Edit Edit Edit

Today has been crazy. Lately it seems like I spend more time at work doing non-work-related things, albeit writing-related (we have downtime). I've been helping Zina write her personal statement for law school. That's been fun, let me tell you. (I've also learned about Russian law while I've been at it.) It took me until about 2 pm to get into it, but once I did, it was great. And then I did get some work--I got to edit something that was translated from Russian to make sure that the English is correct. I've been having fun changing things there too. That took all afternoon.

Despite all the writing fun I've been having and the skills that I try to possess, I've noticed that my writing confidence really wanes depending on who I'm writing for. For instance, branflakes wants me to edit a cover letter (for a job he already has) but he wants to turn in for a class. I actually helped him with the original so it must have been somewhat decent for him to have gotten the job. However, I've had this particular class and I've also had the teacher, whom I actually recommended and who also thinks quite highly of me as a writer. So part of me is somewhat hesitant at the thought of being an advisor for this project just because she's going to see the end result. Seriously people, it's a cover letter, and she won't even have to know I was involved. But I'll know.

Why does writing have to be so subjective?

Whatever I edit I'm sure will be contradicted by the teacher in some form or another, but I guess if branflakes never tells me what she says I'll never have to know. :)

But here's my question. Am I the only one who sometimes feels like this in regards to editing projects? I don't profess to know everything, but I've already been out of school for 2.5 years...so I hope by now I know something.

Anyway, I ramble and babble. I'm sure there will always be someone who is more knowledgeable than I am, but I'm still learning. Nothing is better than on-the-job training. :) The trick is for me to pretend like I also contain that knowledge, especially around those whom I work with who pretend they know what they're doing when they really don't. (Just ask my boss.) And if I don't know something, at least I know right where to find the answer in my trusty Chicago.