Qualities of a good editor

So you've written your first novel, or have hashed out your college term paper and now you would like a pair of expert eyes to look it over.  How can you tell if the editor you are thinking of hiring is a good one?  The answer lies not only in technical skills but in how the two of you mesh as a "working team."

Before you hire them, ask them about their background.  What is their education and training?  What jobs are they currently doing?  How long have they been editing? Can they tell you a few examples of work they have edited and people they have worked with?  Can they show you any samples?

Secondly, what are their interests?  Do they seem like a scholarly type who likes to read, or a writer who takes great pleasure in being a wordsmith?  If they do not show any of these qualities, you may want to run as fast as you can in the other direction!  If they only seem tepid towards language and communications, you may want to be cautious about hiring them.

Lastly, but no less important than the first two, how do the the two of you get along?  Do you feel like you can communicate your ideas comfortably with this person?  If you disagree with something they cut out of your paper, will they get offended or uppity when you protest?  If there is going to be a lot of friction when they are working on your paper, this irritation will sooner or later have you avoiding having them work on any more of your writings!  Do you like the person?  If their personality is at odds with yours, you will be uncomfortable spending time with them, and won't want to hand over your hard-earned money.

I don't mean to go on and on about the feelings part of the writer-editor relationship, but it really will undermine everything if something is not right.  I have had people not hire me after they have talked to me for a while and described their project.  I am willing to bet it was for a "feelings" reason.  Did they dislike the tone of my voice?  Did I state an offensive personal belief or value?  Maybe I was too liberal-minded, or prettier than them and they were feeling insecure about it.  Who knows?  It may not have been a rational-minded reason, but it was enough of a reason that they never called me back.

On the other hand, there are people who have hired me because they appreciate my hunger for knowledge, the time I have put into getting good at writing and editing.  Or they like that I am still easy to talk to enjoy sharing a joke once in a while.   There are those who have said, "I can call you any time about anything and you are ready to work on it right away."  One person said, "I can't thank you enough for all you've done."  This is starting to sound like a commercial for me as an editor, but I am just trying to show you that there different clients feel comfortable with different personalities, so keep on looking for an editor that you feel comfortable with, and you will be sure to find the one you "click" with.

Why my cats hate each other

After continuous cat ownership since age 10, I am developing a theory that it's a mistake to have more than one cat. I believe this because cats like to rule their territory, and every time they see another cat, they feel it is a challenge to their supremacy. One of the worst things that hurts their feelings is the insult -- the absolute humiliation -- of being forced to share the love and attention of their owners. Purrcilla we have had the longest, and when David's cats, Schlepp and Schmuck, died, we ventured to the humane society and replaced them with two new cats. Purrcilla was furious, as she felt that her home was finally really "hers" without having to share it with other cats. One of the new cats Suki, has taking a liking to hanging out in Grandma's apartment, and will swat at Purrcilla if she sees Grandma petting Purrcilla! Mystic, our black Persian, loves to slowly creep up to Purrcilla, crowding her space and trapping her in various spots around the house until she hisses and tries to get past him. He will keep this up for hours, following her through the house. Purcilla's solution is to stand by the front door and turn her head to look plaintively at us, as if begging to go outside. Poor Purrcilla. Once out, she will stay sometimes stay out for days on end when the weather is warm, just to get away from "the freaks" (other two cats). Suki is just plain wigged out by any amount of activity, feline or human, and will actually hiss at us if we are moving around too much and she feels she is trapped. Late at night, as David and I are winding down for bed, she will start to whine in a strange cackling way, as if to tell us, "Go to bed already, and snuggle with me!" Despite their personality quirks, after 16 months together they have created some semblance of peace, staked out their personal territories for napping and hanging out, and usually do a pretty good job of pretending that the others don't exist.

Going to N'awlins!

I can't believe it, but it's true. I'm traveling to New Orleans to play my saxophone in the Mardi Gras parades next March! I never intended to go. In fact, I had pretty much decided not to, but got talked into it. It all started when I decided on a lark, to play with the Edison High School Alumni Marching Band in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Minneapolis in March 2010. I had so much fun that I also played in the Aquatennial parade, the Northeast Parade and the St. Anthony Villagefest parade. In late summer, talk began circulating about how the band had been invited to perform in several Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Playing in town was enough excitement, I decided. I didn't need to add the expense and separation from family of flying out town. However, prior to one of the performances, a flute player named Kim approached me and asked if I was planning to travel to New Orleans. I said "No, I've already been to Mardi Gras," Kim said, "Do it for the band. We really need woodwinds." I was taken aback by this, and went home to think it over. Next thing I knew, I was buying a plane ticket, and planning to go after all.

The folks back home can watch us live on the telly. We'll be featured on the 5 o'clock news on KARE-11 in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 5th. Wish me luck as I practice and prepare for the trip of a lifetime!

Please donate to Hooved Animal Rescue Benefit

As a volunteer for the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, I am seeking donations of baked goods, money (to purchase baked goods), and silent auction items for an upcoming fundraiser. A bake sale and silent auction will be held on
Saturday, Nov. 20th from Noon to 4 p.m., in conjunction with the Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services’ (North Branch, MN, sunriseequine.com) Annual Open House and Client Education Day.

All bake sale and silent auction proceeds will benefit the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue (mnhoovedanimalrescue.org). All are welcome to attend this free event. There will be educational programs about horse care, door prizes and refreshments.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• Drop off baked goods (pies are especially popular at this event) at my house on Nov. 18 or 19.
• Mail me a check, and I will use the money to buy high quality baked items at A Baker’s Wife pastry shop in South Minneapolis.
• Mail or drop off silent auction items at my house. Must be received by Nov. 19.

My address is:

Janet Lenius
910 Main Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Donations are tax deductible. I will be dropping off all items at Sunrise Equine on the morning of the event. Please call me with any questions at 612-331-5175. Thank you in advance for your donation!

— Janet Lenius

TONIGHT: The 3rd Ward Neighborhood Fest

Tonight I am exhibiting at a wonderful gathering at the Nicollet Island Pavilion from 6-9 p.m., called the 3rd Ward Neighborhoodfest. Many businesses will be exibiting, and you can find out about neighborhood projects, the Habitat for Humanity project in north Minneapolis with former President Jimmy Carter, plus enjoy free food and entertainment. Hope to see you there!

Courtney Love Rocks First Avenue

I went down to "the hole" (First Avenue nightclub) to see the band Hole Friday night, and despite their very late start, was glad I went. Courtney Love turned 46 the day before the show, making her my contemporary. She still has the Seattle Grunge style, and really rocked out, playing her hits such as "Doll Parts," and even a Replacements song. She came across as a "female Kurt Cobain" -- raw, voicing her frustration in screams that punctuated her songs. I did not care for her free use of profanity, but admired her ease at talking to the audience. She talked about Minneapolis landmarks that no longer exist, such as Goofy's bar, where she wrote one of her songs. At one point during the show, she stopped a song to berate her 20-year-old guitarist for not understanding how significant First Avenue was in her life (she "basically lost her virginity in the bathroom!"). Then she apologized to the guitarist and the audience for her difficulty with intergenerational communication. The only weak part of the show were her two ballads, and I took that opportunity to duck next door into the 7th Street Entry to check out a band I know that was performing there called "Gotterdammerung." Friends watching that show were interested to hear my review about Courtney's show, as they did not buy tickets so could not "cross over" as I could. I loved how she strutted onto the stage in six-inch heels, then announced that she was done wearing those and would not change into flats, which she pulled out of her purse. ("These are cute flats, not practical shoes!, she said defensively.") Courtney ended the show with an acoustic ditty she called "Good Night Minneapolis" -- a send-off as sweet as a good-night lullaby.

An Incredible Week

With three kids, a business, home and marriage, I have a pretty active life. However, last week was even more of a whirlwind than usual. Here are the highlights:

• Sunday - Daughter Tacy departs for her first week of overnight camp in Loretto.

• Monday - Met at music teacher's house with seller to purchase a gorgeous 3/4 size guitar for Tacy (to surprise her with when she returns home from camp). In p.m. attended tap dancing class at Zenon Dance School.

• Tuesday - Had my first Pilates reformer personal training session with Gail at the downtown Y. Love how that machine really makes you balance and coordinate your body. Evening: attended Joan Baez concert at the Minnesota Zoo with David. It was a gorgeous evening, listening to a living legend and her glorious set of pipes and wonderful guitar playing. Talented backup band, too.

• Wednesday - Departed home at 3:30 p.m. and spent the evening volunteering at the WECAN (Women's Education Career Advancement Network) event at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. It was a great night of networking and laughter, as we were entertained with a presentation by the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe.

• Thursday - Attended the Turnquist Child Enrichment Center's (the girls' day care) ice cream social in the evening. It was an idyllic night, and we got to hang out at Bottineau Park with other parents and their kids, eating free pizza and ice cream.

• Friday - In the morning, I had a doctors' appt., where I got my new IUD and learned that my endometrial biopsy results had came back normal. What a great relief! At Noon I took a ballet class at Zenon Dance School. Immediately following, picked Tacy up at camp, 45 minutes each way in an unairconditioned car. Late Evening: biked downtown to First Avenue nightclub and saw Courtney Love and Hole in concert. She strode onstage at 12:45 a.m. and played until bar closing at 2:00 a.m. As I biked home along First Avenue, I was greeted by the intimidating sight of four police horses lined up across the street, ready to keep rowdy bar patrons from rioting.

• Saturday - Attended a free concert with the kids at Orchestra Hall. We enjoyed lovely music by Mozart, Vivaldi, Holst & St.-Saens. Bonus: the kids were all well behaved! Afterwards, we checked out a jazz band around the corner at the Dakota Street Fest and saw incredibly talented tap dancers performing on Peavey Plaza, right next to Orchestra Hall.

• Sunday - (Okay, technically, this belongs to the following week, but it follows a string of amazing days so I'm including it.) We moved our bedroom into the downstairs front room, which I spent many hours painting during the past two weeks. Afterwards, we were exhausted, finally eating dinner at 11 p.m. However, it was great to finally move into the room. The girls are ecstatic to FINALLY get their own bedroom!!!!