This post may contain affiliate links.
I’ve survived yet another clock switch. If you’ve know me long enough, you’ve likely already heard my mini rant about how Daylight Savings Time is the ultimate sign of the hubris of man. It’s too hard to change our schedules, so we’ll just change time.
Front and back views of my favorite LARGE coffee mug. Because clock change.
I was talking to my mother-in-law on the phone yesterday, and she asked me how the crochet and knit stuff was going. She asked if there was anything particular I was proud of that she could brag about. I replied with a “not really”, and the conversation moved on.
It started me thinking about what I’m doing lately that I can be proud of. Most of my fiber-related energy right now is going in to technical editing. It’s easy to be proud of what you do when you design a piece, but technical editing feels like more of a support role. I can’t take credit for the designs I’ve tech edited other than to say “yes, I removed some errors” or “I reworded a section to make it clearer”, and hopefully that will make some crocheters and knitters lives go a little bit smoother. I’m proud of the work I do, but I don’t feel like it’s anything to brag about. As a technical editor, I’m part of a TEAM that sees a project through from beginning to end. I’m proud to do my part, and do it well, but I can’t take credit for the whole thing. I’m always flattered when clients list my name as tech editor in their patterns and/or publications.
As I continued to mull over her question, I checked my email. Nothing too out of the ordinary: a reply from an editor, confirmation from a independent designer client, a request from a yarn company. I think that’s when it hit me about what I’m proud of. I’m proud that all these people trust me. They trust me to do what they need done, by the deadline, in a professional manner. They trust me to do my job, in whatever capacity they need me, and do it well. That’s what I’m proud of- earning and maintaining people’s trust. I’ve said before that what makes me feel good is not when a publication or client hires me for the first time; it’s when they hire me the second time, because that means I did a good job.
Always have my trust! I never think I do it alone, I would never be any where were it not for great technical editors, such as yourself. Thank you for everything you do in this process.