In the Middle
The quest for meaningful work and a forever home
When you’re in the middle of change, it feels like you don’t know where you’re going.
I think that’s because you could go so many places, but that’s not what it feels like. It feels like yelling into the void, not fearing but knowing no one will yell back. You can absolutely know something in your bones that isn’t true.
I’m an editor.
What that means varies between organizations, especially within a sizable production staff and multiple types of editors, but in this case I am the only editor. I do it all. Spelling, grammar, mechanics, word usage, abbreviations, formatting, layout, image placement, headers, footers, citations, final document creation, publication, distribution, and a few industry-specific tasks on top of that.
I have a chance here to move forward and find work that I care about, that inspires me, that makes me better, that allows me to spend my off hours doing the soul work that makes me tick. Meaningful work that allows us to move our lives to a place where we want to stay for the long haul, where we can live closer to the land and further from traffic, smog, and light pollution.
Finding that work and convincing the powers that be to have a conversation with me about it is the hard part.
I know my abilities, and I know that I’ve never met a program or a style guide I couldn’t manage. I’m your “I’ll figure it out” girlie. I’m honest when I don’t know how to do something, but by tomorrow I’ll let you know what it’ll take to get there, and then I’ll get us there.
I’ve been described as “terminally competent,” and one of the more recent comments about me goes a little like this: “The only way Liz is going to ever have less on her plate is if she stops being such a good American and helping everyone.” 😂
And I love editing! It absolutely warms my heart to work with writers and help them get their point across clearly while maintaining each individual author’s voice. So I’d like to continue doing just that.
All that to say I’m looking for a new editing position, and I have a hard deadline of September 30. If you know, you know.
I don’t talk a lot about my actual job here, and that’s because I use this space for other things! But I thought it was important to come over here and let y’all know where I’m at and what I’m working toward in that area of my life, because it absolutely affects everything else I’m able to do with my crafting and my content.
Therefore, I will continue shouting into the void, seeking out meaningful opportunities, and knowing somewhere deep in my soul that the right person will eventually shout back.
I’ll be back here with more crafts + outdoors writing shortly. In the meantime, I’ve returned to Twitch on a casual schedule. Currently I’m doing Thursday Spinning Circles and just getting my yappin’ chops back, but I’m looking forward to adding weaving into the mix very soon! 🌿