If you have written and published a book in the last year or two, even co-authored, I would like to talk to you about the process and maybe even do a book review here on my blog. I have met many through my communications business that are looking at publishing and have many questions on it, but also at the same time would love to know more about local authors and writers. I know many of us are article writers but how many of us take it all the way and write books? So yeah, send me an email on ruksanah@gmail.com and let's talk more. Doesn't matter what genre it is, if it was published between now and January 2010, I would love to know more!
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Funny how just when you think you have it all worked out, turns out that wasn't the case! Was thinking I would have all my projects done and dealt with by the weekend so I can get things going for Thanksgiving, when I have some dear friends visiting. But, as luck would have it, I now have an article to turn in, more proofreading to do, and a bunch of blog posts and reports to submit - all next week! Ah, the simple pleasures of working at home.
Most folks don't think proofreaders are necessary. They don't even know what a proofreader does! People think that the proofreading part is covered somewhere between the writer and the editor but unfortunately that is almost always never the case. As a writer, editor and proofreader, I can speak from all perspectives. When I write an article, I am so involved in it that I could easily be 'seeing' words that are not even there. I can even make myself believe the words I read in a certain sentence make sense even though they are not in the right order for that phrase to read right. Not that I want to, but it is human nature. Some of you might remember a little posting that makes an appearance at least twice every year where the sentence has all letters jumbled in it yet the human eye reads and the human mind processes the sentence. See image for this post if you don't know what I am talking about. As an editor, I can tell you the same thing is bound to happen in the process of editing. I read an article so many times, checking on it for clarity and brevity and flow and content, that I completely do not pay attention to how a word is written, or whether there is a comma in the right place for that sentence to not be misinterpreted. And this is where a proofreader comes in. To ensure that what the writer and the editor overlook are caught and corrected before the article heads out to the presses. In the digital age we are lucky - we can go back and make a few corrections although if someone has already read the article in its original un-proofread version, then they already know your weaknesses. But God forbid what you wrote was for print! It will be out there in circulation in its hard copy published form for years...not nice. So please, before you send out anything on email, company letterhead, official announcements, articles to be published, book manuscripts, marketing collateral - it never hurts to have an additional pair of eyes review the piece. I cannot share who my corporate clients are and what work I do for them but this morning I averted a major disaster being the last pair of eyes to see a designed advertisement before it went to print. The original copy was not written by me and was typed out wrong, the design was reviewed by a handful of folks, and yet all they looked at was the design of the piece, and not the wording! They were close to submission deadlines and could have chosen to not have the piece proofread, in which case, knowing the publication that design would have made its way to, they would have been the laughing stock of the industry. Luckily they did send it to me, and I was able to look at the copy and make corrections to it. So thankfully, they know the importance of a proofreader and they are good about ensuring all the processes in a design project are implemented. Can you say the same about your work, your brand, your company? This is the first time I am facing this dilemma and really am not sure what to do with it. I have been assigned my first article with a magazine and need to interview somebody for their inputs but it looks like the person I am supposed to interview is not much of a professional. They keep confirming times for an interview but when I call, I am asked to reschedule. Emails are of no use as they wont respond to that. Typically when someone is being featured in media they are very professional about it but this person clearly does not care one bit. On one hand, I want to stick to this no matter what as it is my first experience writing for this new magazine and I'd like to have a long-term association with them. On the other hand, I feel like a professional who is this unprofessional is really not worthy of a magazine article. What to do? My deadline is tonight!
One of the magazines I write for wanted to cover this event by celebrity lifestylist AJ and so off to the W Downtown I went nice and early in the morning. It was a great event - small number of attendees so the interaction level was high. AJ is a great person, a ball of energy, always a smile on her face, ready to answer questions, very approachable and personable. I will have a link to the blog post here soon as well as a link to the article which should be published next month! Meanwhile see who stopped by at AJ's workshop :)
I work from home most of the time. I meet clients at co-working spaces, their offices or coffee shops, or even lunch or dinner if we can spare the time. I typically prefer smaller coffee shops, indie efforts, as those are usually less crowded than the typical Starbucks or Caribou. My recent fave, introduced by a friend of mine, is the Walton Coffee House by Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, and it is located inside an apartment community looking over the Chattahoochee River. Something about working in there with the river in view seems to make me feel more inspired and focused each time. I love working there mornings when there is usually no crowd. You can see from the picture why!
Not sure that I have shared this here. I don't believe so. I have always turned to my professional network first when it came to any of my professional pursuits. I was able to connect with one young lady who then got me in touch with someone she knew. And through this connection was born the opportunity for me to write for a new publication. I have an interview scheduled today with a very remarkable woman who will be featured in the next issue of Upscale magazine for the Power Profile segment. I can't wait to talk to her and get going at the article!
I am interviewing Atlanta's very own Kyla Cox of Grape Crush Productions this morning. She is being featured on the gourmand issue of one of the magazines I write for and she is also a good friend of mine so I am only too happy to be speaking with her and sharing more about her work and achievements. Will have a link on here for you to read about her when the article is published. Read more about the Grape Girls here http://www.grapecrushevents.com/ and be sure to add your name to their mailing list for information on all the fun events they plan to throw.
Meanwhile, be fairly warned, I am off blogging for the next 10 days as my brother visits me for the very first time in Atlanta. I will be out until the 12th but will catch up later, cheers! Well, what a fab way to begin the month! For me, at least, and I do hope for you too :)
My proofreading client has signed me on to an annual contract after the first trial project. I just got signed on to write 3 more article for online and print magazines. I will be interviewing one of the fine ladies who is the subject of my article today, and she also happens to be a good friend of mine through my green business. Oh goody! Global Glam, the online luxury lifestyle magazine I am Managing Editor at, is looking for writers. So if you are a freelance writer wanting some exposure or an established writer with time to spare, this is a great opportunity. The magazine is the brainchild of Atlanta fashion designer Christine Philip and is scheduled for a grand relaunch in Jan 2012. The magazine focuses on travel, shopping, beauty, fashion, charity, celebrities and much more. Contact managingeditor@globalglam.com for more information. Thanks!
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