Cross-training is the focus of today’s How To column at Copyediting.com, as I continue my series on innovative professional development tactics for mid-career and senior editors.
Here are examples of cross-training I have done myself:
Read a guide:
- Screenplay writing and film theory. (A whole new way for me to think about words and communicating.)
- Business guide for independent lawyers (as opposed to those who work for a firm).
- Franchise business theory and best practices.
- Basic XML so I could better understand ebook preparation and processes.
- Garner’s theory of multiple intelligences that my teacher-authors had referred to so many times.
Take a course:
- Through Coursera.org I took a course at OISE on Aboriginal worldviews in education, because it’s typical now to incorporate those ways of understanding into the science textbooks that I work on.
- I also took courses in gamification and math and managing the company of the future.
Attend (another industry’s) conference:
- Science teacher’s conference where they were sharing new theories in education and their best strategies for teaching various concepts.
- Musician’s conference/auditions for folk festival circuit. Learned a lot about taxes, professionalism, and interacting with funders from presentations by the Canadian Council for the Arts.
Hire a tutor:
- Taught me HTML coding back when it was done by hand.
Write about it:
- Since Copyediting.com asked me to write two weekly columns, I have been inspired to learn and expand my interests far beyond anything I think I will ever use. I and am constantly amazed by the links I find to my own practice, the light bulbs that go off in my mind, and what I can put to use.
- Writing it down also helps me process the takeaways.
Read more in this series on unconventional professional development strategies for mid-career and senior editors.
Photo by Kenny Holston, used under CC BY-ND 2.0 license.
