What It Is (posts below left; rate sheet, client list, other stuff below right)

My name is Bob Land. I am a full-time freelance editor and proofreader, and occasional indexer. This blog is my website.

You'll find my rate sheet and client list here, as well as musings on the life of a freelancer; editing, proofreading, and indexing concerns and issues; my ongoing battles with books and production; and the occasional personal revelation.

Feel free to contact me directly with additional questions: landondemand@gmail.com.

Thanks for visiting. Leave me a comment. Come back often.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Vietnam Labyrinth from Texas Tech UP


It’s not often I shill for my publishers (and especially authors), but it’s not often I receive an email like this:

Bob: Just want to let you know that I've set up a Facebook page for Vietnam Labyrinth--& one of 1st items I posted was a “thank you” to you & Richard Comfort, who also worked with me on the book. Both of your contributions were significant, & I wanted to acknowledge that, especially since each of you seemed to take special interest in the project, a personal involvement, if you will. I was very touched by your comment that Labyrinth was one of the 2011 books that you were proud to have worked on; meant a lot, coming from a pro like you.

Thanks again for helping make 25 years of effort a reality!

If you want an amazing history of the Vietnam War from about as inside a perspective as you can get from the Vietnamese side, this is the book.

And if you find any copyediting mistakes, keep ’em to yourself.





Friday, March 22, 2013

apologies: word verification enabled on comments

Sorry, folks. It's gotten out of control. Not like I've got a legion of followers anyway. I need to keep this place tidy.


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Why Even Bother? Style Sheet Wars

Contra many earlier posts, I'm becoming a fan of style sheets -- good ones, that is. I've actually even created a few lately.

What I don't like, but which seems increasingly common, are copyeditors who, presumably from force of habit, start off a style sheet saying that they've followed Chicago 16 and Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate, but the words listed on the style sheet and the text itself show little desire to actually enforce what those two volumes suggest.

Ugh.

==

On the eye front, had the last exam yesterday, except for the six-month follow-up. Received a new prescription and went straight to the local mall optical store. For the first time in my life, I had glasses made in one hour.

Not enough of a treat?

Once the glasses were made and slapped on my face, the gent handed me a little card to read. At about an arm's distance, I read the bottom lines on the page.

He said, "That's 20/15."

Of course, anything less than arm's length, I'm still a little fuzzy -- not that I'm complaining. He did say that my vision might still improve a little more as everything begins to come together.

What's hard -- almost painful -- is bright sunshine. The ophthalmologist said that's not surprising once the cataracts are gone. It's like walking out of a dark closet. Just need time to adjust.

Anyway, back to work.


Monday, March 4, 2013

A Little Music While You Wait


We might be here awhile.