Turns out I didn’t bite off more than I could chew. Quite the opposite. I went overboard.

After working on the newsletter article for a week, and praying as I sent it off that I didn’t mess anything up too badly, I received the following email.

You have done an excellent job. Thank you very much.

We are going to do some minor changes. I should have told you, but this story is meant to be used for our next newsletter. I am sorry that I did not tell you the context. A newsletter requires the story to be a bit more concise. But, we are going to use your story for our blog, as well. And, what you have written actually fits in perfectly for a blog or even a book.

So, we will use your story as it is for our blog. Readers have a bit more time. But we are going to make it a bit more concise and direct for our newsletter.

Thank you, again, for this wonderful work. It is very well done.

Here I was, stressing that I wouldn’t delve enough into the world they wanted me to, and I delved too deep. I suppose as issues go, I could have done worse and instead left the readers wanting.

I emailed her back and asked what the limit was as far as word count/pages. That way I don’t force them to reedit what I was supposed edit. I also apologized and included the hope that I didn’t create more work for them.

Funny. After I first read the email, I couldn’t help but think it’ll be the last time they ask me to do anything for them.

Is it even possible to be fired from a volunteer job?

I doubt it, but my mind tends to over-think, over-analyze, and expect the worst every time I make a mistake. After I read the email a second time, however, I’m more assured they can still use me. Overall it was positive.