Sometimes things go up

[gwyn]

Every once in a while, something lifts the edges of the downward spiral for a little bit. I got a surprise email at work last night (which was my late night on the copy desk) from the woman who is taking over Copy Editor newsletter (from one of the few serious stars in editing, Barbara Walraff, author of the excellent book on grammar and usage, Word Court) asking me if I would mind speaking at a CE-run seminar in Seattle. She got my email address from our main editor in NY, and I was surprised he'd remember me, let alone recommend me. It turned out, after I told her I'd love to do it, that she'd been searching for me for a while, after looking for editors in the Seattle area who taught and spoke at classes, and with my kind of experience.

Apparently she'd had a hell of a time finding how to get in touch with me, though, but found out where I worked now, and since she and our managing editor knew each other at Oxford (!), she had a good excuse to call him. I'm just flabbergasted that anyone in such a high-profile place would even notice my name in these class and other listings, and that they would go to an effort to find me. I don't think I'm that good an editor, really, just that I've been lucky in the kinds of weird jobs I've had, and worked for some well-known companies. And I'm not afraid to speak in public, which is a major plus.

The kind of "life in the trenches" discussion is what I'm really good at, also, and that's one aspect of the writing and editing classes that gets the belly laughs and the interest. People love to hear about how this sort of skill is put to use, especially if you can frame it humorously. So it was a really lovely egoboo at a really down time (last night was harder than most as I had been looking at pics of my sister and crying a lot).

And a nice antidote to things like getting kicked off teh music community on LJ for not "participating" enough and for not having a convenient and organized and peppy enough life that I noticed one little admin post saying I had to click a link or prove my participation in order to stay in the community. Way to kick someone when they're down. I can barely dress myself some days; the notion of seeing an admin post to prove yourself or get the boot is just way beyond my ability level these days.

Moral of the story, I guess, is that some people suck, and some people really shine.

Comments

[kadymae.livejournal.com]

WOOT

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm that good an editor, really, just that I've been lucky in the kinds of weird jobs I've had, and worked for some well-known companies. And I'm not afraid to speak in public, which is a major plus.

Don't underestimate your skills. No one in such a high-profile position is going to put that much personal effort into tracking down someone unless they're convinced that they are worth it. And you are!

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, congratulations! I would so love to hear you speak on this stuff. If only you weren't a zillion miles away from me, I'd try to get into the seminar!

That's just...neat.

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

That's so cool! It's a great feeling, knowing that not only have people been wanting something you're perfect for, but they've been looking specifically for you. You'll have to let us know how it goes.

And if I don't get a ride in the new Beetle tomorrow, I may splode! I'm just warning you.

Re: That's just...neat.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you guys would be up to it financially, but maybe we could go somewhere to get dinner like that Thai restaurant in rat city, or that Indian place I like across I-90... otherwise it won't be a very long ride!

And... my UK copy of Layer Cake arrived yesterday! So, so excited to have that rightnow.

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

Don't underestimate yourself. I would love to hear you speak on this topic because I know I would learn new things and be entertained.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

May be I can practice my spiel on you -- this will be the most pro-level group I've done this for.

And hey, I have an appt. with the dentist you recommended to me next week! Hoping it will go well, and thank you for the recommend.

[varina8.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be your practice audience.

Good luck with doc. It's so important to have a dentist with whom you click (hence my willingness to make the trek south twice a year).

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! Go you!

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

Hey, can plebes attend the seminar?

Fuck the music community, too. Obviously I don't know how it works, because here I'm thinkng that every community has members that just watch but don't participate. That cliquish attitude is bullshit, and I hope it bites them in the ass.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I think you probably could but it would be tres expensive. So probably not someone who isn't really invested in it would want to go. After I do my thing, they get to the meat of it with all kinds of lessony things.

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

Aw, bummer.

Woobies in your icon! And they match your layout colors! *Loves*

[klia.livejournal.com]

Congrats! That's *so* incredibly cool!

the notion of seeing an admin post to prove yourself or get the boot is just way beyond my ability level these days.

Oh, for... *screw* any community that forces people to participate, or else. Who the hell needs that? I'd unleash on that admin if I were you! Maybe their head would actually pop out of their ass, you know? *g*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's just... gah. I left a little note when I saw the post about what happened, polite but letting them know how disappointing it was, that I was sad to lose the community because I joined when my sister first got ill, and the new music and my new iPod were the things that really sustained me while she was dying. That just reading about people's excitement over music was often very heartening for me, and that I had not realized when I joined that we would be required to participate a lot or would be removed if we weren't paying attention. I just thought that once we were in, we were in.

I think it was too subtle for them, though -- she didn't understand my overriding point, which was -- look, I'm a good example of how unbelievably shitty life can get for people, and to say, hostilely, "we gave you a chance and you dropped the ball by not responding two weeks ago" (and they seemed to assume that everyone went to the main LJ page if they didn't catch it on their friends list, but I can't, because their design is totally fubar on my browser) doesn't help people. I thought it was a community, but apparently if you didn't respond that you wanted to stay in it, or participate, you aren't... worthy, or something.

And she said that people were so "desparate" [sic] to get in that they couldn't assume I was telling the truth about my bad circumstances, though surely I was, and so I would need to wait for the next opening for membership in July and rejoin. But I mean, really, why? Who'd want to be in a community that is so willing to boot people they think aren't participating enough, regardless of *why* they can't/don't? Who'd want to be in a group that treats you that way, when you're already feeling worse than you've ever felt in your life? Maybe some folks are that desperate for MP3s, I dunno.

I am bummed that I don't have a good, busy place to try out new music before I buy it, though. And I know I'm ranting to someone who's already on the same side -- I just needed to get that out, I guess. The world already has enough real petty tyrants in it, I'm not sure why people on LJ are practicing wannabe petty tyrants.

[klia.livejournal.com]

And she said that people were so "desparate" [sic] to get in that they couldn't assume I was telling the truth about my bad circumstances,

Okay, now I want to smack her silly on your behalf. Un-freaking-believable.

I am bummed that I don't have a good, busy place to try out new music before I buy it, though. And I know I'm ranting to someone who's already on the same side -- I just needed to get that out, I guess.

That sucks. I don't have iTunes or Rhapsody or anything like that, so it's tough for me to find new music, too. I get a lot of recs off band mailing lists, then go over to Amazon and listen to snippets. And I check Australian and British charts, and do the same.

The world already has enough real petty tyrants in it, I'm not sure why people on LJ are practicing wannabe petty tyrants.

Her attitude is just appalling, and it sucks that she happens to be the petty tyrant lording over a community you actually want to be in. I wish I understood why so many people turn into such asshats when they gain a little authority/power, but whatever the reason, it sucks. Hard.

*hugs*

[klia.livejournal.com]

P.S. Oh my god, your icons!

*keels over*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I got them from pureglasscup, and she has a number of other fandoms, including some lovely ones from M&C. Some snarky and funny, some just lovely and romantic. She also made those great classic Trek icons.

[dine.livejournal.com]

wow! that's really grand - how neat that she's been searching for you, specifically; what a great commentary on how others see you.

and screw that community - if they can't understand that sometimes RL interferes and one can't always thoroughly read LJ, they're not the sort of folks one wants to associate with (no matter how cool the community goal is). they SO don't deserve you!

*hugs*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I told them why I missed their all-important admin post, and they encouraged me to stick around until they announce membership openings, but I would not want to go back. I just think to be that unaccommodating (and to have come up with that whole concept in the first place of booting people but allowing them all to rejoin later...) and hostile to people (the language they used was so unnecessarily harsh) tells me that it's not a community I need to be part of, especially at this point in my life. I'm sorry not to have access to trying out new music, but... life's too short, and boy do I know that for a fact.

Details on the class/talk?

[emmarytz.livejournal.com]

Your talk sounds like something I could use and, possibly, get my employers to pay for. Would you mind posting the details or emailing me with them? -em

Re: Details on the class/talk?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I don't have everythng yet, just that it's on Sept. 6, I think, or thereabouts, and that it will run for a day (like 9-4:30 or something), with a general intro at first, and then they will cover certain points. I will get some more info soon, and I can dig up the mail and see what she said again -- honestly, I was so verklemt that I didn't take it all in. But let me look into it -- I have to send a bio, anyway, and a photo, though i have no idea where to get one... arg.

[lordshiva.livejournal.com]

Oh, my dear, you are one of the best editors I've ever coerced into reading my stuff:-)

You are a really REALLY insightful editor. I love you.

And now I want to find that LJ music community and kick its ass.

I'm so happy that you've gotten this boost because you deserve it.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Ah, you are so sweet! But see, here's the sekrit: really good writers make it really easy. (that would be you!)