The Vienna Museum

I was honored when one of my clients asked if I would help edit the English-language materials for the permanent collection at the Vienna Museum. The museum staff had translated all the materials to English, so my job (working with my client) involved making sure the language was idiomatic US English.

It turned out to be a very fun project. The museum sent texts and photos of what they were describing, which meant that I could occasionally supply a word that was better than what had been there. My favorites are “devour” and “satin” and “jigsaw.” I also realized that I could better help describe a Roman heating system because I’d seen something similar in a building in modern-day San Francisco.

Being a generalist is not always an asset; people want editors who know their subject. But in this instance, it was great that I knew a little bit about HVAC, fabrics, and puzzles.

The Vienna Museum reopened in early December. If you have a chance to visit, please let me know.