X-Persona: Return-Path: Message-ID: List-Unsubscribe: Date: XX XXX 2000 21:14:40 -0000 From: Freelance@onelist.com Reply-To: Freelance@onelist.com To: Freelance@onelist.com Subject: [Freelance] Digest Number 1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DON'T HATE YOUR RATE! Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees.Apply NOW! http://xxx/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your subscription; view the archives, bookmarks, or calendar; access the shared files: http://www.onelist.com/group/Freelance Freelance website: http://www.comteck.com/~tanuki/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are 25 messages in this issue. Topics in today's digest: 1. LMP alternative? From: XXX 2. Re: LMP alternative? From: XXX 3. Re: Reputable Publishers From: XXX 4. Re: LMP alternative? From: XXX 5. Re: TOOLS: repetitive strain injuries From: XXX 6. Re: LMP alternative? From: XXX 7. RE: LMP alternative? From: XXX 8. Being listed in LMP From: XXX 9. RE: LMP alternative? From: XXX 10. Re: LMP alternative? From: XXX 11. Re: Being listed in LMP From: XXX 12. Re: Being listed in LMP From: XXX 13. Stupid newbie question... From: XXX 14. LMP From: XXX 15. New subscribers From: XXX 16. Office chairs (WAS repetitive strain injuries) From: XXX 17. repetitive strain injuries /eye question From: XXX 18. reputable publishers From: XXX 19. Re: Census employment From: XXX 20. Re: Office chairs (WAS repetitive strain injuries) From: XXX 21. Re: Re: Census employment From: XXX 22. Re: reputable publishers From: XXX 23. Re: Re: reputable publishers From: XXX 24. Re: office chairs From: XXX 25. Re: Re: office chairs From: XXX _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 1 Date: Thu, 2000 09:19:02 EST From: XXX Subject: LMP alternative? I was rather unpleasantly surprised to find that the LMP costs upwards of $200. Is there an alternative available for those who would like to contact book publishers for tests? I dread the idea of going to the library to start xeroxing pages, and I am nowhere near any publishing houses. FR Copyeditor/Proofreader _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 2000 09:10:16 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: LMP alternative? At 09:19 AM XXX/00 -0500, you wrote: >From: FR > >I was rather unpleasantly surprised to find that the LMP costs upwards of >$200. Is there an alternative available for those who would like to contact >book publishers for tests? I dread the idea of going to the library to start >xeroxing pages, and I am nowhere near any publishing houses. Hi all: Actually, the cost is over $300 for the electronic version of the LMP. I don't have the url for the LMP, but if you do a search on the LMP on the net, you can get the electronic version of it. You can then subscribe to the LMP to get the name/address of publishing companies listed in the LMP. The Writer's Market is a much less expensive print resource. Just remember that print directories are slightly out-of-date in terms of information when they are published. There is also the AAUP annual directory. The AAUP has a website that frequently lists contact names/addresses. (looking forward to a contra dance tonite....) WM Indexing, Proofreading, Editing, Research _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 3 Date: Thu 2000 09:30:30 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: Reputable Publishers Snip from W: > So, I say to those list members who recently > expressed an interest in transitioning to book > editing: NYC is where the action is! How true. I live a two-hour drive from NYC, but next month I'm moving closer so that I can pursue more clients from the big city. I don't mind working with small publishers, but I'm tired of the attitude. Check out this comment, which I received from an acquisitions editor yesterday. It's her response to my $29,000 quote on a 144-page 8-1/2 x 11-inch trim book with 35 photos (with models) and 189 complex, technical illustrations. > I have to admit, I was a little shocked by your cost estimate. I > don't think there's a possibility that your estimate will fit our > budget. I guess I don't understand how, exactly, those dollars are > dispersed amongst the elements. FYI, packager book fees usually range from $24,000 to $40,000-plus, depending on the subject, complexity, etc. And it takes a lot of nerve to ask for a cost breakdown. Take my numbers, counter offer, or reject! -- SH ---------- _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 4 Date: Thu 2000 08:34:42 -0600 From: XXX Subject: Re: LMP alternative? > I was rather unpleasantly surprised to find that the LMP costs upwards of > $200. Is there an alternative available for those who would like to contact > book publishers for tests? I dread the idea of going to the library to start > xeroxing pages, and I am nowhere near any publishing houses. It helps to think of the $200 as an investment. You will earn it back with your first project. I considered the $180 I paid for the 1994 LMP (a mailing from which netted me my first client, and my first project, which paid $400, within 6 months) money well spent. Best, A =============================== _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 5 Date: Thu 2000 09:41:27 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: TOOLS: repetitive strain injuries Snip from PA: > + I replaced nonadjustable chair arms with adjustable ones > for my otherwise wonderfully adjustable office chair. (Bought > from the manufacturer for about $50.) In the next few months I plan to purchase my junky office chair. I'd love to learn the brands, styles, and features that other pros like. Suggestions? -- SH ---------- _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 6 Date: Thu 2000 09:25:56 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: LMP alternative? >It helps to think of the $200 as an investment. You will earn it back with >your first project. I considered the $180 I paid for the 1994 LMP (a >mailing from which netted me my first client, and my first project, which >paid $400, within 6 months) money well spent. Hi All: It does help to think of it as an investment. However, one has to consider other priorities at the same time. For instance, I am currently paying for the ASI conference in May plus other membership and meeting fees. It is a worthwhile investment if one has the money to pay for it. However, if money is tight, then one has to weigh the importance of all issues in order to decide if the investment is practical or not. WA (who wishes these decisions were easier....) _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 7 Date: Thu 2000 07:47:54 -0700 From: XXX Subject: RE: LMP alternative? Great question. Here is the URL, it says you can sign up for a free portion of the site. I just signed up and not sure what info we can get to but it's worth a try. http://www.literarymarketplace.com/lmp/us/index_us.asp SD _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 8 Date: Thu 2000 09:41:21 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Being listed in LMP Hi All: Someone last year described the process of being listed in the LMP as a service. I tried doing a search on the archives, but couldn't come up with the thread. Would someone mind repeating the steps that are necessary to be listed in the LMP? Thanks. WM Indexing, Proofreading, Editing, Research _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 9 Date: Thu 2000 07:56:25 -0700 From: XXX Subject: RE: LMP alternative? So much for that. It only gives the names and addresses, for anything else, you have to pay the subscription. :( SD _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 10 Date: Thu 2000 09:03:51 -0600 From: XXX Subject: Re: LMP alternative? > It is a worthwhile investment if one has the money to pay for it. However, > if money is tight, then one has to weigh the importance of all issues in > order to decide if the investment is practical or not. Oh, I agree! I certainly don't have $200 handy every time I see something I want that costs that. And that $180 (even though it was a tax deduction) was a big ouch. But (as I'm painfully learning in starting my part-time jewelry-making business), the old saw that you have to spend money to make money is painfully true, even in our business. Sure, we carry no inventory and (usually) pay no employee wages or high rent for office space -- but there are the initial investments of a computer and software, perhaps other office equipment, maybe some appropriate furniture, and so on. After that, as my tax preparer is constantly remarking, ours is a relatively low-expense business. But you won't have a business without clients -- so it would seem that finding them should be a high priority. Yes, there are other ways to go, and they may not cost as much (or cost anything, for that matter), but they may take you that much longer to find those clients. If others can find a way to get started on a shoestring, that's wonderful for them. But I found using LMP highly effective (thanks, Karen Judd!), and I always recommend it! Best, A =============================== _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 11 Date: Thu 2000 09:11:00 -0600 From: XXX Subject: Re: Being listed in LMP > Someone last year described the process of being listed in the LMP as a > service. I tried doing a search on the archives, but couldn't come up with > the thread. Would someone mind repeating the steps that are necessary to > be listed in the LMP? I sent a message to advertising@bowker.com , telling them that I was a freelance CE/PR seeking to be listed. Eventually I received the forms. You will need to provide three letters of reference from current publishing-industry clients. After that, you just get a renewal form each year. I haven't yet seen my listing (haven't been to the library to look!), nor have I received any calls. But for a free listing, I'm not too concerned! Best, A =============================== _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 12 Date: Thu 2000 10:01:36 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: Being listed in LMP >I sent a message to advertising@bowker.com , telling them that I was a >freelance CE/PR seeking to be listed. Eventually I received the forms. >You >will need to provide three letters of reference from current >publishing-industry clients. After that, you just get a renewal form each >year. I haven't yet seen my listing (haven't been to the library to look!), >nor have I received any calls. But for a free listing, I'm not too >concerned! Hi Again: I was curious how much work is generated from this listing. It may be necessary to be listed for a couple of years before one can determine whether it generates work or not. OTOH, one can never be listed in too many places. :) WM Indexing, Proofreading, Editing, Research _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 13 Date: Thu 2000 07:33:34 -0800 (PST) From: XXX Subject: Stupid newbie question... Hi. Could somebody tell me (off-list if that's appropriate) whan an LMP is? Most of my work is for trade publications and I've never encountered the term before. Thanks muchly, K (blushing just a smidge at revealing her green side...) ===== _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 14 Date: Thu 2000 11:33:06 -0500 From: XXX Subject: LMP At 10:33 AM XXX/2000, K wrote: >Could somebody tell me (off-list if that's >appropriate) whan an LMP is? Most of my work is for >trade publications and I've never encountered the term >before. I didn't want to reuse the subject line... But it is a pretty common question, which is why we plonked the answer in the welcome message. LMP = Literary Marketplace It's a large volume (well, now 2 volumes) that lists information about the major book publishers, complete with addresses, subjects, some staff, phone, web site, that sort of thing. There are also sections devoted to support industries (printers, binders, marketing agencies), packagers, and independent editorial services (in which some people hereabouts are listed; see related thread). Lots of stuff. They do an international version and a small press version as well. The easiest, cheapest way to look it over is to go to a public library. Most public library reference desks have the recent edition on hand, and all university libraries carry it. (If you live in a town my size, just drive to a larger library in another town. That's easy.) The reference desk will also have that Writer's Market volume. Back issues may be available for checkout--or might show up in the library's annual book sale. VW _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 15 Date: Thu 2000 11:34:50 -0500 From: XXX Subject: New subscribers Some new(er) subscribers (hey, I'm having a slow week): XXX XXX XXX Welcome to the list. VW _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 16 Date: Thu 2000 12:24:20 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Office chairs (WAS repetitive strain injuries) S wants to replace her chair. Mine is a Global with an adjustable seat and back (tilt and height for both) that I bought at Staples for about $300. This model came with hard-molded plastic arms, which I finally had enough of after about a year. So, I went into my local store, and the office furniture guy found me a phone number for the company. I called with the model number of my chair, and after the rep consulted briefly with her manager, she told me I could order one of several arm options for the same price ($49, I think). She faxed me the sheet from her catalog, and I was in business a few days later with adjustable (again, height and tilt), padded arms! Yee haw! One thing I remember wistfully from my employee days: our Herman Miller chairs. Swivel-adjustable (left-right) arms. Chairs in sizes to fit your body frame. Forward and backward seat tilt. Ahh -- one day, I will have one in my home office. P ######## _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 17 Date: Thu 2000 12:42:14 -0500 From: XXX Subject: repetitive strain injuries /eye question J writes >P's answers on ergonomics were great--something for all of us there, probably.< You betchums -- I saved that digest! Thanks, P! >My question is about eyestrain....< I can't help with the eye-discharge problem, but eyestrain is something to keep an, er, eye on as well as hand pain. If you're using the plain-vanilla black type on white background that Windows provides, take half an hour to play with it (the settings are under Display on the Control Panel). I have a lot of astigmatism, and find that a low-contrast screen is easiest to deal with -- a sort of light slate blue background with dark slate blue lettering. Others like as much contrast as possible... but everybody's different and the chances are really good that what you've got isn't what's best for you unless you've done some serious playing with it. Then there's making sure that there's no visible flicker, and that you're seeing the screen in focus.... And somebody asked about touchpads vs. mice -- check the archives on Power Cat (or Cirque, the company that makes it). I've been burbling about it off and on for years, and judging from the responses, a fair proportion of the list has switched over.... HP Freelance copyediting and substantive editing ______________________________________________________________________________ _ Message: 18 Date: Thu 2000 12:42:18 -0500 From: XXX Subject: reputable publishers M writes >So you're singing the praises of New York publishers. It would be a kick to do work for a big-name New York publisher, and I like the high editorial standards part almost as much as the higher pay part. Is there intense competition to get work with New York publishers? Does the pay vary by the region of the country in which the freelancer lives? Any words of wisdom?< Sour grapes, maybe (my only NY client is a nonprofit think tank, not a publisher), but I've heard more ill than good of the big guys' rates and practices. And I once got a truly pitiable round of calls from an author whose turgid prose I'd rescued for a Bay Area client. He'd sold his next book to a big NY house and was expecting an even better edit, "But all they did was touch up the grammar and spelling! It's awful!" "That's how it works sometimes," sez I sympathetically. "If you want the best fruit and vegetables, you go to a specialty store, not the biggest supermarket in town...." He actually got authorization from the publisher to buy another edit, so they didn't totally disown him -- but unfortunately by that time it all had to be done in something like seven days and I simply couldn't fit it in against my other deadlines. I hope he found help.... HP _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 19 Date: Thu 2000 13:12:59 EST From: XXX Subject: Re: Census employment In a message dated XXX/00 11:38:03 PM Eastern Standard Time, Freelance@onelist.com writes: << Actually, this is a reminder that the Census Department is looking for help, at least in the Boston area. I just took the test this morning (only missed about 3 questions out of 28). >> I took the test too, and now I'm waiting for the call to work, I'm hoping that when they check my references, my former boss, who's a sometime client, won't think less of me for taking the work. (After all, it's not even remotely editing- or writing-related!) :) AW _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 20 Date: Thu 2000 13:40:39 -0800 From: XXX Subject: Re: Office chairs (WAS repetitive strain injuries) I have one of the "ergonomic chairs" for my computer. I bought it in 1886 in Knoxville TN. It has the knee-rest and seat made of canvas. It has no back and no arms. I don't know how anyone uses a computer for any length of time with another kind of chair. The chair I have rocks, and this helps keep me from getting too chairbound. J _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 21 Date: Thu 2000 13:17:30 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: Re: Census employment >I took the test too, and now I'm waiting for the call to work, I'm >hoping that when they check my references, my former boss, who's a sometime >client, won't think less of me for taking the work. (After all, it's not >even remotely editing- or writing-related!) :) Hi all: That's the situation that I'm in, as well. Since the work is supposed to start on Census Day (April 1), it would seem that we should not have to wait too long. 'The situation appears to be extremely flexible, at least the way it was described to me. It's obviously not the same as editing or indexing, but it would be a chance to get out doors and talk to people. And it would be a regular, weekly paycheck. OTOH, every time I apply for some kind of steady employment, I seem to get an offer to for a long-terrm indexing job WM (who is glad I'm not the only one on the list thinking about this......) _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 22 Date: Thu 2000 14:06:09 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: reputable publishers > From: XXX > > So you're singing the praises of New York publishers. It would > be a kick to do work for a big-name New York publisher, and I like > the high editorial standards part almost as much as the higher pay > part. Is there intense competition to get work with New York publishers? Of course there's competition, but I wouldn't call it "intense." Never mind that. Focus on this: There is a TON OF WORK available from NYC book publishers. > Does the pay vary by the region of the country in which the freelancer > lives? No, but rates *are* negotiable. A publisher's hourly rate for, say, copyediting, is the same whether you live in New York or Oshkosh. Once you've done one or two jobs for a publisher at its "going" rate, however, you can negotiate for a higher rate. If the publisher likes your work, it *will* up the rate. > Any words of wisdom? Yeah: (1) Get the word out - they can't hire you if they don't know you're out there. (2) Direct your resume + cover letter to managing editors *by name* - the people responsible for hiring freelancers. Get a copy of the LMP (available at most libraries). Write down the name and address of every managing editor in every division/department of every publisher you are interested in working for as a freelancer. Resumes sent to "Managing Editor" or "Personnel Dept." are ignored, misdirected, thrown out. It is important to contact MEs directly. Doing so shows that you took the time and effort to consult the LMP/learn about the company. Hope this helps. Kind regards, W _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 23 Date: Thu 2000 15:07:59 EST From: XXX Subject: Re: Re: reputable publishers In a message dated XXX 7:10:42 PM !!!First Boot!!!, XXX writes: << Get a copy of the LMP (available at most libraries). Write down the name and address of every managing editor in every division/department of every publisher you are interested in working for as a freelancer. Resumes sent to "Managing Editor" or "Personnel Dept." are ignored, misdirected, thrown out. It is important to contact MEs directly. Doing so shows that you took the time and effort to consult the LMP/learn about the company. >> I'll go you one better. All the publisher's I've worked for, except the one that recruited me, I first connected with by way of a phone call to the managing editor. Once we had established rapport on the phone I could get a pretty good sense of whether I would get work. I also liked the fact that the editor would already have a memory of our conversation when he or she looked at my cover letter and resume. Would I spend the long distance charges to make this kind of personal contact? You bet. Did I annoy a couple of MEs. Probably. Did I get more work than I can handle? Yes. Am I crazy and pushy? What do you think? Incidentally, my most lucrative client is one I cold called out of the Writer's Market, and the manuscripts aren't even in my field. I even took the bull by the horns about getting a test from them. They hadn't sent me a test after receiving my resume, so one day when I was going to be near their offices, I called and said I'd like to pick one up. I must have done well: I've done 5 (or is it 6) books for them so far. M _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 24 Date: Thu 2000 15:24:26 -0500 From: XXX Subject: Re: office chairs J wrote: > I have one of the "ergonomic chairs" for my computer... knee-rest...no back...no arms. I don't know how anyone uses a computer for any length of time with another kind of chair. < A Balans chair is what I had, too, until two weeks ago when the flange holding the seat to the metal frame broke abruptly, dumping me unceremoniously into a pretzel. I bought mine circa 1986 with my first 286. I love it. It takes some getting used to, like using the mouse with the non-dominant hand. The foam and fabric on the seat and kneepad of mine is worn down to the plywood frame and I had been thinking of recovering them. Now I'm using a kitchen chair temporarily; it's the wrong height and I can't sit at the computer longer than 20 or 30 minutes without getting antsy. This was a serious problem when I was trying to finish up my last project. I've made a few calls to try to find a new one and a few more to try to find someone willing to weld the flange back, both without result. Do they even sell inexpensive ones these days, or will I have to start hitting the yard sales? I'll have to start looking in earnest soon. I may even have to *gasp* drive to Raleigh. Ideas, anyone? Aside from aligning my spine perfectly, the big advantage of my Balans chair is that I have no lap to serve as a cat base too near the keyboard. Instead, she puts her back paws on the seat, stretches out along my spine, hooks her front paws over my shoulder, and rubs her cheek against mine. She can't hold this pose for more than ten minutes, which is plenty of affection for both of us. However, she can still head-butt my elbows. Cheers, D _______________________________________________________________________________ Message: 25 Date: Thu 2000 16:14:31 EST From: XXX Subject: Re: Re: office chairs In a message dated XXX/2000 4:05:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, D writes: << Do they even sell inexpensive ones these days, or will I have to start hitting the yard sales? >> D: Our local Office Depot and Service Merchandise stores have a Baluns-type chair, for under $50. I've had one for about 5 years and it's still in good shape, as is my back. My wife tried to use one, but she said she was afraid of getting killed while dismounting, so hers is in the basement, waiting for me when my present one makes _me_ into a pretzel. NS ___________________________________________________________________________ ***sampleEOF651ab***