The elementary school where Mr. S works is having a “career day” in May, and the principal has asked if I would like to participate. Well, after thinking it over a bit and getting opinions from my fellow freelance copyeditors, I’ve decided to give it a shot. It’s going to be tables set up in the gym, booth-style, for people to stroll by, look at your stuff, talk to you, etc. I’ll take some sample books I’ve worked on and some sample style sheets/marked-up manuscript/proofs, and be prepared to talk about what I do. Sounds kind of fun, and others said they’ve done it and had a good time. And even got the kids interested. Sounds like some might actually be impressed at the idea of helping to make books and getting paid to read.
Have you ever gone to one of these, or given a similar presentation? What’s your job? What kinds of questions or comments did you get? How did the kids like your presentation?
Not necessarily looking for advice here, just some stories to get my juices flowing. So tell, tell!
I think you should do it! I think my brother should be a copy editor - I’m sure he’d LOVE to be paid to read! I guess the type of question I’d ask is how did you go about getting that job? What type of books do you edit (children’s, fiction, non-fiction, a bit of everything?)
I don’t have a career, and no kids, so I won’t be doing a career day for awhile yet! Last term, though, one of my teachers brought his kid to school for the (apparently provincial) “Bring your grade 9 kid to work day”. Poor girl got to sit through the wackiest fourth year (universtty) Analytical Chemistry 3 class (it involved the teacher dancing and making “boing” noises to demonstrate molecular motion). At the least. you can SERIOUSLY embarrass someone! hehe
A few years after this thread, another good general copyediting reference came out: The Copyeditor’s Handbook, by Amy Einsohn. I highly recommend both Judd and Einsohn for aspiring beginners.
