Kitchen Duty

I was on kitchen duty. As soon as I dropped my stuff in the office, I went to the kitchen to start the dishwasher, stock the fridge with juice and pop, and clean the microwave oven and kitchen counter. It was fun doing something different for a change. (In fact, it was fun doing something!)

While doing the above, I literally bumped into Doug, who knew how bored I was. He said (like everyone else here) that work was coming soon for me.

Early Morning Confusion

This morning was not so quiet. Apparently, there was some confusion in my proofreading marks, and I had to explain them via e-mail.

What to do next? I couldn’t tell. It was quiet like yesterday morning, but became busy in the afternoon.

I took a quick stroll after lunch, hoping that there would be work waiting for me. But, alas, there was none. Maybe later. The day wasn’t over yet (four hours to go as of this writing).

Well, this day was another waste of time. I could have been productive doing something else. I could help Doug and Manu write copy. Maybe there’s something for me tomorrow, the last day of our work week.

Proofing TV Ads

It was quiet across the board. But I was still hoping work would come in very soon.

I bumped into Julita in the kitchen. As always, she asked me if I was doing anything work related. I had nothing to report to her except for the one I did yesterday. Then I quietly slipped away from her.

I also saw Vanessa, the managing director, by the printer. I thought she saw me staring blankly at my computer screen. I wished there were other things to do for me here; but as a proofreader, there’s not much.

In the afternoon, Rob from the studio dropped by, asking for help interpreting proofreading marks on yesterday’s brochure. However, those weren’t mine and there were several. It appears that I goofed again! And I missed a lot of copy revisions by the client. Obviously, I was reading the wrong copy deck. Anyway, that wasn’t excusable. (I never liked doing things in a hurry!)

Anyway, I was able to redeem myself and made sure all the revisions were in the brochure and copy deck. Then Brooke handed me two small proofreading jobs, which I finished in an hour. It looked like work was picking up.

And just as soon as I was prepping myself for home, Allison, the account director, called me for a proofing work. It was for a TV commercial and I could view it using my QuickTime player. Unfortunately, my player was acting up and I was forced to bring my work home.

30-minute Work

I was expecting more work to arrive after Deb’s memo. Half way through the day and I was still waiting for someone to walk in my office carrying a job bag/docket.

Two hours before closing time and I heard Vassil and Manu next door conceptualizing an ad. I wished they would invite me to their meetings. I’d simply observe and only offer suggestions when asked to.

But I got to work albeit only for 30 minutes. Deb handed me a rush proofreading job for a brochure that was in the works for weeks now. At least, I had an entry in my timesheet that I worked on something.

First Month Anniversary

Today marked my first month with the company. So far, so good — save for the days when I was simply doing nothing at all.

I asked Deb if I get to proofread online material, too, because I remembered Leanne before she left the company, asking me if I had checked her work for a client’s microsite. Deb sent a reminder to everyone in the Vancouver and Toronto offices that I existed. If that memo won’t send a deluge of work my way, then I don’t know what will.

The memo worked! An hour before closing time, Brooke, the studio manager, handed me an electronic mailer to proofread. It was short, but it was well worth the half hour I spent. (Believe me, I would like to spend more time proofreading it, but there’s only so much I could do with a one-pager.)

Working at 9 A.M.

For the first time in weeks, I started working at 9 a.m. Doug sent me an e-mail with a request to proofread banner ads for a client. While I was working on them, I got a call from Charlene requesting an updated copy deck for a client. I actually updated it yesterday, but apparently there was a revision to make. I also missed an error in the footers. Fortunately, she caught it before the project was finalized.

I was hoping that these would continue well into the afternoon. However, I was all done by noon.

Lowlights

From the looks of it, today was going to be like the others: slow and boring — unless some unexpected work pops up. And they did!

Deb came in (I could hear her sandals flip-flopping) with a revised brochure for a client. As soon as I was done with it, Jen, an account coordinator, called my attention to proof her client’s mailer.

I wished it was like this everyday so that the company continues to find me useful and not lay me off, which is still one of my greatest fears.

My lowlight of the day: I lost the silver bracelet my elder brother gave me when he was in India working as an animator. Its clasp was loose, so I guess it slipped from my right arm. It was a send-off gift when I went to the Philippines for Christmas.

Another lowlight: I broke the left arm of my action figure displayed on top of my computer monitor. I was so bored that I tried to tinker with it. The said arm was stuck and I forced it to move. It snapped.

Work — Finally!

I was expecting some proofreading work today for a client’s brochure. I was looking forward to this one, but nothing seemed to be happening so far. According to Charlene, the account manager, this project should be out by the end of the day.

Finally, it came. Actually, two did. One was for an ad. Both jobs were worth 1½ hours of billable work. I was still waiting for Vassil’s project though, but it looked like it went straight to the client for approval.

Pretty Boring

It looked like another long day for me at least. Some were in the boardroom; others were in their offices. The rest, I thought, chose to come late or simply not show up.

I talked to Vassil after lunch. He was working on a concept for a marketing kit. He asked me how I was. I told him that I was waiting for work. I thought I heard him say that he would hand me some soon.

I hope I heard him right because it was getting pretty boring in here.

First Agency Meeting

We finally had our agency meeting. It was at 8:45 a.m. and lasted for two hours (which helped me kill time). In its agenda was the introduction and roasting of the new guys. We were asked beforehand to prepare some embarrassing moments to share. Fortunately, they didn’t (or chose not to) ask me to reveal any.

Afterwards, I asked Manu, the freelance copywriter, if I could help him with his project. He explained to me the creative brief behind it. I offered help because I saw him staring blankly at his computer monitor. Plus, I was a copywriter before and had lots of time in my hands.

Another Long Day

I brought some graphic design books from home to share with Vassil. I thought he might get some fresh ideas from them for his projects.

It also looked like it was going to be another long day for me trying to keep myself busy.

Can't Get Work? Then Make One!

Well, if I wouldn’t find work today, then I might as well create one for me. I had this idea last night to create or update the style guide of a client. Although it was only a concept ad, I took note of its style elements and flagged the errors. So, when I encounter this promotional material in its production stage, I already know what to watch out for.

I wondered if I could charge the client for this task. So, I asked Deb if this was possible. She said it was not because it was still in the conceptual stage. However, she said that I could charge this work as part of my training. (In that case then, I’m on my third week of training now.)

I was also supposed to attend my first agency meeting today. It’s been scheduled and rescheduled several times this month that it was eventually cancelled.

Feeling Unneeded and Useless

Half way through the day and still no work for me. The creative department had a closed-door meeting this morning. I thought I was in creative, but I guessed my proofreading services weren’t required yet. (Didn’t they know that I was a copywriter, too?) I really wished to be in one of those meetings. I just felt so unneeded and useless in my office doing nothing.

I also finished the graphic design book I brought from home. It’s almost closing time and no work in sight.

My highlight of the day: I got a free chicken sandwich for lunch.

What to Do, What to Do

I got to work on a client’s brochure. There were lots of inconsistencies in punctuations and capitalizations that it took me 1½ hours to finish proofreading it.

Doug said last week that this week was going to be busy. Maybe for him. Because as far as I was concerned, I was still thinking of what to do to while away the time. I didn’t want to finish reading the graphic design book I brought from home for it would only make me sleepy.

Ending the Work Week in Style

It was a very happy Friday for everyone. Julita had invited the entire office for some drinks and munchies at the lounge at 2:30 p.m. Well, it must be 5 p.m. somewhere in the world.

I am not a social drinker; so, I had a glass of white wine. Besides, beer makes me red and that would be very embarrassing.

Proofreading Pictographs

I got to proofread French and Chinese versions of a client’s brochures today. The French version was easy. It took me 30 minutes only to check the document even though I don’t speak the language.

The Chinese one was a different story; it was entirely in pictographs! It took me an hour to proofread that thing. How? I simply compared visually the characters from the copy deck with the laser copy.

But there was one thing I missed: the logo was in English for both versions. I actually have noticed it earlier, but I forgot about it along the way. It made me remember Sharon’s advice: When in doubt, ask. Well, I meant to, but I failed to take note of it.

It's Getting Personal

With no work in sight yet, I thought this day was going to be a long one. Fortunately, I found some personal stuff to do.

Caffeine Fix

Though I woke up 30 minutes late this morning, I made it on time. However, I was still sleepy. So, I made myself a cup of Italian espresso. It was so strong that it made my left hand shake and my heart palpitate rapidly . It was a weird feeling, but it made me wide awake.

I also got my box of business cards.

Production Ins and Outs

I had a quick meeting with Deb late this morning about the ins and outs of ad production. She gave me an idea where my role as the proofreader comes in in the production stage. It’s much more difficult than I thought, especially when the entire company depends on you to catch glaring mistakes in spelling, grammar or anything that will cause embarrassment to the company and lose money or, worse, the account.

Manu, the freelance copywriter, reported for work today. He’ll be working in Leanne’s former office for the next two weeks.

And 15 minutes before closing time, Doug handed me work to proofread. Fortunately, it was something I worked on a few days ago. So, it was something I was already familiar with.

Isolation

Working at the far end of the office floor makes me feel isolated. And now that Leanne’s office, which was right next to mine, has been vacated, I felt even more.

After two hours of ennui, it’s time to take my 15-minute break. As soon as I returned, Deb called me to her office for some proofreading work. Woo-hoo! That thing took two hours of my time, well into my lunch break.

After a quick lunch in my office, I took a stroll down the harbour and sat on a bench to admire the view. A few minutes of reminiscing and I was off again to work. I was wondering what to do with the rest of my day when Vassil dropped by with a docket. More work! I was in the zone!