Rita (Proof It)
@proofitwithrita.bsky.social
Let me help you tell your story.
(she/her)
editor | proofreader
EFA | ACES | PPN | CIEP | ETC
(she/her)
editor | proofreader
EFA | ACES | PPN | CIEP | ETC
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
September 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
We love to see this: The Long Beach Public Library is offering digital library cards so readers can access banned books to help offset censorship!
lbpost.com/news/educati...
lbpost.com/news/educati...
Long Beach will open up its e-book library so teens from other states can read banned books
It's part of a nationwide push to let young people access reading material that may have been thrown out of their local libraries and schools.
lbpost.com
August 8, 2025 at 5:08 PM
We love to see this: The Long Beach Public Library is offering digital library cards so readers can access banned books to help offset censorship!
lbpost.com/news/educati...
lbpost.com/news/educati...
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Great Bluesky feature. I used to forget way too often on the other app, now I never do.
Settings > Accessibility > Require alt text before posting
Settings > Accessibility > Require alt text before posting
February 4, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Great Bluesky feature. I used to forget way too often on the other app, now I never do.
Settings > Accessibility > Require alt text before posting
Settings > Accessibility > Require alt text before posting
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
In case any of my fellow creatives also needed this reminder:
November 16, 2024 at 1:12 AM
In case any of my fellow creatives also needed this reminder:
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
December 24, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
A lovely Icelandic term for pins and needles (tingling after your foot goes numb) is stjörnur í skónum, or “stars in your shoes.” A Yoruba version is pajapaja (“kill dog kill dog”). And the best one I’ve heard in German (uttered by a friend’s child) was mein Fuß glitzert. It means “my foot twinkles”
November 27, 2024 at 1:19 PM
A lovely Icelandic term for pins and needles (tingling after your foot goes numb) is stjörnur í skónum, or “stars in your shoes.” A Yoruba version is pajapaja (“kill dog kill dog”). And the best one I’ve heard in German (uttered by a friend’s child) was mein Fuß glitzert. It means “my foot twinkles”
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Okay, #romancelandia, I've gotten a request for some sex-free romance novel recommendations, and that is admittedly not my area of expertise. Who has favourites they want to share?
October 9, 2024 at 11:27 PM
Okay, #romancelandia, I've gotten a request for some sex-free romance novel recommendations, and that is admittedly not my area of expertise. Who has favourites they want to share?
Seeking out answers to the most important topics.
(Seriously, though, more cheese science!)
(Seriously, though, more cheese science!)
October 2, 2024 at 2:26 PM
Seeking out answers to the most important topics.
(Seriously, though, more cheese science!)
(Seriously, though, more cheese science!)
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
In honor of National Punctuation Day (yes, I know that’s a made-up holiday—all holidays are made-up):
September 24, 2024 at 12:37 PM
In honor of National Punctuation Day (yes, I know that’s a made-up holiday—all holidays are made-up):
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Tried explaining publishing to him
September 24, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Tried explaining publishing to him
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
What’s your guilty punctuation pleasure—and why is it the em dash?
It’s that time again. Bring on the em dash debates for National Punctuation Day (U.S.). 💜
It’s that time again. Bring on the em dash debates for National Punctuation Day (U.S.). 💜
September 24, 2024 at 1:49 PM
What’s your guilty punctuation pleasure—and why is it the em dash?
It’s that time again. Bring on the em dash debates for National Punctuation Day (U.S.). 💜
It’s that time again. Bring on the em dash debates for National Punctuation Day (U.S.). 💜
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Word's grammar checker is once again trying to get me to change "we are" to "we is". It are such a useless feature.
September 20, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Word's grammar checker is once again trying to get me to change "we are" to "we is". It are such a useless feature.
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
The only person who is ever going to care about your work as deeply as you do will be your editor.
SO MANY questions for new writers are basically "how do you defend yourself against the editor" OR "how do you drop your defenses and let the editor beat the crap out of you without resistance" and: let's go with no, both of those things no, you and the editor are dance partners, not adversaries.
September 21, 2024 at 3:39 PM
The only person who is ever going to care about your work as deeply as you do will be your editor.
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Edibuddies, if you want to see what the significant changes to the Chicago Manual of Style are in the 18th edition, go here: www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/w... #CMOS #AmEditing
The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition
Find it. Write it. Cite it. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. ¶ It is the indispensable reference for ...
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org
August 15, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Edibuddies, if you want to see what the significant changes to the Chicago Manual of Style are in the 18th edition, go here: www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/w... #CMOS #AmEditing
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
My cartoon for Guardian Books’ autumn reading special.
September 14, 2024 at 9:02 AM
My cartoon for Guardian Books’ autumn reading special.
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
September 17, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
As we approach Banned Books week, here's my annual reminder:
If you're going to partake, buy and read banned books from *living* authors. The Bradbury and Vonnegut estates don't need your money, but Maia Kobabe probably does.
If you're going to partake, buy and read banned books from *living* authors. The Bradbury and Vonnegut estates don't need your money, but Maia Kobabe probably does.
September 18, 2024 at 1:35 PM
As we approach Banned Books week, here's my annual reminder:
If you're going to partake, buy and read banned books from *living* authors. The Bradbury and Vonnegut estates don't need your money, but Maia Kobabe probably does.
If you're going to partake, buy and read banned books from *living* authors. The Bradbury and Vonnegut estates don't need your money, but Maia Kobabe probably does.
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Here's this week's list of the Guild's free virtual #AmEditing events! Most open to all editors, registration required.
🕰 Memoir Editing Group, 9/4, 4 pm Pacific
☕ Editors of Color Coffee Hour, 9/9, noon Pacific
🌷 Far North Editors Meeting, 9/11, 11:15 am Pacific
(🧵: 1/3)
🕰 Memoir Editing Group, 9/4, 4 pm Pacific
☕ Editors of Color Coffee Hour, 9/9, noon Pacific
🌷 Far North Editors Meeting, 9/11, 11:15 am Pacific
(🧵: 1/3)
September 4, 2024 at 12:27 AM
Here's this week's list of the Guild's free virtual #AmEditing events! Most open to all editors, registration required.
🕰 Memoir Editing Group, 9/4, 4 pm Pacific
☕ Editors of Color Coffee Hour, 9/9, noon Pacific
🌷 Far North Editors Meeting, 9/11, 11:15 am Pacific
(🧵: 1/3)
🕰 Memoir Editing Group, 9/4, 4 pm Pacific
☕ Editors of Color Coffee Hour, 9/9, noon Pacific
🌷 Far North Editors Meeting, 9/11, 11:15 am Pacific
(🧵: 1/3)
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
The hidden #racism of #book #cover #design is yet one more practice that makes #publishing inhospitable to #minoritized #writers. thewalrus.ca/the-hidden-r... H/T to the Conscious Language Newsletter: mail.consciousstyleguide.com/p/conscious-... #AmEditing
The Hidden Racism of Book Cover Design | The Walrus
The publishing industry’s troubling reliance on visual stereotypes
thewalrus.ca
September 3, 2024 at 3:20 PM
The hidden #racism of #book #cover #design is yet one more practice that makes #publishing inhospitable to #minoritized #writers. thewalrus.ca/the-hidden-r... H/T to the Conscious Language Newsletter: mail.consciousstyleguide.com/p/conscious-... #AmEditing
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Optimist: the cup is half full.
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Writer: Cat! Get off the desk, and why do you insist on drinking my water? You've got your own bowl and I washed and refilled it this morning!
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Writer: Cat! Get off the desk, and why do you insist on drinking my water? You've got your own bowl and I washed and refilled it this morning!
Optimist: the cup is half full.
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Academic: In *Fullness and Emptiness* I will consider modern concepts of 'cup', and interrogate late capitalism's inability to move beyond the binary.
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Academic: In *Fullness and Emptiness* I will consider modern concepts of 'cup', and interrogate late capitalism's inability to move beyond the binary.
September 3, 2024 at 9:34 AM
Optimist: the cup is half full.
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Writer: Cat! Get off the desk, and why do you insist on drinking my water? You've got your own bowl and I washed and refilled it this morning!
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Writer: Cat! Get off the desk, and why do you insist on drinking my water? You've got your own bowl and I washed and refilled it this morning!
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
To spoil the fun with literalism, there's a reason for this. They need to be spelled out so the reader can know whether the speaker is saying "half" or "one-half." It makes a *difference* in dialogue. (Same applies for many; e.g., is "3/4" "three-quarters" or the hyper-precise "three-fourths"?)
Optimist: the cup is ½ full
Pessimist: the cup is ½ empty
Copyeditor: It's generally preferable to spell out simple fractions in dialogue.
Pessimist: the cup is ½ empty
Copyeditor: It's generally preferable to spell out simple fractions in dialogue.
Optimist: the cup is ½ full
Pessimist: the cup is ½ empty
Forensic DNA Analyst: If someone drank half of it, it’s useful; if someone poured half of it out, it’s worthless.
Pessimist: the cup is ½ empty
Forensic DNA Analyst: If someone drank half of it, it’s useful; if someone poured half of it out, it’s worthless.
September 2, 2024 at 5:51 PM
To spoil the fun with literalism, there's a reason for this. They need to be spelled out so the reader can know whether the speaker is saying "half" or "one-half." It makes a *difference* in dialogue. (Same applies for many; e.g., is "3/4" "three-quarters" or the hyper-precise "three-fourths"?)
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Incidentally, if people just want permission to spend a month writing the first draft of a book…
*clears throat*
I, Real Published Author With Awards And Shit, hereby give whoever needs it permission to take a month and write like the devil if they want to.
And it can be any month they want.
*clears throat*
I, Real Published Author With Awards And Shit, hereby give whoever needs it permission to take a month and write like the devil if they want to.
And it can be any month they want.
September 2, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Incidentally, if people just want permission to spend a month writing the first draft of a book…
*clears throat*
I, Real Published Author With Awards And Shit, hereby give whoever needs it permission to take a month and write like the devil if they want to.
And it can be any month they want.
*clears throat*
I, Real Published Author With Awards And Shit, hereby give whoever needs it permission to take a month and write like the devil if they want to.
And it can be any month they want.
Reposted by Rita (Proof It)
Proof editors are human number 327: Finding a typo that has quietly existed on your website since 2020. 😳🤦🏾♀️ #AmEditing #EditorLife #AdventuresInBeingABoss
July 10, 2024 at 8:08 PM
Proof editors are human number 327: Finding a typo that has quietly existed on your website since 2020. 😳🤦🏾♀️ #AmEditing #EditorLife #AdventuresInBeingABoss
If you order today, you likely can get it by Sunday!
BTW the Evil Empire seems to be selling the DE hardcover right this second for about half off, and as much as I don't like to send business their way, a deal's a deal, and you can always spend your savings at your local indie.
And it's almost Father's Day.
And it's almost Father's Day.
June 14, 2024 at 11:06 AM
If you order today, you likely can get it by Sunday!