NYC. Some in LA, some in Boston, a few in other cities (such as the one I mean to mention to P-C below), but most are in New York. And I don't know where you are.

Sadly, I don't think I have any other wisdom to offer -- I've never done any other kind of editing, so Teppy can probably help you more.

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P-C, I haven't followed the job search closely, due to meatspace distractions, but have you considered not just medical writing, but medical *publishing*? There are lots of medical magazines out there, as well as publishers such as Rodale, which is in Pennsylvania, that feature a huge number of medical/health-related books. I've seen lots of ads for editors that require medical or scientific background for those kinds of jobs. Just a thought.

Only drawback here is that *most* book publishing jobs are in NYC. Some in LA, some in Boston, a few in other cities (such as the one I mean to mention to P-C below), but most are in New York. And I don't know where you are.

I'm in San Diego, but discovering that I'm not as married to it as I once thought I was. I spoke briefly to an editor from Bantam at the ComicCon, but she was far from helpful, like seriously, zero info, (but hey, not there to recruit new copyeditors or whatever, can't blame her). Like I said, even your questions are helpful. Thanks.

Epic, I started getting all long-winded. Shockingly. So I deleted and summed up:

Being a book editor is unlikely here. There are no jobs in town. Harcourt was the only publishing house, with only one division left here.

*But* there are tons and tons of other interesting things you can branch into with what you are describing. Corporate communications for a smaller company springs to mind. Something with frequent newsletters.

I need to pay a little attention to work for the rest of the afternoon but want to play email tag or grab coffee sometime?