Selena J
Pennsylvania, USA
“Error-free is the way to be.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BS Biology
East Stroudsburg University
2004–2008
Favorite referencing style
I would have to say that my favorite referencing style is Chicago. The first proofreading course I took used this style, so I have a great deal of practice with it. The copyediting course that I’m currently taking also uses Chicago style, so I have grown accustomed to it. I also like how many examples it provides; it’s really a useful guide. I have those little sticky tabs throughout the guide, so I know exactly where all the important sections are without having to look them up in the table of contents or index each time I need to reference them.
Why I became an editor
Ever since I was a child, I have always loved reading, writing, and learning. Whether it was a book from the library, a textbook from school or college, a fiction novel, or a magazine article, I wanted to read it. I decided to study biology in college, which I really loved. However, I always felt that I should be working with words in some way. In 2020, I decided to take an online proofreading course. Then I took another. Then another. And I would not mind taking more. This is an exciting profession because I get to help writers polish their documents while reading even more. I finally found my path in life, and I couldn’t be happier.
Background and experience
I have taken numerous courses in proofreading and editing that qualify me to proofread professionally. As a studious and dedicated hard worker, my approach to proofreading is always to give it my all, intending to do my very best with each document that I receive. I am currently working on a novel to self-publish in the future, which I will proofread and edit. I have also submitted a few short stories to writing competitions, and I proofread and edited those as well.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love proofreading because it’s very detail oriented. Each word, comma, and exclamation point have to be scrutinized. There are so many homonyms, punctuation marks, and ways of placing these different parts together—it’s truly amazing when you think about it. I like the fact that I have to question every little puzzle piece. I find myself wondering whether a specific word has to be capitalized, or whether a particular quotation mark really belongs where it is. I like being able to help authors and writers with these tiny details. I know not everyone has time to look up every little thing, so I enjoy being the one to do it for them. I always love a good challenge.
Favorite book:
I love the book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. It became my favorite book when I read it about ten years ago, and it’s still my favorite book to this day.
Hobbies:
I love to play my acoustic guitar. I have been faithfully playing for about a year and a half, and I love learning new songs. I also love to crochet. I crochet blankets, hats, scarves, slippers, and anything else that I can find an interesting pattern for. I also like other crafting hobbies, such as papermaking, and I just recently sewed my first set of beautiful winter curtains last week.
Editing tips:
I find it useful to fix any blatant errors that pop out at me the first time I read a document. The second time I go over it, I read more carefully and slowly, examining each sentence, word for word. The second and third times I go over a document are when I look up unfamiliar words to make sure they are spelled correctly and any grammar rules that may apply to a particular sentence.
