I work as a proofreader. Please don’t confuse this with being an editor. There are many editors here who can help remind you that we proofreaders are on the bottom of the writing totem pole. Especially me.
In my long tenure here, I’ve worked with many people who want to be writers. I’d also guess that most people think that because one majored in English, that person must aspire to writing professionally. And, like I said, if they visited this department, they’d find those who dream about writing novels (or plays or anything like that) for a living.
I would never pretend to be one of those people. I won’t even pretend that half of what I write here is even coherent, let alone worthy of being published in any capacity. But I just thought I’d throw this out there: I laugh when anyone talks about writing. Because I barely read any books these days. Write one? Ha! Have an idea for one? Ha ha! (Please note the double ha.)
This is not meant to be a “woe is me” post. This is just an observation from within the proofreading department. Some of us are writers. Some of us are just here to fix the mistakes of writers–if they’ll let us. Writers can be so sensitive.




5 Users Commented In This Post
11-24-2008 at 17:42:07
You may not think you are a writer (I disagree), but you definitely are a comedienne!! I love reading your writings. Keep up the good work.
11-25-2008 at 07:45:49
Me too. I’m much better at criticizing other people’s writing than doing my own. What an attractive characteristic.
But I’ve moved up in the world from my proofreading days–now I’m technically a copyeditor. Look at me, all important. Maybe now I’ll start acting as bitchy as some OTHER copyeditor we might both know . . .
11-25-2008 at 18:34:34
I’ll never edit the copy at my current place of business. In fact, an outside person was hired to take over for the person you mention, Kristin (she’s an actual editor these days).
12-4-2008 at 03:51:01
hey you are good, if you are on the bottom of the writing totem pole, then i am under the stand where that pole stand, infact I am still digging.
12-4-2008 at 03:55:43
sorry i meant under the sand where that pole stands, I really wanted to be a writer, but i came to realize that writing something or anything for that matter must be inspired by something or someone, the greatest inspiration could be love or hatred, true love is hard to find and hatred is hard to keep. Anyways don’t mind me love your post though.
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