meet the editor: dale
Dale Van Ollefen, Raleigh, NC
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We understand it’s all the rage for film and television actors to interview each other, asking lighthearted questions and being extremely #relatable online. So we’re doing the same.
In this Q&A, Lauren asks Dale a range of questions—serious and frivolous—to help you get to know half of the Lowercase team.
Q: What got you interested in this line of work? (I.e., what is your Villain Origin Story, but for editors?)
A: When I was bored as a kid, I used to make PowerPoint presentations. Yes, you read that right. The topic for most of these revolved around how my brother was a big dumb idiot who deserved it when I punched him, mom. In any case, that’s probably about the time I started to be an insufferable know-it-all who cared a lot about things like punctuation and persuasive writing. It should also come as no surprise to anyone that I ended up being the editor in chief of the yearbook in both middle school and high school.
Q: What we do for work is just one small part of who we are. How do you like to spend your time when you’ve closed out the Work tabs and opened up the Life tabs?
A: My hobbies have been described by friends as “extremely on brand” because they’re all about being cozy and staying indoors. I knit (well) and crochet (poorly), and I recently started playing the piano (with more enthusiasm than skill).
Q: Tell us about what you’re reading. Who are your favorite authors/what are your favorite kinds of stories?
A: I’m almost always reading two books at the same time: a vegetable book (serious or heavy, but probably good for me) and a cake book (light, fun, an all-around treat). My current vegetable book is The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s by Maggie Doherty, and my cake book is Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. The latter is all about death, but somehow manages to still be cake.
Q: If you could magically transmit one grammatical rule into the mind of every English speaker so they never got it wrong again, what would it be?
A: I wouldn’t call this a grammatical rule, but if I could go the rest of my life without seeing the phrase “including but not limited to,” I could die a happy woman. I’d also love it if more people knew the difference between an em dash and an en dash—but, then again, I might be out of a job if they did.
Q: Let’s imagine you’re a fashion designer, and you’re part of a show where the concept is Punctuation. What punctuation mark have you picked for your collection, and what are the clothes like?
A: I’m going to go with the semicolon because everyone knows it’s the wild card of punctuation—serious up top and a party on the bottom. I’m thinking a cozy neutral-colored cardigan with flower pants. Shoes? Comfortable, but also sparkly. Go anywhere, be anything; leave the em dash in your dust.
Q: In 50 words or fewer, why should people give a f*ck about an Oxford comma?
A: Are you an old-timey letterpress operator who has to painstakingly make space for that extra character every time you use an Oxford comma? No? Then you have no reason to leave it out. Use the comma.
Q: What is the best midnight snack? (Not your favorite; the best.)
A: Ramen noodles. They cost less than a dollar per pack, you can make them in five minutes, they’re globally loved, and they’re hot, salty, and satisfying. If you’re feeling unusually motivated, you can even throw an egg or some edamame in there—and that makes it basically healthy, right?
