Fool-proof Proofreading

As Virtual Professionals, we know that a project can’t only be brilliant and spot on, it must also be spot-less. When it comes to proofreading, we can’t ever have an off day. Every T must be crossed, every comma must be tucked safely into place. The most creative ideas and projects simply lose their luster when returned to us dressed in the glaring red ink of edits and corrections.

For proofreading to really seal the deal however, it must be done at the proper time. Ideally, this is the day after the project is finished – or at least a few hours. Reviewing a project before it cools (or worse, editing as you go) is what good writers call “using a dirty eye.” Great work demands time to sit, and the VP needs time to distance from the material and gain perspective. What sounds like creative alliteration or a great pun at first, may sound pretty foolish after a few hours. (For instance, phrases like “seal the deal” often end up edited out, and for good reason.)

Before you can take out your toolbox, however, you need to have built something worth editing. The pour of ideas and phrases is sometimes like a raging river; other times, it is a trickle that we must coax with all of our might. Editing this flow is like throwing huge rocks into the water. If we do this enough, we will damn up the creativity completely. It is much better to send a “rough” project to a client with great ideas than it is to send a perfectly punctuated bag of rocks. The best scenario, though, is to be creative while building and be editing afterward. We are virtual professionals, and no matter what our specialty, we are joined by the ability to produce brilliant work time after time. Suffocating our process is the last thing we can afford to do.

Once our ideas are solidly in place, and we have had time to stretch and breath – to UNfocus, then we can return and start cutting our diamond out of the coal. Spelling and punctuation are truly the easiest parts of this process. Much more important is the effort to move primary ideas to primary places and secondary thoughts to supporting places. A great piece of work uses two basic rules: 1) No MAIN thought should show up three paragraphs into the copy. In most cases, it’s too weak – and in all cases, it’s too risky. 2) When in doubt, leave it out. The final step to achieving a great product is to “Hemingway” the page. Quite simply, that means blacklining and deleting every spare word or phrase that does not move the message forward.

Proofreading is so much more than knowing the three proper places to use a semi-colon. It is the final, invisible wrapping we put on every project that leaves our desk. Good luck! And remember that if you do need support or you’re not sure when to use that ever-elusive semi-colon or hyphen, a quick note to our Yahoo Group will have the answers flooding back to you at the speed of light.

With gratitude, Michelle Ulrich, Chief Villager

TVN Tip of the Week - Networking

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Today's virtual world is not so far from the neighborhood marketplaces of a century ago. We join communities (like The Virtual Nation), have chats, and through our websites, we open a store and hang out a shingle.

But how do we effectively turn this into a business? For the new VA, promoting her business may take as much time as doing her business. Often the most obvious path (and one of the most effective) costs nothing. It is simple, free word-of-mouth networking.

No matter how long you have been in business, utilizing your existing relationships can springboard you to a new customer base.

#1 Send an email or quick hand-written note to every "boss" or manager from your "old life" -- before your VA business. Let them know what you are doing and ask for referrals. Chances are that they remember your hard work and creativity.

#2 Include everyone from your day-to-day contacts in a bi-monthy ezine (remember to have an opt-out button and full contact information to comply with email laws). Often, these personal relationships will net unexpected assignments and opportunities. (Need some ideas for your ezine? Check out The Virtual Nation's.)

#3 Volunteer a couple of hours a week to local organizations -- both those you belong to and those you don't. As VA's we all bristle at disorganization and jump in to serve our kids' scout troop and our church, but offering to assist your local chamber of commerce or political organization with mailings a few times a year can be big network builders. The point is, use your skills to make connections OUTSIDE of your every-day circle.

Turning your own relationships into business is like filling a vase with flowers from your own garden. These are people who know you and appreciate the unique flavor and warmth you bring to every situation. Invite them into your successful adventure as a VA, and in return, offer them the bargain of a lifetime -- the creative, talented, one-in-a-million YOU.

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With Gratitude, Michelle Ulrich,

Chief Villager & President

The Virtual Nation(tm)

http://www.thevirtualnation.com

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