Shout Out

Silence

by Joyce Dunne

Were my blogging a book title, Silence would be its name. That's what I've afforded my blog in the last few months_a deep immersion of quitetude.

I miss entertaining my blog, I realize. I'd forgotten that, in its early days, I would check my e-mail a couple of times a day to see if anyone had commented on my blog_no one yet, but eventually, I imagine.

On my mind today is my friend Jane, who is leaving her long-time, full-time job this week to launch her freelance editorial services business. Jane, a toast: all success and happiness. Mile failte_a thousand welcomes to you in joining our fine ranks. I can say from experience that it's a fulfilling, exciting ride, and it will suit Jane well.

Perhaps it's Jane's news, perhaps the bright, fresh light of spring, that is shifting my thoughts to my own editorial strengths. Working on-site for one of my clients two days a week has given me the benefit_unusual for freelancers_of near-immediate feedback on my work.

Here's what I know: I make mistakes. I enjoy and crave having exceptional editorial minds around me to catch me when I do fall.

And, I'm dumbfounded to have just discovered, in this world of the blog I can Ctrl-X to cut copy but, devasatingly, cannot Ctrl-V to paste. Perhaps it's for the best. I had written about my emerging developmental editing skills, about digging deep into my proofreading roots, about my desire to keep learning and improving_shut up already.

I'm very good at what I do, and I love doing it. There. That's it.

As I return to blogging, I hope the title of my next book, were my blogging a book, may be The Shout. Or Visibility. Or Being Silly. Anything that signifies I'm here.

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