One of my freelance gigs these days is being a sub-editor for a women’s fashion magazine and the job entails going into their office for a few days a month to proofread the laid-out pages before they go to print. I check for grammar, spelling (making sure they are correct and adhere to the house style), look at the layout and fact-check. It’s like playing the role of teacher, what with me circling words here and there. Perversely enough, I actually enjoy doing it. A small sense of elation rushes through me whenever I spot something that needs to be changed, even if it’s just adding a space between ‘Club21’ to make it ‘Club 21’ as it rightly should be.
\nAs this magazine is one targeted at women with very deep pockets and\/or rich husbands, everything in there is about high fashion, uber expensive jewellery and watches, skincare and all things luxurious. In the course of my work, I’ve become privy to a whole new vocabulary of designer names, fashion labels, jewellery terms, types of clothing, watch brands and beauty products. It was like learning English all over again, ‘cos I am someone who doesn’t – and wouldn’t – go for such things. Thankfully I learn fast, so ask me now and I can spew all these newly learnt terms for you any time. :p
\nOn Friday I worked from 9am to 2am, pulling a 17-hour work day to help wrap up the March issue. It was a long work day that saw me taking only an hour’s lunch break. There were articles yet to be laid out and I had to wait for the art director to lay out the pages before I could check them (the sub-editor is always the last in the production line). By 7pm it was just me and the art director left to man the fort. I could have left, being not obligated to stay back, but I decided to stay back to help the poor guy who still had tons to do.
\nDinner, eaten at 11am, was just five small pieces of pineapple tarts that I found sitting on the snacks corner; strangely I didn’t feel that hungry. We worked through the night, with me proofreading the pages as soon as they were ready, helping to cut and edit text, commenting on layout and chooing pictures. I was running on adrenalin and I, surprisingly, enjoyed the whole process.
\nHelping to wrap up the issue was exciting and rewarding, unfortunately I don’t get credited in the magazine. Nevertheless, I haven’t felt that way about work in a long time and to be able to feel that way felt good. I liked the feeling of being part of a team and knowing that my efforts in helping out were appreciated. I felt happy when I stepped out of the office, never mind the fact that I had been for a good 17 hours. As I walked home (it’s only a ten-minute walk so I thought it’d be stupid to take a taxi), I had a spring in my step even though it was way past two in the morning. \ud83d\ude42
\nJust thought I’d share some thoughts in writing this entry…have a good week ahead, dear reader.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of my freelance gigs these days is being a sub-editor for a women’s fashion magazine and the job entails going into their office for a few days a month to proofread the laid-out pages before they go to print. … Continue reading