I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years, but my true love has always been books. My very first job was as a Page at the Bill Library in Ledyard, CT. I shelved books. I knew the Dewey Decimal System like the back of my hand. It may not sound very glamorous, but that job is still the one I claim as my favorite.
Every so often, I have wondered about turning my passion for books and reading into a career. I’ve thought about getting a library science degree, but the timing has never been quite right. If I could figure out how to read for pleasure full time and get paid for it, I’d be all over that.
Why not write?
I’ve read a lot of books and have read more than a few that have made me think I could probably do a lot better job. The problem is that I don’t actually have any original ideas for stories. Also, what I really want is the satisfaction of having written a book, which is significantly different from actually writing a book!
Editing is fun!
What I have discovered is that I really like EDITING. I like looking for ways to clean up words and sentences and paragraphs and make them say exactly what the author wants them to say. I like advocating for the readers, to make sure that the intended audience of the work isn’t going to have any confusion when they read it.
Taking grammar and copyediting courses and earning a certificate through the University of California – San Diego Extension has only cemented the idea that I love to edit and that I’m actually pretty good at it. I still have a lot to learn and need a lot more experience, but I have confidence that I’ve found the thing I’m meant to do.
But what about your day job?
I’m still employed at our local school district. I’ve been there for six years now and have moved to a new, part-time role this year as the Superintendent Secretary. I’ve learned a lot things from working at school, one of which is that you wouldn’t believe half the stuff that happens in a school, but I can’t tell you about it because of privacy laws.
I have a lot of reasons for continuing to work at school, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to also stretch my wings a bit with this new business.
I’m open for business
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and planning my business, but now it’s time to actually get to work. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Editing section on the menu above or use the nifty button below.
You can also find me on your social media site of choice (including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn).
