Handmade Dolls

Thanks to Jhoanna for her free Ruby Doll pattern!

My daughter loved the little dolls and immediately named them Bernadette and Therese.

Then she brought me a stack of more fabric so I can sew up some more friends!

Fibromyalgia & an Irritable Uterus

Note: This is another installment in my "Autoimmune Illnesses & Me" section. If you suffer from fibromyalgia or Sjogren's (or know someone who does), please read on. If not, please realize that this is not a complaint, just sharing. It can be lonely out there in autoimmune-illnesses-land.

After two trips to Labor & Delivery, a prescription of procardia (which was abandoned due to its side effects), another prescription of terbutaline and a few shots, I keep having hard contractions that don't stop nor progress into full-blown labor. Why?

"You have an irritable uterus," the doctor said. "It's probably brought on by fibromyalgia."

The term "irritable uterus" is used to describe a uterus that contracts without much rhyme or reason, for the contractions themselves don't necessarily mean labor is forthcoming. (A better, more medical-sounding definition can be found here.) According to what I've read, most sufferers of an irritable uterus experience discomfort, but not much else.

And then there are the fibromyalgia gals out there.

The lack of support or information regarding pregnancy and fibromyalgia is discouraging. Right now, I am taking terbutaline pills every four hours, but they only cause a mild interruption in the contractions. I am doing everything that I've been told to do. I am barely moving, drinking gallons and gallons of water, sleeping, etc.

But the hard contractions, intense pelvic pain and overall soreness continue.

What can be done?

How I'm Coping:

• Keeping my mind busy
• Focusing on the moment
• Watching TV (which I never do! But it distracts me now.)
• Praying. Praying a LOT.
• Crafting, so my hands are busy and I can't chew my nails to the quick
• Crying (It actually alleviates stress. When no one is around, I cry a little. It helps.)

I tried looking up more ideas for fibromylagia sufferers who are pregnant, but nothing was available. Or the information was written by a person who did not know the reality of how it feels. It feels very difficult, almost maddening.

But it won't last forever. And soon ... soon, there will be a baby to hold.

Wordsmithing

Words, words, words. I love to arrange them, polish them and put them into an attractive arrangement.

Here's a quick list of wordsmith-related posts:
How to Become an Editor/Proofreader
Fun Wordsmithing Resources

(Check back for new stuff. I just started this list on July 12.)

Becoming a Proofreader or an Editor

Note: I was recently emailed a question about working from home as an editor. It wasn't the first time I was asked about it. It probably won't be the last, so rather than retype the answer each time, I'm just posting the answer here. Enjoy.

Can I work from home?
Editing is the perfect job for someone who wants to be home rather than in an office environment. It also fits well with the homeschooling life. Not everyone is suited to a telecommuting position, however. You need to be:

• highly disciplined (to meet deadlines and set your schedule)
• self-motivated
  
• able to communicate clearly (I work from home, but am constantly communicating with writers and the editorial manager through email and the phone.)
• familiar with technology (You need to know how to access files, images, drafts, the editorial calendar, virtual conference rooms, etc. on your own. If you work from home, you don't have an IT department. You are it.)
• keep track of hours (I'm salaried, but I keep track of how many hours I work. It helps me to gauge how much time certain projects take, how my work/life balance is, etc.
• able to have a quiet spot for work (It doesn't have to be a set office space, but you need to have a door to seal yourself off when in crunch time.)
• balanced. (Working from home, especially if you love what you do, can make you a workaholic. You need to have family members who help you focus on what matters and also have friends who can pull you out of your house and into the outside world.)
  

Are you like that? Great. Let's move on then!


What's the difference between an editor and a proofreader?
Most editors began their careers as proofreaders. People often use the terms interchangeably, but in the publishing world, they aren't.

A proofreader checks for mistakes in punctuation, spelling, grammar, and also in layout. You've got to have a keen eye to notice the mistakes in page numbers, subtitles, titles, images, etc. You must notice the overall picture as well as the details. You have to be extremely diligent in checking out all the pieces of a project to make sure that they match, such as the page numbers with the table of contents.

An editor modifies and prepares writing for publication. She usually does everything that a proofreader does, but also reads for the overall meaning, clarity and focus of the piece. She digs deeper into the written piece than a proofreader does and makes sure the written article hits its intended target audience. She thinks about word choices, sentence flow, the construction of the finished piece, and also studies the piece from the targeted member's point of view.

If you want to become an editor, you'll usually have to start out as a proofreader. Remember, though, that as a proofreader, sometimes you can make edits, which are signs to your boss that you also have the ability to be a good editor, too.


Is a degree needed?
Whether you need a degree/experience depends on the company. When I applied as a freelance proofreader at a local educational company, I only had to take a test. The company did not care if I had a degree, experience, etc. I just needed to prove that I could do the work. Another company, however, wanted me to have experience in the educational field and was specific about its requirements. For my current job, I had to have a lot of experience and a degree, but that's because it is full time job in a highly competitive. So, it really depends on the company.

Say I don't have experience. How can I get some?
I would do the following to exhibit familiarity with the publishing world:

Buy and read The Associated Press Stylebook. It's a dry read. It's a reference tool, for heaven's sake. But a huge amount of the publishing world relies on this style of editing and proofreading. Become familiar with it, especially the sections about grammar and punctuation. No, it's not the same everywhere. Some publishers like the serial comma: "red, white, and blue." Other publishers hate it: "red, white and blue." Get to know how AP uses it. (I downloaded my copy of the AP Stylebook from the Internet. It's an older copy, but it doesn't change that much.) You can also follow the AP Stylebook on Twitter.

Buy and read The Chicago Manual of Style. This is the other book that publishers love. Publishers love either the AP Stylebook or Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago is HUGE, extremely dry, hard to follow and pain in the butt. I have a copy of it due to sheer necessity. Just become familiar with punctuation, basic mistakes, handling of titles and the section on proofreading marks. You don't have to read the huge horrible thing. I prefer AP, but a lot of educational presses like Chicago (it's more geared towards traditional print).

Read "Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It's a slim book. Some folks consider it a bit outdated, but it has good info about misused words. Plus, it's a classic that every editor and proofreader should know.


To show experience with the written word, I would try to do some proofreading or editing on the side. Look at online magazines and see if they have a need for proofreaders or editors. Also, do you have friends with blogs needing proofreading? You can look at those projects and proofread them for free ... which is good experience and also boosts your resume. Also consider asking homeschooling buddies if their children's writing needs an extra pair of eyes? You can proofread their work and then have something along the lines of "Proofreading students' work" or something like that for your resume.

Practice proofreading and editing. Practice it everywhere. Proofreaders and editors are a strange breed. We edit and proofread the written world around us. Get into the habit, too. It makes for good practice. Newspaper articles, menus, etc.

Once you've done that, I'd start looking at the local presses around you. You can find online stuff, sure, but sometimes, it's just better to walk into a publisher in your hometown. It cuts through the red tape. Just walk in with your resume, big friendly smile, and let them know you're a freelance proofreader. You can also look at the stores that sell educational stuff and see if they have a newsletter. Sometimes, they also have catalogs and what-not that need proofreading, too.

Another route to consider is checking online for jobs. I would not recommend any site that requires you to pay for leads. Those are scams. Most of the telecommuting websites are wastelands of dead links and old scams. Avoid those. To find solid leads, check out Craig's List (check out the ones in various cities; telecommuting jobs aren't limited to your area, of course) and the job opportunities sections of companies that interest you.

Happy editing!

Shower of Roses

Have you seen the beautiful and inspiring blog "Shower of Roses" blog? I've been doing some Serious Lurking there lately as I prepare for the 2009/2010 school year and borrow ideas for liturgical feasts.

Right now, the creative and highly organized Jessica is having a give-away of the Catholic lap folder, Year of the Priest, so be sure to sign up. Of course, I just probably blew my chances by telling you about it, but, ah, may the lapbook reach its intended recipient, right?

~ V.