My first job after college was editing at a small publishing company in Westport, Connecticut. After I married, I took time off to raise a family, go to grad school, and have a career in education. Forty-three years after that first editing job ended, I have decided to try my hand in that field again. I had business cards made and scouted around for a freelance editing job. When I was finally offered one, I was ecstatic.
Then my anxiety kicked in. The publisher said this project, a fiction manuscript, should end up being about 90,000 words. I started figuring out how long that will take me. And the more that I thought about it, the more anxious I became. I researched the copyediting standard for the average pages one could edit an hour. The limit seems to be ten. The average is six. Since I’ve been away from this for so many years, and I want to make sure I don’t miss anything, I’m figuring I will only be able to do five pages an hour. I also don’t want to work at it more than five hours a day because I have other responsibilities, and sitting in front of a computer for more than five hours a day would be bad for my back and my eyes.
After doing the math, I realized I would have to do more than five pages an hour and work more than five hours a day. Much more on both accounts. This project was overwhelming me, and the publisher hasn’t even sent it to me yet. In fact, it’s been keeping me awake at night.
All that changed yesterday when my husband and I went out to lunch. We were sitting outside on glider tables by the water at our favorite summer spot, Rudee’s. We had ordered iced tea and were waiting for our beer-battered shrimp to arrive. I was trying to focus on what my husband was saying, but my anxious mind was pulling me back to the enormous editing job.
All of a sudden, a thought occurred to me, and with a huge sigh of relief, I started laughing and took out my calculator.
“What’s so funny?” my husband asked.
“I don’t want to tell you because you will laugh at me.” Since I was already laughing at myself, I reconsidered. I told him about my anxiety over this impending editing job and how, by my calculations, it would take me 150 days if I edited ten pages an hour and worked ten-hour days. Then, in a rare moment of clarity, I just realized I was thinking about 90,000 words as 90,000 pages. Obviously, there is a huge difference! A page actually averages 250 words on a double-spaced page of type.
“I may not be in trouble after all.” I wiped my eyes, my laughter not subsiding. “By my new calculations, I can edit this manuscript in three or four weeks doing five pages an hour and working five-hour days.”
I thought my husband would share in my mirth, but he just stared at me and shook his head.
“It’s a good thing you aren’t editing a math book.”
Coming East 
No longer blogging??????
Think I might get started again
lol! I used to do a little freelance editing in the science field (for those in other countries who want to publish in English). It’s great to be able to accept or turn down a job. 🙂
George always has an answer. Next time, let him do the math! You stick with the alphabet.
You go girl! Congrats on getting back to editing….
The beauty of being retired and doing freelancing is that I can quit anytime if I don’t like it. I hope I like it, too.
I’m laughing! Why? Because I would be in the same boat. While I have good editing skills too, my math ability leaves a lot to be desired! I tend to freak out a bit when I have to substitute teach and the subject is math. Language arts and everything else in between are right up my alley but math makes me anxious. Good luck in your new endeavor; you’ll do great!
Ooh! Me, too, Mama, when I was substituting. I’d rather sub for the boys gym teacher than take a math class. And my father was a math genius. I certainly didn’t get any of those genes.
Yep, I hear ya!! My dad was a math whiz too. Those genes skipped me for sure!
This sounds like a great project to test the waters – shallow enough not to drown, deep enough to know if it is what you want to do again!
Well put, Margie!
How exciting! Good luck with your new gig!!
Thanks, Carol. Hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew.
Good luck! Sounds like a good opportunity that you can bow out of if it’s not what you want.
I’m very excited about it, now that I know it’s manageable.
I think you will do a great job at anything that strikes your fancy.
What a sweet reply! Thank you.
Cracked me up! I’m glad that re were able to relieve your anxiety. I’m sure you’ll be great. All the best!
Oops, I wish I could do a little editing of my own. *headdesk*
Want to hire me?
I’m sure I’ll find something else to be anxious about, unfortunately. It’s in my nature. Sigh.
Stick to your day job LOL
Um, that would mean staying retired, Gary. Not a bad idea.
Being retired is good too, Susan. Time to relax, reflect and rejuvenate. 🙂
I agree, Judith. But that’s the beauty of freelancing. I can take a job or two, and then stop again. Plus, it’s fiction, so it should be fun to read. Once George finally retires, I probably won’t want to keep doing this anyway.