Posted on

Self-Care for Freelancers (Or Basically Anyone)

I missed yesterday’s blog upload (again!) because I took a much-needed self-care day, so naturally it would only make sense to write a blog about self-care. Or at least, my version of it. As a full-time freelancer who works remotely, it is ridiculously easy to get burned out and fed up with. . . everything, really. Anyway, this was the state I was in yesterday (and continuing through today), so I’ll share what my self-care days typically look like and offer up some juicy recommendations for treating yourself to a well-deserved mental break. And believe me: you deserve it. Continue reading → Self-Care for Freelancers (Or Basically Anyone)

Posted on

Another Alice: Showcasing the Newest Addition to My Book Collection

Hello friends, readers, writers, and fellow bibliophiles! I hope February is treating you well. Today I wanted to share the newest member of my book collection with you. Yesterday, I attended the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena—purportedly the largest such fair in the country—and picked up my newest gem. Continue reading → Another Alice: Showcasing the Newest Addition to My Book Collection

Posted on

Book Review: The Copyeditor’s Handbook

Complacency is easy. It is also ruinous.

As an editor, it is probably not in my best interest to insinuate that I am anything less than perfect at my craft. After all, correcting mistakes and submitting manuscripts that are without flaw is how I make a living. However, perpetuating this fairytale would, I feel, be disingenuous to editors (and humans) everywhere. The fact of the matter is this: editors are never perfect. They can often be pretty close, but ultimately there are too many factors to consider in a manuscript, and so many of these come down to preferences of style, education, region, voice, and a million other tiny annoyances that get in the way of our pursuit of perfection. Blast them all! Continue reading → Book Review: The Copyeditor’s Handbook

Posted on

The Hazards of Freelance Life

Or, An Embarrassing Exposé on Procrastination and Routines

 

It has taken me a very, very, very long time to sit down and open up this Word document. Like, you don’t even want to know. I came up with the idea of starting a blog ages ago and then proceeded to never, ever do it. In fact, this single uncompleted item has been guilting me from a note on my phone for months until I finally faced the facts that I would never do it and then deleted it. But today, for some reason I cannot fully comprehend, I have sat down and begun.

So, you may be wondering, what is the point of this post? What sage wisdom will I impart on you from my noble and enlightened position in this IKEA desk chair? Nothing that good, I’m afraid. Except, perhaps, a warning, and hopefully the ability to use the written word to work out this issue I am faced with for myself so that I might offer you some shred of advice that is worthy of your time. Yes, I am aware that time is quickly running out for me to proffer said wisdom (I’m a procrastinator, and I have no idea where this post is headed; let me buy some time). Continue reading → The Hazards of Freelance Life