Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Guild of Copy Editors/Blitzes/October 2016

Didn't get notice of Blitz

I know that I subscribed to the mailing list, but I don't know why I wasn't notified of the new Blitz via email. I think the same thing happened with the last (September) Drive. — BroVic (talk) 22:21, 9 October 2016 (UTC)

We do not send a mailing list newsletter every month. I suggest that you add either Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Guild of Copy Editors/Coordinators or Wikipedia:WikiProject Guild of Copy Editors/Ombox to your watchlist. Those are updated much more regularly. – Jonesey95 (talk) 23:24, 9 October 2016 (UTC)

Thanks. — BroVic (talk) 12:56, 10 October 2016 (UTC)

Inexperienced copy editor requests work check

I've been wanting to improve my copy editing skills and would really appreciate it if someone would be able to check my work. Most of my edits have been typo fixes and minor copyedit but I've never been confident enough to remove a copy edit template – perhaps for good reason. In preparation, I read through the MoS, have been working through the exercises, and looked through the edit histories on some of the Requests that have been recently completed. I tried my hand at Faces (Star Trek: Voyager) and cleaned it up a bit, working with the primary editor. (BTW: I started working on it before the blitz was announced as a Requests backlog, I didn't mean to jump the gun and don't expect anything to be counted for the blitz.) I'm interested in feedback and improving my competence. - Reidgreg (talk) 16:21, 12 October 2016 (UTC)

Sure, we'll spot-check your work in the blitz but steer clear of GANs and FACs till you have more experience. Don't be afraid of making a mistake. That's how we learn, but it may be unrealistic to expect a lot of hand-holding; there's a ton of work out there :-). Have fun and all the best, Miniapolis 17:47, 12 October 2016 (UTC)

Thanks. I've taken a few passes at Looking for Alaska and I know I've improved it but as far as GoCE standards go it might not pass muster. I would greatly appreciate a check and maybe a nudge in the right direction, when an experienced copyeditor can spare the time. I left a few notes at Talk:Looking for Alaska#Copyedit. (Oh, and sorry about the word count, my antiquated computer doesn't seem to run the script so I did my own word count, minus the references and templates, and rounded down.) - Reidgreg (talk) 14:56, 16 October 2016 (UTC)

Looks good to me; I'd hyphenate "most-challenged", but I can smell compound adjectives :-). Much copyediting is (are?) judgment calls. Have fun and all the best, Miniapolis 22:36, 16 October 2016 (UTC)

Well-spotted, thanks! I'll add the hyphen, mark the copyedit complete, and look for another to start. - Reidgreg (talk) 16:02, 17 October 2016 (UTC)

I want to thank Miniapolis and the other coordinators for organizing this blitz. It helped motivate me to get a lot of practice, and I was thanked 8 times that week (more than I've received in previous months). So, much appreciated. I hope to be able to participate in the next blitz or drive. - Reidgreg (talk) 04:18, 24 October 2016 (UTC)