From: SMTP%"LISTSERV@BINGVMB.cc.binghamton.edu" 9-AUG-1996 07:59:59.30 To: CIRJA02 CC: Subj: File: "INDEX-L LOG9607C" Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 07:39:09 +0000 From: BITNET list server at BINGVMB (1.8a) Subject: File: "INDEX-L LOG9607C" To: CIRJA02@GSVMS1.CC.GASOU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 07:27:09 -0500 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: DLWITT@ALEX.STKATE.EDU Subject: home offie To all on index-l. Any freelancers will be interested in the article on taxes, zoning and home offices, particularly in small towns, which appeared in the Business section of the sunday New York Times, July 14, 1996, on the front page. I personally have not experienced any difficulties with the issues discussed in the article, but wonder if others have. The article has some interesting statistics and charts on the growth of home businesses and where they are located. DLWITTT@alex.stkate.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 10:25:39 -0500 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carol Roberts Subject: Re: INDEX-L Digest - 11 Jul 1996 to 12 Jul 1996 Welcome! > >MEDIUM: Is the index presented as printed pages, subject to further >editing and processing before publication? Or is a computer disc, even >direct wire transmission for that matter, an acceptable method? Or yet >still do some publishers accept camera-ready copy? Yes, yes, and yes. That is, different publishers want different things. I work mostly for academic presses, and they almost always want a disk and a double-spaced printout. I have occasionally sent an index as an e-mail attachment. So far, no client has asked me for camera-ready copy. > >FORMAT: [This may raise theological questions.] If an index is presented >in data form, what is the preferred word processing format, out >of the dozens available? Straight ASCII, RTF, MS-Word, Envision Publisher, >GeoWorks...? Some of my clients ask for MS Word, and others want WordPerfect. I can supply other formats, but after my clients hear that I can offer Word and WP, they just pick one of those. I always ask what medium (including what sort of disk) and what format when I'm first finding out the details of the job. When I was still quite new, I did an index for an author (i.e., working directly with the author). I supplied the author with an index in MS Word on a Mac disk, and a hard copy, which he then turned over to his publisher. I later found out that the Press couldn't open the disk, but instead of getting back to me and asking for a different disk, they had the index typeset from my hard copy! Fortunately, the Press liked my index and later gave me more work, but it was an embarrassing introduction to a new publisher. Cheers, Carol Roberts, indexer and copy editor | Life is good. Carol.Roberts@mixcom.com | Milwaukee, WI | ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 11:34:38 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Rachel Rice Subject: resume question Hi everyone, Sorry all I ever do is ask for help, and I hardly ever feel confident enough to offer any. I appreciate everyone's help for past issues. I am proud to say I have made some cold calls, which was really hard and I made an idiot of myself on a few of them, but 3 people asked for my resume, one said they only hire locals, one said, "we don't have a program like that" (and I'm like, what?) and the rest I left messages for. One called back to say the relevant person was on vacation, which I thought was nice. And by the way, I met someone who said they had called ASI and gotten an indexer that way, so it pays to be a member, and in the directory! And now, my question is this: when someone wants my resume, do they mean my regular resume that gives all my jobs in all the fields I've worked in, with all the duties, job titles, dates of employment, etc.? Or do they really just want dates, job titles, but not all the list of duties, etc., and just in the particular field that they publish in? Also, my resume is great for psych book publishers, but what if I want to do books outside of my job experience but within my life experience? I really want to do cat and dog and horse books, but all I can lay claim to is a lifetime of love of animals and sharing my life with them. I do run a cat shelter, but it's private, not an adoption place, not like the Humane Society, or anything, just an eccentric rich lady's hobby, and I've never worked for a vet or anything like that. How can I show that I'm experienced if I don't have anything on that good ol' resume? I know I can say something in the cover letter, but should I bother to send my resume if there's nothing relevant in it? And none of the books I've done so far even have the word animal in them. Well, maybe they have the word, but you know what I mean. They aren't relevant, either. I hope everyone affected by Hurricane Bertha made out OK. Thanks in advance, AGAIN, for all your great help and advice. Rachel Rachel Rice Directions Unlimited Desktop Services Chilmark, Mass. rachelr@tiac.net; http://www.tiac.net/users/rachelr/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 11:50:05 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Prindex@AOL.COM Subject: Re: resume question Rachel, After sending out resumes with irrelevant information for awhile I finally decided that if the information doesn't make me look particularly good, I don't have to send it. I'm now favoring the "cover letter resume" approach so that I can mention the experience I want to mention without feeling like I have to list everything I''ve done in the last 10 years. Judy Press ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 12:13:26 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: JPerlman@AOL.COM Subject: Re: resume (long) Rachel, You've asked some excellent, very relevant questions. (I'll bet it's what every new indexer has wanted to know but has been afraid to ask!) On your resume, I would list the jobs you've had, barebones, with just enough info to identify what you did if the job title isn't descriptive enough. I had a similar issue to deal with, having had a career in publishing, time out to raise my young family for a few years, during which I freelanced, 15 years spent thereafter in the business world, doing nothing related to publishing excepting some occasional freelancing, and then finally a return to freelancing with a vengeance, leading to full-time freelancing. I had also did nonprofit organization work, which led to Phoenix area president, so there was writing, speaking, management in there too. Looked like a hodgepodge. I have a BS degree in chemistry, an MA (1990) in Management, and never worked in chemistry, but did work in technical publishing. What I ended up with was a functional resume. This grouped my experience/skill areas into functional groups, rather than chronologically. So I had a heading EXPERIENCE, and subheadings like Indexing and Editing Experience, where I could list my freelancing through the years, the fulltime publishing experience, which was editing, not indexing, and the editing and writing I did in my "other" employment doing administrative work (writing policy manuals, editing, revising, indexing them). This type of resume zeroes in on skills, and groups them together. It's a way of putting together your life experience into something that makes sense, and often is used to combine life experience, work experience, nonprofit experiences, etc. to show skill areas. I no longer do that, now that I'm a full-time indexer and can rely on my indexing experience to get me jobs, but I used this kind of a resume when I was newer at it, just going back into the field after years of doing other things. I could see you have subheads under EXPERIENCE for Psychology, in which you could list your work experience, book indexing in the field, degrees, etc; another subhead for Animal Interests, in which you could put your cat shelter and any other relevant experience; another for Indexing, in which you could put your statement "Graduate, USDA Indexing Courses" plus listing years of experience, or number of books indexed, etc - starting to count from when you started taking the course, so it looks a little better than it is. If you have other skills that I don't know about here, I hope you can factor them into this type of pattern. And .... don't forget your non-paid experience. That's a part of your background too. So if you edited newsletters all your life, for work, for nonprofits organizations, for animal organizations, etc -- put that in somoehow. Or if you did volunteer work, that too. Let the resume give a total picture of you. Another technique I use is to have a boxed area at the top of the resume that has about 4-6 sentences that are a professional summary (NOT a personal statement) of "you." Mine says "Janet Perlman is a professional indexer with more than 20 years of experience. Her wide background int he business world and graduate school qualifies her for all general indexing assignments. Janet's specialty is scientific and technical indexing, the result of her chemistry college major and her technical publishing experience. Janet has indexed trade and reference books, technical journals, and conference proceedings." By the way, with all those years of experience to summarize, my resume is ONE page long. That's all! I summarized as much as possible. I have the Professional Summary box, Education and Training (list degrees), EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, and PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (indexing- and book world-related). It took a long time to get it down to 1 page, but it was necessary. I usually append a one or two page list of books indexed, and I have various that I use depending whether it is for a sci/tech publisher, a general publisher, etc. I don't re-create one for each new client, but I do have a couple of alternative ones. In my cover letter (and also in my resume under the "freelance indexer" portion), I list some of my clients. In my resume I say "clients include X,Y, Z" - just a couple. In my resume, I say "clients include such publishers as X, Y, Z, and the B organization." Tells people the caliber of publisher you work for, and it'll show that you are not without experience completely, even though new to the field. I hope these ideas help you out Rachel, and everybody else out there who is just starting to re-career, as I did. Good luck to all! Janet Perlman Southwest Indexing ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 09:18:44 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Weaver Subject: Re: Index format In-Reply-To: <9607151556.AA17589@mx3.u.washington.edu> Even when clients ask for a particular word processor format (e.g., WordPerfect or Word for Windows) I usually send a Cindex-generated .RTF file on disk as well. Even if they can't read the word processor format for some reason (like it's the wrong version for their software), they (whether DOS/Windows or Mac) can usually open a .RTF file. Carolyn Weaver Bellevue, Wa. e-mail: cweaver@u.washington.edu voice: 206/930-4348 On Mon, 15 Jul 1996, Carol Roberts wrote: > > > >FORMAT: [This may raise theological questions.] If an index is presented > >in data form, what is the preferred word processing format, out > >of the dozens available? Straight ASCII, RTF, MS-Word, Envision Publisher, > >GeoWorks...? > When I was still quite new, I did an index for an author (i.e., > working directly with the author). I supplied the author with an index in > MS Word on a Mac disk, and a hard copy, which he then turned over to his > publisher. I later found out that the Press couldn't open the disk, but > instead of getting back to me and asking for a different disk, they had the > index typeset from my hard copy! Fortunately, the Press liked my index and > later gave me more work, but it was an embarrassing introduction to a new > publisher. > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 09:41:03 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Weaver Subject: Re: resume question In-Reply-To: <9607151537.AA04118@mx4.u.washington.edu> My librarian-type resume (covering a 30 year career) is now about 6-8 pages long, and not much of it is relevant to indexing; so that one stays in the drawer (or the computer) most of the time. My current indexing resume is two pages and will never get any longer. In the beginning, when there was little actual indexing experience to include, I listed my experience as a medical librarian (medical indexing is my specialty), newsletter editor, service on publishing-related committees, journalism classes, public library board of trustees, etc. - anything vaguely related to publishing or familiarity with medical literature, plus the titles I had indexed, few as they were. As I gained more indexing experience, the peripheral stuff gradually disappeared, to be replaced by a constantly growing list of "titles indexed". Now the librarian section of the resume is nothing more than a list of my degrees, job titles and dates, plus relevent professional memberships (ASI, MLA, etc.) I update it constantly and print it out as needed to send to prospective clients, along with a cover letter and one or more samples of my work. Having been on the receiving end of many resumes, my feeling is that recipients only want to see what's relevant - and the shorter the better. Mine gives prospective clients a feel for the type of material I index and my background/qualifications for my specialty; anything additional goes in the cover letter. Carolyn Weaver Bellevue, Wa. e-mail: cweaver@u.washington.edu voice: 206/930-4348 On Mon, 15 Jul 1996, Rachel Rice wrote: > > And now, my question is this: when someone wants my resume, do they mean my > regular resume that gives all my jobs in all the fields I've worked in, > with all the duties, job titles, dates of employment, etc.? Or do they > really just want dates, job titles, but not all the list of duties, etc., > and just in the particular field that they publish in? > > Also, my resume is great for psych book publishers, but what if I want to > do books outside of my job experience but within my life experience? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 09:58:12 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Elinor Lindheimer Subject: Re: resume question Rachel asked a wonderful question, and Janet's answer was perfect. Especially now with computers, you can keep several versions of your resume, cover letter, and list of titles indexed, thus tailoring your mailings to clients. Focusing on your skills is an ideal way to get a foot in the door when you have no paid experience. I just did that myself: tired of sitting alone starting at the computer screen all day, I took a part-time job at the front desk of a wonderful inn, where my people-contact needs are being met. (Since the pay is pathetic, I am also still indexing, of course!) I wrote a "curriculum vitae," focusing on my varied experience and abilities, and then I attached my regular indexing resume. It floored me, but I got the job. For help putting your skills into job-related language, I recommend WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?, which every library should have. Elinor Lindheimer elinorl@mcn.org ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 09:16:49 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Sonsie Conroy Subject: Re: home office In-Reply-To: <199607151226.FAA08449@spork.callamer.com> > To all on index-l. Any freelancers will be interested in the article > on taxes, zoning and home offices, particularly in small towns, which > appeared in the Business section of the sunday New York Times, July > 14, 1996, on the front page. I personally have not experienced any > difficulties with the issues discussed in the article, but wonder > if others have. The article has some interesting statistics and > charts on the growth of home businesses and where they are located. > DLWITTT@alex.stkate.edu Well, I live in what most people would classify as a "small city" (40,000 population), and when we built our home about eight years ago, we planned an office/studio for my use. Our city has strict rules concerning home offices, and our neighborhood is the kind where people notice things like constant deliveries and a stream of customers. I decided to be absolutely legal about my operations, and applied for a home office permit. This cost me about $25, as I recall, and involved "posting" our home for two weeks with a sign explaining what my business was and how it would operate, and giving the date and time of a public hearing on the matter. If anyone protested, I would have had to attend the hearing and answer the queries. As it turned out, several neighbors did ask me, personally, what exactly I was going to be doing, and once they learned what an indexer/editor does, their concerns were satisfied. I never had to go to the hearing, and I've never had any problems. Among the rules I must follow: No advertising signage, not even in my window. No employees (though the way this was worded was somewhat oblique...I believe it means no permanent, full-time employees, rather than no independent contractors or part-timers) Deliveries are limited (again, somewhat obliquely...what constitutes an "unreasonable number" of them?) A loose limit on number of customers, to keep down traffic and parking problems ("unreasonable" crops up again) A series of rules about use of water, sewer, trash pickup, and so on, designed to keep me from operating a chemistry lab or some other non-residential operation. I've never had any problem with any of the regulations, or my neighbors. I'd urge people to "get legal" if possible, just to avoid icky situations where somebody with a grudge reports you to the city for violating the building or use codes. =Sonsie= ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 12:01:45 -0600 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Philip W. Jones" Subject: Re: resume question In-Reply-To: <199607151536.JAA10712@Rt66.com> from "Rachel Rice" at Jul 15, 96 11:34:38 am Rachel Rice writes: > > And now, my question is this: when someone wants my resume, do they mean my > regular resume that gives all my jobs in all the fields I've worked in, > with all the duties, job titles, dates of employment, etc.? ... The resume is a _brief_ outline of your career objectives, education and experience. It shouldn't be more than two pages (one page - front and back), so be brief and pare down the list of old summer jobs, etc. > Also, my resume is great for psych book publishers, but what if I want to > do books outside of my job experience but within my life experience? The resume and cover letter can and _should_ be tailored to the prospective employer. This can be done in a variety of ways: 1. The career objective. A single sentence targeted for the prospective employer. For example, don't write a general statement like "a freelance indexer/editor". If the publisher only publishes books in a specific field (e.g. psych), say "a position as freelance indexer of psychology books" or something specific like that. 2. The order of categories in your resume can be used to emphasize various things. For example, if you have no or little experience in indexing specifically, you might place education first on the resume with the first entry "graduate of USDA indexing course." You want the employer to see the most relevent and important stuff first, not buried on the backside. 3. You can have a hobbies (or other volunteer activities) section on your resume to summarize "other life experiences" that may be relevent. 4. The cover letter is really the main place to emphasize what's on your resume and even expand a bit if the resume is too brief regarding specific points. Be sure to always emphasize the positive and not give the employer an opening to dump your resume in the circular file. So instead of saying,"I've never indexed a single book on animals", say "my experience with animals and my successful completion of the USDA indexing course makes an ideal combination for indexing the animal books you publish." You get the picture. One last comment. Remember your audience. Avoid too many Me and I references and instead emphasize what the prospective employer gets out of this deal. Good luck, Phil /----------------------------------------------------------------------\ | Everyone who stands in water should be taxed - D.P. Gumby | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Phil, Heather, Doug and Ivy Jones hpjones@rt66.com | | Los Alamos, New Mexico http://mack.rt66.com/hpjones/hpjones.html | \----------------------------------------------------------------------/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 15:11:35 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Seth A. Maislin" Subject: resume length In-Reply-To: "Philip W. Jones" "Re: resume question" (Jul 15, 12:01pm) On Jul 15, 12:01pm, Philip W. Jones wrote: > The resume is a _brief_ outline of your career objectives, > education and experience. It shouldn't be more than two pages > (one page - front and back), so be brief and pare down the list of > old summer jobs, etc. I don't entirely agree, but there is no right or wrong either. When a friend of mine asks if it's okay for his/her resume to go onto a second page, I often ask, "Do you *deserve* a second page?" If the answer is "yes," then I say "Go for it." It seems very arbitrary, but it's always worked. ;-) Of course, take into consideration the reason you are writing this resume. If you want a job as sanitation collection agent, for example, and for your entire life you have worked as a freelance indexer, you do *not* deserve that second page. On the other hand, if your resume is your foot in the door for that encyclopedia indexing project, you have earned the privilege (from your relevant experience) of using a second sheet of paper. If your resume does go to a second page, however, I recommend that you do use a second sheet of paper (instead of the back, as Philip suggests). Reasons: (1) If you're going to two pages, make the second page stand out by giving it its own sheet of paper. Make that second page count, because you deserve it. (2) Printing on both sides of a sheet often doesn't look good, although really high-quality paper can take care of that. (3) The person reading your resume might not think to look at the other side of the sheet. On an aside, I agree with the person who suggested _What Color Is Your Parachute?_ for resume language. That book is a great help. - Seth ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 15:20:03 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Seth A. Maislin" Subject: "Hobbies" on resume Including a section called "Special Interests" on your resume is often crucial in differenting you from someone else. This is all the more apparent in the acting industry, where the one-page-only resume is mounted on the back of the actor's headshot. In acting, if you know how to bowl, fence, ride horses, mountain-climb, box, swim, play chess, play piano, teach aerobics, draw blood (medically, that is :-), groom animals, and so forth, you will be the first and sometimes the only person considered for a specific project that matches your "hobby" skill. This is even more obvious when it comes to an actor being chosen for a television commercial or instructional video. This is less obvious in other fields, such as indexing, but I can think of at three instances in my life where my ability to play piano has helped me earn jobs indexing/editing math books. Sounds crazy, no? But in each case I spoke with someone who also played, or has worked on musical science books, or has a daughter going to school at Eastman School of Music. In these cases my resume "broke the ice" in a completely unexpected way, and after that my clients seemed willing to go the extra distance to get me the job. - Seth -- Seth A. Maislin O'Reilly & Associates Focus Publishing Services 90 Sherman Street 89 Grove Street Cambridge MA 02140 Watertown MA 02172-2826 (617) 499-7439 phone (617) 924-4428 (617) 661-1199 facsimile smaislin@world.std.com seth@ora.com WWW: http://jasper.ora.com:80/seth/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 17:30:03 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Helen Schinske Subject: resumes I'm getting LOTS of good ideas from this discussion--thanks! What about brochures? Seems to me I've heard people saying they can be a better way to show off your skills than the traditional resumes, as well as hiding the "bald spots" in your work history. Also, from what I've seen of people's web sites, they're a great way to show off the "whole person"--you can pull together some really interesting information on anything that floats your boat. That shows people you've done your homework, but if they don't want to look at that stuff they don't have to. Much cooler than a "Hobbies and special interests" section on a resume, which most personnel types probably regard as fluff. Thanks for the info on accounting packages. I'm going to work up a summary and post another message, since several people expressed interest. The gist is that most folks thought Quicken was plenty, but some people who really like accounting or who have employees thought Peachtree far superior. Does anyone know how much Peachtree costs? I got it along with my secondhand computer. Quicken is quite cheap--I don't know how much QuickBooks costs. --Helen ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 17:28:37 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Helen Schinske Subject: accounting packages-long Here's a digested version of what folks said in response to my question about accounting software, specifically Quicken (which I already use) and Peachtree (which I got a copy of along with my secondhand computer and have never cracked). Sorry if I repeat stuff that's already been sent to the list. Dick Evans, Fred Leise, and Mary (sorry, don't have full name--MaryMort@aol.com) all use Quicken and set up separate accounts for their business and personal stuff. Carolyn Weaver uses Quicken for personal and QuickBooks for business accounting, "mostly to make SURE that the two are kept separate--though Quicken could certainly do the job for a business as small as mine." Carolyn also pointed out that Quicken and QuickBooks can import into TurboTax (income tax software made by the same firm). QuickBooks can handle payroll (if you have employees) and tax payments. I should point out that Dick Evans said he tried QuickBooks and "never got past the setup phase. I felt like I needed to stop and go get an MBA just to understand the setup instructions." Mary said she didn't bother with Quicken for invoices or accounts payable, but did invoices on the word processor and AP on a separate spreadsheet. Carolyn said "What I would NOT recommend if you use Quicken for both personal and business accounting is trying to handle both in a single file with a common set of accounts. Simplifies entries and has the convenience of giving you a true Net Worth statement at the end of the year, but it definitely complicates business accounting and record-keeping. At a minimum, set up two totally separate files (and charts of accounts) to keep personal and business accounts separate." Linda Nelson, who says she's "been in accounting for about a hundred years, give or take a decade..." says she used to use Peachtree and would definitely use it if she ever gets through with USDA and starts making money. She doesn't care for Quicken at all "but only because I'm used to using GL based accounting programs." Sorry, Linda, I don't know what GL is. Oh! General Ledger? Another indexer, whose name I don't have (Sanindex@aol.com) praises Peachtree for its adaptability to many different situations. "Your tax advisor will like it due to the various accounting reports that you can provide ... you have many invoice layouts to choose from. Or, you can modify them to your own wants and needs. ... you can operate multiple businesses, keep track of various products, inventories, applying expenses to appropriate jobs or projects, and so on." As far as I can make out, Peachtree does very traditional double-entry bookkeeping, which makes it easy for accountants to understand--a good thing when you bring in your accountant or tax consultant. Quicken works on the model of a checkbook, which makes it easy for novices to pick up. I don't know how much Peachtree or QuickBooks cost(s); Quicken is quite cheap, I believe. Since most people have been saying that two weeks is a normal turn-around time for a project, I would imagine that they don't do more than twenty-five projects a year, and probably fewer. I can't believe the bookkeeping for that is very complicated. My guess is that Carolyn is right and the main problem is keeping business and personal accounting separate. One more thing--lord, this is getting long. John Sampson said "Being in the UK, I doubt if Quicken would be very suitable--am I right on this?" John, I imagine that if Quicken is marketed in the UK it has been modified for British users. One advantage (importing data into TurboTax) won't work for you, unless there's a UK equivalent of TurboTax as well. Actually, as far as the accounting goes, I can't imagine that much translation is needed--pound signs instead of dollar signs, and "cheque" instead of "check," are all I can think of. Maybe an historical function to reset to shillings and pence? :) Somehow I doubt it. Hope I've quoted everyone correctly. Doesn't seem like the type of topic to raise anyone's hackles, but you never know. Thanks, everyone! --Helen ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 19:37:24 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: REvans4@AOL.COM Subject: Re: accounting packages-long In a message dated 96-07-15 19:20:07 EDT, you write: << Since most people have been saying that two weeks is a normal turn-around time for a project, I would imagine that they don't do more than twenty-five projects a year, and probably fewer. >> But don't forget projects overlap. I've already done 25 for this year. If you're in the business full time, 50 projects a year is not unreasonable. Dick ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 16:40:46 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Sarah Lee Bihlmayer Subject: Re: Resumes Helen writes: >What about brochures? Seems to me I've heard people saying they can be a >better way to show off your skills than the traditional resumes, as well as >hiding the "bald spots" in your work history. I've been watching the discussion on resumes with some interest. Although it's very wise to summarize one's skills, abilities, and experience in one page as Janet does, I tend to avoid using a resume altogether. Why? Because when this is the initial information a potential client receives, I find I am most often pigeonholed as a job seeker--and _not_ as a professional who is operating a business. Rachel's horror story is typical of what I used to experience when I used a resume instead of the current packet of materials--brochure, samples, handouts, etc.--that I send to prospects. It took a few years to get the big picture and figure out why the problems were happening--then I finally realized that when I dealt with a company like a prospective employee, I got _treated_ like one! I always used to wonder why my clients reacted so oddly when I tried to explain how I worked and what my policies were. These days, they get an initial info package that includes a handout summarizing pricing, billing, policies, procedures, and so forth. It sure seems to work--I've had a near-total dearth of "horror stories" in my professional life since I changed the way I communicate with clients, both initially and during a project (key point: _everything_ gets put in writing--before, during, and after the work is done). Sarah |Sarah Lee Bihlmayer * Intranet Documentation Specialist | | Indexing * Developmental Editing * Technical Writing | |Site Development * Content Creation * Content Management| | 415-207-4046 * sarahlee@contentmanage.com | ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 20:06:32 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: JPerlman@AOL.COM Subject: Re: accounting/projects per year Helen, I must take issue with one of your statements. In a message dated 96-07-15, you wrote: > Since most people have been saying that two weeks is a normal turn-around > time for a project, I would imagine that they don't do more than twenty-five > projects a year, and probably fewer. I'm a full-time freelancer, trying to earn a good living as an indexer. So far I've done 40 projects in 1996, and am very busy, with an ongoing flow of work. You can't make a living on projects that come in neat and tidy two week modules. Schedules slide, projects overlap, etc. To earn well in this business, you really have to be flexible on scheduling, overbook a bit, and go with the flow a lot. If your schedule is more important to you than your earnings, then you will set priorities accordingly, but yur cash flow will show this. Just trying to give you a realistic picture of life in indexing as it really is. Janet Perlman Southwest Indexing ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 20:04:31 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: JPerlman@AOL.COM Subject: Re: resumes/websites Helen, I know people who use brochures, and some who don't. I don't think the verdict is really in between resumes and brochures. It becomes a matter of personal preference. Don't forget -- with good word processing and desktop publishing programs, resumes don't have to look like "musty oldies," staid and boring. Some of the handsomer techniques can be incorporated into resumes, so they have more visual appeal and use some of the special graphics techniques that make brochures prettier. I use a lightly shaded box for my "Professional Statement" at the top of my resume, and 18 point san serif italic type for my name at the top of the page. Different. (Sounds wierd, but it all pulls together, I've been told!) As for the use of websites, I too am interested in what people have to say on these. They're nice to have -- I'll grant you I've been tempted too. BUT - has anybody gotten business by being "found" that way? Do they bring in business? Are they a marketing tool that works in the industry? Or is it just a fun thing that we *hope* will work, that we *think* will bring business? I hope people will share their stories on the impact of their websites on their businesses. Thanks, all! Janet Perlman Southwest Indexing ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 20:59:47 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Rica Night Subject: Re: accounting packages in Canada In Helen Schinske's excellent summary of INDEX-L folks' recommendations regarding accounting software, she writes: > > John Sampson said "Being in the >UK, I doubt if Quicken would be very suitable--am I right on this?" John, I >imagine that if Quicken is marketed in the UK it has been modified for >British users. One advantage (importing data into TurboTax) won't work for >you, unless there's a UK equivalent of TurboTax as well. Actually, as far as >the accounting goes, I can't imagine that much translation is needed--pound >signs instead of dollar signs, and "cheque" instead of "check," are all I can >think of. Maybe an historical function to reset to shillings and pence? :) > Somehow I doubt it. I can confirm that Quicken has definitely been modified to make it useful here in Canada. Not long after our Goods and Services Tax (which is much like, if not virtually identical to, the UK's Value-Added Tax) came into effect, Quicken added a feature that makes it relatively easy to handle the fiddly bookkeeping associated with collecting, reporting, and remitting a 7% tax on services and on most products. And for the past couple of years, I've been using the Canadian version of TurboTax: at first it was called WinTax, but now it's called QuickTax. It makes tax time a breeze...at least until I have to write that wretched cheque . Unfortunately, our banking system isn't yet set up to use Quicken's electronic banking features, but I expect that situation to improve someday (we're usually about two to five years behind the U.S. when it comes to putting such innovations into practice). If Intuit's marketing Quicken in the UK, I'd recommend definitely recommend a look at it. Depending on whether/how well it's been customized, you can scarcely go wrong for the price (about Cdn$50 here, if memory serves, or Cdn$70 for the CD-ROM). A word of warning to other Canadians: *don't* bother buying the CD-ROM version of the main program (called "Quicken Deluxe") just yet. Though the core software is Canadianized, *all* the extra goodies (e.g., the financial-planning advice and other stuff--the only real reason to pay extra for the CD-ROM as opposed to the regular version) assumes you're American (e.g., that you have an IRS, that you must pay the "self-employment tax," etc.), so it's pretty well useless to us. On the other hand, QuickTax Deluxe, the CD-ROM version of the tax software, is chockablock with fully Canadianized bells and whistles. Happy accounting, Rica Rica Night rnight@inforamp.net Freelance Copyeditor, Proofreader, Indexer Toronto, Canada 416-463-EDIT "There are thre mistake in this sentence." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 23:15:23 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Helen Schinske Subject: Re: accounting/projects per year Janet Perlman wrote: >I'm a full-time freelancer, trying to earn a good living as an indexer. So >far I've done 40 projects in 1996, and am very busy, with an ongoing flow of >work. You can't make a living on projects that come in neat and tidy two >week modules. Schedules slide, projects overlap, etc. To earn well in this >business, you really have to be flexible on scheduling, overbook a bit, and >go with the flow a lot. If your schedule is more important to you than your >earnings, then you will set priorities accordingly, but your cash flow will >show this. > >Just trying to give you a realistic picture of life in indexing as it really >is. > > I appreciate this, Janet. I was just trying to draw what I thought sounded like a reasonable extrapolation. Obviously I didn't extrapolate correctly! Actually, I'm very glad to hear that people can be this busy. I was also drawing on memories of a book about indexing that suggested that 200 pages a week constituted a normal, somewhat leisurely, workflow. Pre-computer, of course. --Helen ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 00:58:06 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Helen Schinske Subject: scanners This is probably an odd question, but does anyone know how I might get a large amount of text scanned--free, or at low cost? I have taken on a volunteer project for the Victorian Women Writers Project, and before I embark on typing a whole novel I thought I'd better make darn sure there was no easier way. Of course the scanned text would need editing, but I'm good at that (or think I am ). I'm in Seattle, if it makes a difference. Thanks!--Helen ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 07:05:58 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Sonsie Conroy Subject: Re: resume (long) In-Reply-To: <199607151626.JAA25917@spork.callamer.com> Janet, I think you too the words right out of my, er, keyboard. That was an excellent post on writing a good resume! I would only add that IMO, one's nonpublishing work experience is only marginally relevant, and I don't include it at all. But, then, I've been freelancing for 25 years and have plenty of background info that is directly applicable to the jobs I'm trying to get now. I do mention that I was a production editor for two years before starting my freelance career, so readers know I have at least a minimal publishing background. But for me, the gist of the resume is the list of recent indexes (and editing jobs) I've done, and for what publishers. And the true usefulness of computers becomes apparent when you want to fine-tune the resume to get work at a specific publisher. You can target your list of books to suit their needs, you can add or subtract the names of publishers you've worked for, etc. =Sonsie= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 13:58:58 -0400 Reply-To: norcross@ix.netcom.com Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Ann Norcross Organization: Crossover Information Services Subject: Re: resume (long) This resume discussion has been very useful to me, too. After working with an indexing mentor (Hi, Dick) for about a year, I am, with his approval, writing to the publishers who've seen my work but don't know my name. I tell them that I've worked on some of their books, (supervised and edited by their regular indexer) and ask to be put on their list of approved freelance indexers. Just yesterday I had a wonderful phone call with one publisher who said she would add me to the list right away--truly an exciting day! Many people have mentioned tailoring cover letters to perspective clients, and I have always done that, too. This week I found out that oftentimes the cover letters get detached from the resume and "filed" elsewhere. I found this news discouraging, to say the least, and am more determined than ever to keep my mailings--be they resumes, letters, brochures, or whatever--to one page. I don't know how widespread the practice is; my information came from a friend who is sending out resumes and letters. Two prospects this week said they had her resume in front of them, but the cover letter was gone. (An aside on mentoring ... the mentoring process has been wonderful for someone like me: qualified, but timid; very experienced as a technical writer but a novice with indexing; still working some other jobs and not quite ready for full-time indexing. Dick is a terrific teacher and encourager, and an indexer extraordinaire. After a year our relationship was feeling a little one-sided: Dick was getting a lot of work and using me as a subcontractor, but I wasn't bringing anything to the team. Recently that changed, and I was able to include Dick as a subcontractor on a project that I developed! I think part of the point of mentoring is that the mentor ends up with a peer (eventually) who can give as well as take.) Lastly, a question about web pages: some time ago a list of individual indexers' web pages got posted to this list: can someone post it again? And can anyone else who has a personal indexing-related web page tell us the URL? Thanks, Ann "usually lurking" Norcross ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 12:51:02 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Sarah Lee Bihlmayer Subject: Re: scanners Helen asks: >This is probably an odd question, but does anyone know how I might get a >large amount of text scanned--free, or at low cost? I have taken on a >volunteer project for the Victorian Women Writers Project, and before I >embark on typing a whole novel I thought I'd better make darn sure there was >no easier way. Of course the scanned text would need editing, but I'm good >at that (or think I am ). I'm in Seattle, if it makes a difference. You might consider checking with the local colleges and universities to see if any of them have a hands-on program in desktop and/or technical publishing skills. Text scanning is generally considered to be a fairly essential skill for these areas of specialization, and you might be lucky enough to find a professor who would be willing to assign a student to scan your material as a school project or internship for credit. Furthermore, if any of the local educational institutions have women's studies and/or writing programs, it might also be wise to contact the department heads to see if any students are interested in getting involved--again on a for-credit or internship basis. Another idea: if there's a local professional organization for women business owners, you might consider checking with them to see if any of their members have DTP or technical-publishing businesses...and contact said businesses to see if any of them are willing to provide the access if you do the actual scanning work yourself. For that matter, you could also check the Yellow Pages for desktop-publishing service bureaus and call around to see if any of them were willing to provide the scanner access as a charitable donation. Good luck finding the resources you need. Hope this helped! Sarah |Sarah Lee Bihlmayer * Intranet Documentation Specialist | | Indexing * Developmental Editing * Technical Writing | |Site Development * Content Creation * Content Management| | 415-207-4046 * sarahlee@contentmanage.com | ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 07:42:46 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Cynthia D. Bertelsen" Subject: Websites (was resume, long) The list of indexers' web sites can be found on my web page: http://www.vt.edu:10021/B/bertel/ndx.html Click on Other Indexers... Again, if anyone else has a web site that he/she wants listed, don't be shy--tell me! Cynthia D. Bertelsen INDEXER http://www.vt.edu:10021/B/bertel/ndx.html ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 08:09:40 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: WMacallen@AOL.COM Subject: Re: INDEX-L Digest - 15 Jul 1... Re: Mentoring I'm a novice indexer part-way through the USDA course. I am very interested in being in a mentor relationship and am wondering how to go about it? I've seen threads on this discussion before but can't remember the final gist. Would it be a problem to provide some kind of a review of the mentoring process and how a novice could go about getting in to a mentoring relationship. I'd also appreciate suggestions on the appropriate way to get involved in a mentoring relationship so that I can start improving my indexing skills. Responses to this list or my email would be greatly appreciated. I'll be away (my first vacation since 1991) for the next week, but will be looking forward to getting some input during that time. My email address is: WMacallen@aol.com I've learned a lot from the listserve and look forward to thoughts/suggestions. Thanks very much. Willa MacAllen MacAllen's Information Service 286 Chestnut Hill Ave., #20 Brighton, MA 02135 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 09:19:41 EDT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Paula Soares Neagus Subject: Re: INDEX-L Digest - 15 Jul 1... I am just starting the USDA course and would also be very interested in this topic. If it has been done to death on the list please include me in on private responses. Thank You, Paula Re: Mentoring I'm a novice indexer part-way through the USDA course. I am very interested in being in a mentor relationship and am wondering how to go about it? I've seen threads on this discussion before but can't remember the final gist. _________________________________________________________________ Paula Soares Neagus Phone: 860-548-2490 Reference Librarian Fax: 860-278-0180 Hartford Graduate Center Library e-mail: paulasn@hgc.edu 275 Windsor Street Hartford, CT 06120 _________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 12:59:28 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Mitzi Killeen Subject: Re: INDEX-L Digest - 15 Jul 1... Please add me to the "growing list" of novice indexers interested in a mentor relationship. And again, please include me on private responses if this subject has been talked-out on the list. Thank you! ****************************************************************************** Mitzi M. Killeen Team Leader, PAID Library of Michigan Technical Services Division P.O. Box 30007 mkilleen@libofmich.lib.mi.us 717 W. Allegan tel. (517) 373-5866 Lansing, MI 48909 fax (517) 373-3381 ****************************************************************************** On Wed, 17 Jul 1996, Paula Soares Neagus wrote: > I am just starting the USDA course and would also be very interested in this > topic. If it has been done to death on the list please include me in on private > responses. > Thank You, > Paula > > Re: Mentoring > > I'm a novice indexer part-way through the USDA course. > > I am very interested in being in a mentor relationship and am wondering how > to go about it? I've seen threads on this discussion before but can't > remember the final gist. > _________________________________________________________________ > Paula Soares Neagus Phone: 860-548-2490 > Reference Librarian Fax: 860-278-0180 > Hartford Graduate Center Library e-mail: paulasn@hgc.edu > 275 Windsor Street > Hartford, CT 06120 > _________________________________________________________________ > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 13:04:16 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: LSand92622@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Mentoring I am in a situation similar to Willa's and would appreciate responses to her message being sent to the list. Willa, thanks for asking the question. L. Sandman ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 13:28:28 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Seth A. Maislin" Subject: Appreciation for good indexing (long) I am forwarding to the list a message written (and emailed) from the Editor- in-Chief of the Technical Publishing Department of O'Reilly & Associates to Studio B, a literary agency that handles many writers and some editors and publishers of computer books. I feel that his understanding of the need for "a good index" is accurate, especially his approach to the pros and cons of hiring an independent indexer. (And his praise of the indexing mind makes me smile with pride.) Following Mr. Willison's message is a portion of a reply to it, received just as I was about to send this message to index-l. I thought that it also was worth including. - Seth ------------------------ Forwarded mail -------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 12:48:44 -0400 From: Frank Willison Subject: Re: Indexing Books Indexing is another one of those areas (like editing) where there appears to be a false dichotomy arising in this discussion. Doing your own index instead of having an indexer do the index misses the best solution: an author working closely with an indexer to produce the best index possible. Indexes are very important to a technical book. We work a lot on organization of the books we do, but readers tell us all the time that they read only the parts that they care about, regardless of the type of technical book or the subject. (Those pesky readers!) They rely on the table of contents, cross-refs, and indexes. Putting books online can render poor indexes less important (word searches are possible, although slow and sure to bring up many useless hits), but makes good indexes even more valuable. (When valuable information is unindexed in an online book, it's pretty much gone forever.) Good indexers are amazing human beings, with intellectual wiring quite different from a good writer's. Their craft has an entire philosophy behind it, in many ways very close to math. I occasionally see posts from their mailing list (forwarded from our staff indexer) and I'm impressed with the complexity of their tasks and the level of thought they bring to their jobs. (Indexers also bring a reader-centered view to the use of the index, where a writer's indexing often follows the organization of the book.) On the other hand, they can't know the subject as well as the author. They can make some bonehead errors as a result, errors that make perfect sense from their perspective but are laughable to the author. So: if you do your own index, in most cases (Margy Levine excepted), you are an amateur in a professional's world. On the other hand, an indexer is another person who understands the material less well than the author and can add mistakes to the manuscript. So I'd recommend: 1) Use a professional indexer. Your book deserves one. 2) Find one who has worked on books on related topics. 3) Provide that indexer with a list of terms/topics to be indexed. List tasks as well; task-oriented index entries are very helpful in a practical book. Also list synonyms to important terms. For example, a potential reader make pick up a database book and look for the word "tuple" in the index. When (s)he doesn't find it, (s)he assumes the book is deficient, even though the author used the term "table" instead for the same concept. An entry that says "tuple; see table" solves this dilemma. There is no way an indexer could know from the book to index "tuple" unless the term is used somewhere or the author provides the synonym. 4) Try to ensure that the indexer has sufficient time to do a good index. Find out from your editor, if you can, how many pages an indexer is expected to index per hour. Talk to your publisher about their commitment to indexing before you sign. 5) Obviously, insist on reviewing the index before the book goes out. Note also that a well-written book is the easiest kind to index. It seems unfair because it's the poorly written book that *needs* the index. Another instance in which life is unfair. Frank Willison Editor-in-Chief, Technical Publishing O'Reilly & Associates (617)354-5800 FAX: (617)661-1116 ----------------------------------- From: "Guy Hart-Davis" Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 09:36:32 -0800 Time constraints on publishing books ("we've got to beat the other guys to market, and they'll be day and date with the software") mean that indexes are increasingly likely to suffer. Publishers can often be persuaded to reindex a book for reprints--it'll walk only a few pages, and they're at the end of the book anyway; the cost is relatively small (especially if the book is selling well); and it can add real value to the book. Well worth asking. Guy Hart-Davis Acquisitions & Developmental Editor Network Press SYBEX Inc. ghart-davis@sybex.com --------------------------------End of forwarded material -- Seth A. Maislin O'Reilly & Associates Focus Publishing Services 90 Sherman Street 89 Grove Street Cambridge MA 02140 Watertown MA 02172-2826 (617) 499-7439 phone (617) 924-4428 (617) 661-1199 facsimile smaislin@world.std.com seth@ora.com WWW: http://jasper.ora.com:80/seth/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 15:10:31 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Locatelli@AOL.COM Subject: problem in referencing notes I'd be interested in suggestions or comments about how others have solved this problem. The book I am indexing is a collection of (often) short essays, letters, etc. Notes are given as endnotes. Because there are only a few notes for each section, it happens that, for example, page 182 contains notes for four sections and thus has four notes 1, four notes 2, etc. To reference a specific note, I have added the first words of the section title to the reference, e.g. Stern, Anne-Lise, 182n2 (Open Letter...) Comments? Thanks. Fred Leise "Between the Lines" Indexing and Editorial Services ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 14:09:17 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Darren O'Brien Subject: Mentoring Hello Everyone, I sure am glad this discussion has come up again! Apparently I has subscribed to the list just after the last discussion ended so I missed all of the information. I am also new to indexing and am seeking to form mentoring/apprentice/assistant relationships with professional indexers. If anyone is looking to work with someone with a professional background in psychology and social work and a strong personal interest in travel, I just might be your match! Please feel free to contact me by email at: cdiamond@hevanet.com I also look forward to seeing the responses that come up on the list. Thanks much, Christi ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 14:57:17 -0700 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Pam Rider Subject: Re: problem in referencing notes At 03:10 PM 7/17/96 -0400, you wrote: > >Stern, Anne-Lise, 182n2 (Open Letter...) > Looks like a great fix to me. Pam Rider Trying to walk cheerfully on the Earth prider@powergrid.electriciti.com prider@tsktsk.com http://www.electriciti.com:80/~prider/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 09:57:00 PDT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Richard Wright-ARCHIVES Subject: indexing as multimedia description All: I may have subscribed to the wrong list. The BBC has an archive staff of approx 500, of whom about 100 spend some time creating catalogue entries (indexing and analytical descriptions, in one terminology) for BBC output - mainly audio and video but we also have photos and commissioned music. Total effort is about 50 'full-time-equivalent' staff doing nothing but what we loosely refer to as indexing. Beyond that, during programme production there is in the BBC considerable amateur eg non-librarian indexing of things like shot sequences and other programme components. I've been on this 'LIBRARIES - INDEXING' list all of one day, and get the feeling the main topic is 'creating indexes' = that alphabetical list at the end of a book. Is this so? If so, is there a mail list for people who create catalogues (in the general sense), especially multimedia catalogues? Regards, Richard ---------------------------------------------------------- Richard Wright - Information Systems Engineer BBC Information & Archives 3306 White City, 201 Wood Lane London W12 7TS UK Tel: 25349 (External +44 181 752-5349) Fax: 25585 (External +44 181 752-5585) Mobile: 0589 265427 Email: richard.wright@bbc.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 06:42:36 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: WMacallen@AOL.COM Subject: Re: INDEX-L Digest - 16 Jul 1... Re mentoring: I eagerly checked this listserve before leaving to go on vacation this morning. It's nice to know that I'm not alone (at least physically) regarding this issue. I'll return from vacation on the 23rd and will be eagerly reading responses. I'll be happy to compile any that I receive privately. Maybe we should form a support group for wanna be mentors. Although I have to admit this listserve has been a wonderful source of knowledge. I'm always amazed at how many ideas are shared--especially knowing how busy all of us are. Maybe those of us that are interested should compare notes in a few days. Thanks for the positive response to my request. Willa ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 08:22:43 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: MTOWERY@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Mentoring I moderated a round table on mentoring at the ASI Denver conference last May. One of the ideas the group came up with was to start a mentoring column in *Keywords.* We felt this would be a key way in which to facilitate those types of relationships. So in the next issue (coming in a couple of weeks) there will be a blurb about the new column and where you should send stuff. We will format it like classified ads, I think. People who are willing to mentor and those looking for mentors can note that along with the areas they generally work in. Also those wanting to be trainees or assistants could put in a blurb. Of course, if you are not a member of ASI, then you don't get *Keywords.* Nor are you a member of the most important professional organization for indexers--SO JOIN. Margie Towery Towery Indexing and Editing Service ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 11:15:56 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: JPerlman@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Indexers in AZ Southwest Indexers -- The Arizona ASI chapter-in-formation is thrilled to kick off its fall activities with a September 21st meeting in Tucson, and a full-day workshop on November 16th. The group has been meeting quarterly in Phoenix; our next meeting will be held in Tucson on September 21st. Sally Bennett, editor at University of Arizona Press, will be our speaker. Further details will be posted to this list. On November 16th, the chapter is pleased to be sponsoring a full day workshop, "Editing Indexes for Quality and Usability," with Lori Lathrop. Location and registration fee have not yet been announced; contact me at jperlman@aol.com if you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive further information about this workshop. f you are an indexer and haven't checked out the ASI AZ Chapter, we hope to see you at one of our fall events! Lori will also be offering her workshop "Indexing Skills Workshop for Technical Communicators" on Friday, November 15th at the Holiday Inn in Mesa, AZ; registration fee is $125.00. For further information about this workshop, contact Lori directly at 76620.456@compuserve.com Janet Perlman (jperlman@aol.com) (602-569-7302) Southwest Indexing President, ASI AZ Chapter-in-formation ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 23:18:41 -0500 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: KINGH@SNYSYRV1.BITNET Subject: Forwarded message about a bill to move copyright office out of LC From: IN%"75227.1650@CompuServe.COM" "Alexandra Owens/ASJA" 18-JUL-1996 18:00 :29.17 To: IN%"ASJACW-LIST@silverquick.com" CC: Subj: Writers to Hatch: Stop t Return-path: Received: from it.silverquick.com (mail.omegaweb.co.uk) by VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU (PMDF V4.3-12 #11626) id <01I786U4BNKG8YPESO@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU>; Thu, 18 Jul 1996 18:00:24 -0500 (EST) Received: from dub-img-4.compuserve.com by it.silverquick.com (NTList 3.02.07) id ya032368; Thu, 18 Jul 1996 21:06:32 +0100 Received: by dub-img-4.compuserve.com (8.6.10/5.950515) id QAA00133; Thu, 18 Jul 1996 16:01:49 -0400 Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 15:57:52 -0400 (EDT) From: Alexandra Owens/ASJA <75227.1650@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Writers to Hatch: Stop t To: ASJACW-LIST@silverquick.com Message-id: <960718195751_75227.1650_GHI62-8@CompuServe.COM> Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-ListMember: KINGH@VAX.CS.HSCSYR.EDU [ASJACW-LIST@silverquick.com] AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS 1501 Broadway New York, New York 10036 tel 212-997-0947 fax 212-768-7414 e-mail 75227.1650@compuserve.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 18, 1996 WRITERS' GROUP ASKS SENATOR HATCH TO SLOW DOWN PLAN TO BRING COPYRIGHT OFFICE UNDER NEW SUPERAGENCY AND URGES FAXES CALLING FOR POSTPONEMENT The American Society of Journalists and Authors, the leading national organization of freelance nonfiction writers, has called on Senator Orrin Hatch to stop the rush to overhaul the United States Copyright Office. ASJA suggested that writers send faxes to Hatch, disapproving what appears to be a move to ram the proposal through, with virtually no public discussion, before Congress recesses in early August. Under a Senate bill (S1961) just introduced, the Copyright Office would be switched from the Library of Congress to the executive branch of government, where a new agency, to be called the United States Intellectual Property Organization, would be established to oversee patents, trademarks and copyrights. ASJA President Claire Safran, in a letter to the senator, called the proposal "far-reaching legislation that deserves careful study and sufficient time for public debate." The bill, The Omnibus Patent Act of 1996, was filed July 16; the Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for July 23. A committee staff member conceded today that such speed is "not typical." The letter from the ASJA leader urged Hatch "to avoid trying to cure a low-grade fever with an untested medication that may have grave side effects for the entire creative community." According to an outline prepared by the Judiciary Committee, the plan would require copyright operations to be self-supporting. Advocates of writers and other copyright holders who heard of the Hatch bill before it was filed have expressed alarm that the arrangement would require drastic increases in copyright registration fees. The Copyright Office has estimated that the cost of registering an item--even a single article, poem or photograph--could rise from the current $20 to $100. Some have also expressed concern over putting copyright matters into the purview of political appointees. At the same time, skeptics are questioning why Congress should be in a hurry to give up its own control of the Copyright Office. ASJA, in a memo to members today, suggested they and other concerned writers send faxes to Hatch at 202-224-6331, telling him to delete the proposal for the new agency from the omnibus bill. The text of Safran's letter to Hatch follows: * July 17, 1996 Senator Orrin G. Hatch Committee on the Judiciary Washington, DC 20510-6275 Dear Senator Hatch: The members of the American Society of Journalists and Authors are startled by the haste with which Senate Bill 1961 is being put forward. For us as writers, this bill, which would create a new "United States Intellectual Property Organization," would be far-reaching legislation that deserves careful study and sufficient time for public debate. We urge you to avoid hurry-up hearings and the possibility of a precipitous vote on so vital and complex a matter. These days, more than ever, writers need the protection of registered copyrights to guard against a startling epidemic of illegal use of our work, particularly in new media. Thus, among other serious concerns about the proposed structure change in the copyright office, we are especially alarmed by any new barriers that might be placed between us and that copyright protection. A recent budget study of the Office of the Register of Copyrights indicates that the removal of the Copyright Office from its current home could lead to a rise in the cost of copyright registration from its current $20 to $100 or more. Particularly for authors of magazine and newspaper articles, who may produce scores of articles each year, anything approaching this change would leave many naked and unprotected in the face of illegal use of their work. We understand that all may not be perfect in the current arrangement. Still, you are a serious and responsible legislator, and we call on you to avoid trying to cure a low-grade fever with an untested medication that may have grave side effects for the entire creative community. Sincerely, Claire Safran President cc: Senator Leahy Senator Daschle Senator Kennedy ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 17:22:35 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Helen Schinske Subject: scanners Thanks for all who wrote me with info on who to hit up for scanning. I also wrote to the director of the project I'm volunteering for (the Victorian Women Writers Project--they have a web site if you're curious what all this is about), and asked what their experience had been with scanners. He said that he keeps hoping scanners will work, but he has not been able to find any OCR software that can handle 19th-century handset type without introducing tons of errors. They have considerable resources there, so I'm afraid I might be reinventing the wheel (if that's the right phrase--maybe reinventing the pothole?). If anyone would be willing to scan a small sample (a few pages) to see how it goes, I'd be grateful. I PROMISE that I won't make you do the whole thing! --Helen ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 07:55:23 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: MTOWERY@AOL.COM Subject: Mentoring column Mary M. wrote to me, reminding me that this list is indeed international in scope and thus ASI is not so important in other venues. My apologies for being overly US-centered. Thus, my revised statement: For me, as a US-based back-of-the-book professional indexer, ASI is the most important professional organization for me to belong to and participate in. Cheers, Margie Towery Towery Indexing and Editing Services ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 14:22:50 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Joni Bozzo Subject: Mentoring I joined the list just in time to catch the tail end of the topic of mentoring, a topic I am very interested in. I have excellent clerical skills and a quick mind along with experience proofreading. I am willing to offer my time/skills and experience in exchange for the opportunity to learn from someone with experience and skill in indexing. Looking for someone in the San Diego county area, preferably East County. If interested, please respond. Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 17:44:44 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: LLFEdServ@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Mentoring I am already an indexer, primarily of textbooks, but am interested in expanding to journal indexing. Would anyone consider a short period of mentorship with me? Or do you think it's not necessary? Thanks, Leslie ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 20:07:13 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: MrsIndex@AOL.COM Subject: Any Seattle Mentors? I guess I'll jump on the bandwagon and announce that I'm looking for a mentor, too. I live in Seattle and hope to find a mentor who lives here. I'm getting close to finishing the USDA course and am also learning to use Macrex. My publishing-related background is in proofreading and copyediting, and I'm comfortable working on books having to do with artistic, historic, or literary subjects, as well as cookbooks, how-to's, biographies, and self-help. I could (probably) manage books having to do with scientific or computer-related subjects if they were in the "Geology for Dummies" genre. For fun I like to read English (not American) novels, paint in watercolors, play the piano, poke around in the garden, and write letters to the editor. I'd be happy to work a little or a lot--don't hesitate to call if you feel that what you have is not enough or too much. I'm going on vacation for a week starting tomorrow (Sunday) but will be back the following Saturday. Please contact me if you'd like to discuss the possibility of having a helpful, quick-learning novice at your beck and call. Thank you. Allison Brooks ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 08:40:27 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Rachel Rice Subject: sample pages Sorry, another question. When you all send sample pages, how many pages do you send, from what part of the index, and how many different indexes? Do you worry about good page breaks and all that? Or what? Thanks again in advance. I'm really appreciating all the advice. I've now had a number of requests for resumes which I've sent, but I still have nothing lined up at the moment. From feast to famine, as Marilyn's roundtable discussed. I should have gone to that one! Rachel Rachel Rice Directions Unlimited Desktop Services Chilmark, Mass. rachelr@tiac.net; http://www.tiac.net/users/rachelr/ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 17:21:50 -0400 Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: LLFEdServ@AOL.COM Subject: Spanish indexing Hello all, As I try to expand my business, I would like to focus more on my Spanish skills. I have been able to use them in copyediting and developmental editing, but have only indexed a few books in Spanish. Do any of the rest of you index foreign language books, and where do you look for your clients (or to whom do you market yourself)? Thanks, Leslie