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Mar. 14th, 2012 08:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cblj_backupIt cracks me up how gentle my coworkers can be with me sometimes.
In theory I shouldn't be doing the research work I'm doing, but we're still understaffed and I've made it clear that I'd like to move into a Research position at some point, so when a big rush comes in I always get a few. I like the work; it's interesting, if a little creepy, and there's something very satisfying about completing a document.
What's funny is what happens after I send it out to be proofed. My very first document I sent in, Awkward Coworker came over to me and said, "Listen, don't worry if it comes back covered in red ink. I still get tons of corrections on my proofs. It's not personal, some people take it personal" and I thought about extribulum and was like, yeah, I think I'll live.
This past week, with a ton of documents due, the senior associate emailed me proofread copies of the documents I'd done and said "I fixed these and turned them in, I just wanted to let you see how it's going. Here's a list of corrections to watch out for. Please don't feel bad!!!"
I may have LOLed. She sent me a bullet pointed list of things to fix, like, she sent me a checklist to use, and she thinks I'll feel bad?
So I emailed her back, trying to be reassuring, and said "I really appreciate getting a list! That'll make cross-checking my next documents easier," and she wigged out and came to my cubicle and said JUST TO BE SURE, YOU KNOW EVERYONE GETS A LIST, RIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST YOU WHO HAS THESE PROBLEMS.
I felt like, I don't know, Superman or something. I have an internet alter ego that vocally advocates not just a strong editing process but a strong relationship between writer and reader based in criticism; I have three published novels with a fourth one in edits, and yet at work I am mild mannered Sam Starbuck who for all they know has never received constructive criticism on print work before.
But then in my Monday status meeting with the Director I said, "I've noticed some inconsistency in the edits -- when you proof me you want dashes in birthdates, but when the senior associate proofs me she asks for slashes. I know it's a small thing but I was hoping to clarify, 'cause it's probably not just me this is happening to," and she started laughing and said, "Okay, you're doing fine here, aren't you?"
Yes ma'am, I certainly am.
In theory I shouldn't be doing the research work I'm doing, but we're still understaffed and I've made it clear that I'd like to move into a Research position at some point, so when a big rush comes in I always get a few. I like the work; it's interesting, if a little creepy, and there's something very satisfying about completing a document.
What's funny is what happens after I send it out to be proofed. My very first document I sent in, Awkward Coworker came over to me and said, "Listen, don't worry if it comes back covered in red ink. I still get tons of corrections on my proofs. It's not personal, some people take it personal" and I thought about extribulum and was like, yeah, I think I'll live.
This past week, with a ton of documents due, the senior associate emailed me proofread copies of the documents I'd done and said "I fixed these and turned them in, I just wanted to let you see how it's going. Here's a list of corrections to watch out for. Please don't feel bad!!!"
I may have LOLed. She sent me a bullet pointed list of things to fix, like, she sent me a checklist to use, and she thinks I'll feel bad?
So I emailed her back, trying to be reassuring, and said "I really appreciate getting a list! That'll make cross-checking my next documents easier," and she wigged out and came to my cubicle and said JUST TO BE SURE, YOU KNOW EVERYONE GETS A LIST, RIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST YOU WHO HAS THESE PROBLEMS.
I felt like, I don't know, Superman or something. I have an internet alter ego that vocally advocates not just a strong editing process but a strong relationship between writer and reader based in criticism; I have three published novels with a fourth one in edits, and yet at work I am mild mannered Sam Starbuck who for all they know has never received constructive criticism on print work before.
But then in my Monday status meeting with the Director I said, "I've noticed some inconsistency in the edits -- when you proof me you want dashes in birthdates, but when the senior associate proofs me she asks for slashes. I know it's a small thing but I was hoping to clarify, 'cause it's probably not just me this is happening to," and she started laughing and said, "Okay, you're doing fine here, aren't you?"
Yes ma'am, I certainly am.
