LJ Idol, Wheel of Chaos 1: “Quality”
Jun. 19th, 2025 12:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roina_arwenFor the past year and a half, in my spare time I have been employed by a small-but-mighty press as one of their copy editors. To date, I have edited about forty short stories (there are approximately ten stories per anthology) plus three juvenile boys adventure novels. This is work that I very much enjoy doing. My husband likes to say that I’ve been editing him for thirty years, and his writing for two.
He’s not wrong. To our credit, he has had over fifteen short stories published within that timeframe.
Copy editing is something I was born to do. Like it or not, I’m the sort that tends to notice every stinkin’ typo in every email I receive. I’m nice enough not to point them out, of course, but they do make me cringe a little. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I often type too fast and make errors of my own, but I do try to at least read what I’ve typed before hitting send, so I will catch most of my typos a majority of the time.
In addition to checking stories for the obvious spelling errors, typos, and grammar, I will also notice correctly spelled words that are, in point of fact, incorrect. One of the most memorable that I caught was for an anthology with a coffee theme. The author of the story meant to write that the character steepled his fingers. What he actually typed was that he steeped his fingers. Ouch!!
Another error that I found more recently in one of the novels was with a youthful spaceship captain who was speaking with one of his passengers. She inquired what sort of dangers he had to face in interstellar space. The author wrote something to the gist of “it was barely above zero out there.” Uh, no. Buzzz! What he should have said, and what I edited in, was that “it was barely above absolute zero out there.” That’s a HUGE difference, since absolute zero is -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit!
A good copy editor cares—or at least, should care—as much about correct spelling and proper punctuation as they do about making sure the author’s voice and story are clear. Mistakes affect the clarity of the work, as well as being a distraction to the reader, and that impacts the overall quality.
Don’t get me wrong—all the stories and novels that I’ve worked on have been quality works to start with, or they wouldn’t have been selected for publication. My job is to ensure that nothing distracts the reader from enjoying the highest quality possible. I hope I’ve succeeded.
Thanks for reading!
He’s not wrong. To our credit, he has had over fifteen short stories published within that timeframe.
Copy editing is something I was born to do. Like it or not, I’m the sort that tends to notice every stinkin’ typo in every email I receive. I’m nice enough not to point them out, of course, but they do make me cringe a little. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I often type too fast and make errors of my own, but I do try to at least read what I’ve typed before hitting send, so I will catch most of my typos a majority of the time.
In addition to checking stories for the obvious spelling errors, typos, and grammar, I will also notice correctly spelled words that are, in point of fact, incorrect. One of the most memorable that I caught was for an anthology with a coffee theme. The author of the story meant to write that the character steepled his fingers. What he actually typed was that he steeped his fingers. Ouch!!
Another error that I found more recently in one of the novels was with a youthful spaceship captain who was speaking with one of his passengers. She inquired what sort of dangers he had to face in interstellar space. The author wrote something to the gist of “it was barely above zero out there.” Uh, no. Buzzz! What he should have said, and what I edited in, was that “it was barely above absolute zero out there.” That’s a HUGE difference, since absolute zero is -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit!
A good copy editor cares—or at least, should care—as much about correct spelling and proper punctuation as they do about making sure the author’s voice and story are clear. Mistakes affect the clarity of the work, as well as being a distraction to the reader, and that impacts the overall quality.
Don’t get me wrong—all the stories and novels that I’ve worked on have been quality works to start with, or they wouldn’t have been selected for publication. My job is to ensure that nothing distracts the reader from enjoying the highest quality possible. I hope I’ve succeeded.
Thanks for reading!
(no subject)
Jun. 19th, 2025 09:54 amlycomingstI had the shrubs cut down. I had to call somebody which involved using the phone, my nemesis. I cold called a name from Next Door because I had bolloxed up the Thumbtack account I used before. It somehow involved the phone, my nemesis. (If I don’t use something every day I forget how it works.)
So after Diego left (after loading a cartload, a large cartload of greenery) a new neighbor came over to get the 411 (do people still say that?) on him. Because “her guy” quit. I learned a lot about him, where he lives, his new job and how much he likes it.. She needs somebody to do garden stuff, needs it bad but at a reasonable price. She took Diego’s card. There seems to have been an ice storm around here last year and it lives in people’s memories, any garden discussion brings it up. Something to look forward to.
Today there is construction or destruction going on just outside my back yard. It is loud and ongoing.
So after Diego left (after loading a cartload, a large cartload of greenery) a new neighbor came over to get the 411 (do people still say that?) on him. Because “her guy” quit. I learned a lot about him, where he lives, his new job and how much he likes it.. She needs somebody to do garden stuff, needs it bad but at a reasonable price. She took Diego’s card. There seems to have been an ice storm around here last year and it lives in people’s memories, any garden discussion brings it up. Something to look forward to.
Today there is construction or destruction going on just outside my back yard. It is loud and ongoing.
Hello (I don't know what else to put here)
Jun. 19th, 2025 05:37 pmsetnox1 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
addmeName: SetNox1, or Kai if you prefer a 'proper' name.
Age: 20.
I mostly post about: Not sure yet but probably whatever's on my mind at the time. Daily life, insights, events, ideas, not in any specific order. Don't expect anything too shocking though. Inside thoughts should stay inside or in a paper journal at most.
My hobbies are: Dungeons & Dragons, drawing, maybe writing if you're generous with vague periphery interests that stuck around for months. I'm trying to get into sewing and other clothing DIY shenanigans.
My fandoms are: None. Maybe Percy Jackson if you count lurking in the art/headcanons corner of Tumblr as participating in a fandom.
I'm looking to meet people who: Share snippets of their mind and life and enjoy exchanging music recommendations. Seriously, send me songs, I love exploring new artists, especially the smaller/independent ones.
My posting schedule tends to be: Probably sporadic. Knowing myself, I'll try to keep a regular schedule, then forget about the schedule, then have a big buildup of stuff to say but can't find the words for them, and when things finally click int place I'll share a crap ton. I love my executive functionality (cue lightheartedly sarcastic sigh).
When I add people, my dealbreakers are: Focus on sexual stuff and gore. I don't mind them in small doses but god forbid it becomes the main point of conversation. Also, ny form of queerphobia! Pardon my English but you're not 'phobic' or 'scared' of anything, you're just a douche, or raised by one at best.
Before adding me, you should know: I overanalyse quite a lot behind the scenes, possibly because of something neurodivergent that I've not yet discovered. For the same reason I might come across as plain or sarcastic eve when I don't intend to. Whoops. I'm also a very queer soul. Go enjoy your life without me if you're looking for a neurotypical, cishet-normative experience.
The best I can do to summarize our NYC trip... [work, ants]
Jun. 19th, 2025 11:56 amrebeccmeister...is just direct you to a link to the photo album I just put together. This is just the first photo from the train:
I annotated the photos with a ton of information. It was an educational trip, after all.
I have so much gratitude for my friend and colleague P, who made the whole trip possible for us. I already know it had a huge positive impact on my students.
I annotated the photos with a ton of information. It was an educational trip, after all.
I have so much gratitude for my friend and colleague P, who made the whole trip possible for us. I already know it had a huge positive impact on my students.
A Rainbow of Queer Books for Pride 2025: Green
Jun. 19th, 2025 09:55 amduckprintspress
HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, green = nature), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: Linnea Peterson, Tris Lawrence, Rascal Hartley, Shadaras, Shannon, polls, Nina Waters and an anonymous contributor.
- Wilder Girls by Rory Power
- Add Magic to Taste ed. by Nina Waters
- The Husky & His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou
- I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
- A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
- Balm in Gilead and Other Plays by Lanford Wilson
- A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
- Once Stolen by D.N. Bryn
- I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino
- Wolfsong by TJ Klune
- Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
- Little Mushroom: Judgment Day by Shisi
- The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
- Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer
- The Wind City by Rem Wigmore
- There’s Magic Between Us by Jillian Maria
- The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
- Aether Beyond the Binary ed. by Nina Waters
- Zenith Dream by F.T. Lukens
- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
Find these and many other queer books on our Goodreads book shelf or buy them through the Duck Prints Press Bookshop.org affiliate page.
Join Book Lover’s Discord server to chat with us about books, fandom, and more!
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Accidental filk
Jun. 19th, 2025 06:59 pmfred_mouseOur Thursday night dinner has standardised to 'that's not miso soup'. It starts with homemade vegetable stock paste, hot water, and miso. And then we add an assortment of things, typically fish balls, diced tofu, soy beans, lotus root, chopped mushrooms. Sometimes we get fancy, and there is roasted and shredded nori, but often that is beyond me (Thursdays are a little bit 'mouse should minimise kitchen based risk behaviours', such that the nori might rather go up in flames; cutting the tofu is sometimes high risk, but some of that is because the knife is weirdly weighted and will end up blade up if you put it down wrong). Sometimes I remember that I'm supposed to put the broccoli stems in, or the kai-lan, or some other brassica that has miraculously appeared in the fridge.
For reasons that have to do with having dealt with three teenagers, fish balls are rationed; currently it is four per person.
For weeks, I've been singing 'and FOUR fish balls', always in the same tune, with the knowledge that I know what the tune is, but not remembering the context. Last week, I suddenly worked it out--it's from Tommy, to the line "(sure played) a mean pin ball". Mind, that's not going to stop me doing it, I'm even more amused at myself now I have the context.
Interesting Links for 19-06-2025
Jun. 19th, 2025 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. Doctor uses robot to remotely perform surgery on patient thousands of miles away
- (tags:surgery robots )
- 2. General-purpose robots are very nearly here
- (tags:robots ai video impressive )
- 3. How roundabouts transformed Carmel, Indiana
- (tags:transport planning roads design usa )
- 4. Beware the gaze of raccoons!
- (tags:raccoon comic funny literature )
- 5. Banning smartphones in schools has little or no impact on the wellbeing of students or their education or on the prevalence of online bullying
- (tags:phones school )
- 6. A Provocative Argument About What Creates Serial Killers (possibly Heavy Metals)
- (tags:murder brain pollution )
- 7. Scottish Government advice on school uniforms now says that you shouldn't need branded items.
- (tags:school clothing GoodNews )
Thursday 19/06/2025
Jun. 19th, 2025 12:04 pmdark_kana posting in 3_good_things_a_day1) I have the morning off from work. A nice relaxing morning. It was much needed
2) rewatching the first Pirates movie again. *grins*
3) going swimming this evening. Very much looking forward to that ^^ it's been a while with the sprained ankle and twisted knee...
Community Thursday
Jun. 19th, 2025 07:39 amvriddyCommunity Thursday challenge: every Thursday, try to make an effort to engage with a community on Dreamwidth, whether that's posting, commenting, promoting, etc.
Vigilantes chit-chat on bnha_fans.
Commented on summerofthe69.
Commented on newcomers.
Commented on common_nature.
Promoted ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenance, style_system in various comments.
Signal boost:
Via
dw_community_promo, massive blast from the past but someone started a monkeyisland community :DSign-ups are open for the 7TH ROUND of
comment_bingo! :D "the goal is to have more fun and have an excuse to leave feedback! It is a Bingo community that involves commenting on other people's works based on the prompts provided, rather than creating your own."
In addition to France, the EU and Japan are recruiting American scientists
Jun. 18th, 2025 10:36 pmthewayneThe European Union, on top of France's recruiting efforts, is investing €500 million to lure displaced/disaffected American scientists to the other side of the pond. France has a head-start, having begun their program pretty much as soon as the Ketamine Kid and his goon squad started axing programs. The EU amount is about $570m USD, I'm not sure how many jobs that represents. What they need to do is relax visa restrictions to allow people to move without having direct job sponsorship: give them longer to find employment if they can't fall in directly to their recruitment program.
This paragraph makes me wonder if this program replaces the French program:
"The plan, originally proposed by the French government, also proposes creating long-term “super grants” for outstanding researchers, to provide them with financial stability; these would last for seven years. The program also plans to double the amount of financial support available this year for those who decide to move to the European Union."
I'm not really clear on the matter. But since they're not likely to be looking for telescope operators, we're not likely to fall into this program.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/europe-launches-program-to-lure-scientists-away-from-the-us/
Japan's program is throwing a cool ¥100 billion ($693 million) into the program. Meanwhile, Great Britain is throwing a whopping £50 million ($67 million) to attract top talent!
I can see Japan increasing their spend as they have a serious population problem: a shortage of young families with children. By bringing in more scientists, they may well give extra priority to those that might shore up that base, giving long-term benefit to the country.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/16/japan_has_a_yen_for/
This paragraph makes me wonder if this program replaces the French program:
"The plan, originally proposed by the French government, also proposes creating long-term “super grants” for outstanding researchers, to provide them with financial stability; these would last for seven years. The program also plans to double the amount of financial support available this year for those who decide to move to the European Union."
I'm not really clear on the matter. But since they're not likely to be looking for telescope operators, we're not likely to fall into this program.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/europe-launches-program-to-lure-scientists-away-from-the-us/
Japan's program is throwing a cool ¥100 billion ($693 million) into the program. Meanwhile, Great Britain is throwing a whopping £50 million ($67 million) to attract top talent!
I can see Japan increasing their spend as they have a serious population problem: a shortage of young families with children. By bringing in more scientists, they may well give extra priority to those that might shore up that base, giving long-term benefit to the country.
https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/16/japan_has_a_yen_for/
of a runaway American dream
Jun. 18th, 2025 10:56 pmmusesfool*
Birdfeeding
Jun. 18th, 2025 08:57 pmysabetwordsmithToday was warm and muggy. It stormed midday, then cleared up somewhat later.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
The Wheelhouse - Week 1 - Day 5
Jun. 18th, 2025 09:36 pmclauderainsrm posting in therealljidol The deadline for sign ups AND for people to get their entry in are Saturday! So if you know anyone dragging their feet on either of those things, now would be the time to kick them!
Sign Up: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1182845.html
Week 1 Prompt: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1184469.html
***
How is everyone doing with the first prompt? I haven't heard too much crying, but that could just be because I've long since learned to tune out your suffering! ;)
Sign Up: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1182845.html
Week 1 Prompt: therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1184469.html
***
How is everyone doing with the first prompt? I haven't heard too much crying, but that could just be because I've long since learned to tune out your suffering! ;)
Juneteeth
Jun. 18th, 2025 08:54 pmbrickhousewenchTomorrow is Juneteenth. Joe Biden was the one who signed it into law as a Federal holiday. And I'm honestly more than a little surprised that the FFOTUS didn't roll it back like all the other Biden accomplishments that 47 has been trying to undo. But I guess rolling back a law passed by Congress isn't as easy as clawing back federal funds that have already been allocated, or undoing Executive Orders.
Anywhoo, since I'm signed up to monitor the #docs channel on Slack this week, I'm going to kinda sort work Thursday even though technically it is a holiday. I have my every other week meeting to collaborate on docs with one of our field engineers, and I don't want to cancel that because we already cancel on each other way too often. After that I'm going to alternate doing 20/10s and then popping in to check on Slack, and then back to housework. Hopefully I'll have enough of a "blowing off work" vibe to help motivate me to actually DO some housework. Because just getting started on housework is always the hardest part for me.
Anywhoo, since I'm signed up to monitor the #docs channel on Slack this week, I'm going to kinda sort work Thursday even though technically it is a holiday. I have my every other week meeting to collaborate on docs with one of our field engineers, and I don't want to cancel that because we already cancel on each other way too often. After that I'm going to alternate doing 20/10s and then popping in to check on Slack, and then back to housework. Hopefully I'll have enough of a "blowing off work" vibe to help motivate me to actually DO some housework. Because just getting started on housework is always the hardest part for me.
