verbatim: Back to the Editorial Life?

In case you've ever wondered about the "occasional" part of "occasional freelance copyeditor" up there at the top of the page, it was shorter and sounded better to me than "former freelance copyeditor, hoping to resume work once she has more free time and is consistently getting enough sleep." After I had Stephanie, I waited about a year and then started taking on some small jobs. Then I had Pete, waited about a year, and started taking on some small jobs again. Then I had Julie, and, well, here we are, aren't we? I've done a couple of projects here and there, but apparently not lately: Our 2004 tax returns did not include a single 1099 form with my name on it.

On the one hand, I'm eager to get back to using my brain and doing what I do well and what I love so much. On the other hand, I want very much to be around for my kids while they're little (and feel grateful that we can afford this luxury). As it is, I feel as though I don't have enough free time to keep up on reading, blogging, and cooking, so I'm loath to add yet another activity to my overflowing schedule. I figure that I can wait until all 3 kids are in school every day.

But...the other day I got a call from someone who got my name from someone (to the nth power—that's how these things work), asking if I'd take on a small rush job. I thought about it but declined, citing the low pay and tight schedule—they wanted it done by Monday, but there's no way I can do anything this week, it being school vacation and all. I was very proud of myself for not caving in. Then the guy called back and offered me an additional week and some more money. So I said Yes. (What a pushover!) I'm a little nervous because I feel kinda rusty, but I'm excited, too.

Also apropos of copyediting: There's a terrific article here called "Enough About Me #8: In Which the Author Hands in His Copyedited Manuscript and Pays Tribute to the Most Unheralded Job in Publishing." If you've ever wondered what kind of person becomes a copyeditor, please read it! That's me in a nutshell. (Thanks to Bookslut for the link.)