Getting to know you

[markallen]

I'm curious where we are from, what are backgrounds and specialties are, etc. Don't post e-mail addresses publicly, but let us know a little bit about you.

OK, I'll go first.

I've been freelancing for year after 20 years on newspaper copy desks, most recently the Columbus Dispatch. I live in Bexley, Ohio, which is a small city surrounded by Columbus. My longest stint — 10 years — was at the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan. I don't specialize, but I've done some scholarly editing (mainly because of my university-professor wife's connections) and work for the local community college, including their accreditation document (oh, what heady billing days those were). I'm about to start a 30+ in-house gig for Nationwide retirement plans. I'm active on Twitter as EditorMark. My Web site, er website, is www.markallenediting.com.

OK, your turn next.

[StPaulieGirl]

Hi, I'm Emily A. King. I spent more than 8 years at newspapers until I was laid off last summer from the Pioneer Press here in St. Paul, Minn. I'm doing a little writing and a little editing now. I hadn't written a piece for publication since college, but I'm finding the skills are coming right back ... AND my copy-editing experience definitely has made my writing better. I'm tackling a book-editing project in late summer, which I'm really excited about.

I'm so glad ACES has a spot for freelancers! Thanks, Mark, for getting this rolling.

[RuthTC]

Hi, all! I've been freelancing full-time since around 1984 in writing, editing, proofreading, desktop publishing, publication critiques and websites, as well as the occasional speech on freelancing, newsletters and nonprofits. I presented a session on "The Freelancing Option for Copy Editors" at the 2010 ACES conference in Philadelphia, which seemed to go quite well, and I've published two booklets on aspects of this topic: "Getting Started as a Freelance Writer," which is self-published and available from me, and "Freelancing 101: Launching Your Editorial Business," for the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA; www.the-efa.org).

I'm active in the EFA and Association for Women in Communications, and am on the freelancers' committee of the Society for Professional Journalists.

[Rochelle Craig]

Hi, I'm Rochelle Craig. I met many of you at the ACES conference in Philadelphia. I've been a freelance writer for daily newspapers and monthly trade magazines for several years and just completed the Copyediting program through the University of California San Diego. Within the coming months, I will be launching a copyediting business under the name "Words and Concepts." I expect to be a regular participant on this Forum, and I'm looking forward to this relationship with all of you.

[rmfisher]

Hello, I'm Rachel Fisher. I am new to this board and to the world of copy editing. I aim to do freelancing work but at this point, I am simply researching copy editing as much as I can while brushing up on grammar and style. I've been in the healthcare industry for awhile now, but it's time for a career change. I am looking forward to getting to know you all. If anyone has any tips for someone just starting out, I would love to hear them. I would be particularly interested in any excellent online classes you might know about.

[5dana]

Hello,

I am Dana; I am new to this forum and the world of copy editing. I am an accountant but looking for ways to improve my writing skill since English is my second language. As a child, I was in the top 3% of my school in writing term papers but that was a long time ago. I still love writing but I haven't really written much of anything except for some technical stuffs related to my work. I would like to start writing again by working as an online freelance editor to sharpen up my grammar and writing skills. Where do I start? May I have some pointers from you?

Thanks,

Dana

[ksgarvin]

Hi, I'm Karen and I just joined the forum today.

I've spent nearly 30 years in printing and publishing. I started as a typesetter, worked up into an editorial position with an association, then back to a typesetter and graphic artist. I ran my own graphic arts business for about 8 years, then went to work for printing companies doing prepress work. I wanted to get back into the writing/editing end of the business, so I started back to college (UMUC) in 2003 to get a communications degree. I graduated in 2009.

I've been working the last two years as a full-time copy editor for the Cato Institute. In my free time I do freelance writing for Demand Studio and I have some articles soon to be published in various encyclopedias from Salem Press. I'm interested in starting a novel and doing some fiction writing.

Oh, and I'm pursuing a master's degree online in European History from the American Military University. I have one class under my belt so far.

[MarcA78]

My name is Marc, and I'm a fledgling freelancer. My background is mostly in humor essays and helping coworkers look less illiterate when writing emails to clients. I was laid off from my position as a recruiter last year and have been supplementing my income by writing and editing for various on-line publications. Rather than plunge back into the world of corporate skulduggery, I plan on staying the course with my freelancing.

Cheers,
m