Start Your Own Freelance Proofreading Service

by

John G. Hamilton

If you want an easy-to-run business of your own, starting a freelance proofreading service has a lot to recommend it. No special tools, equipment or premises are required. You can work whenever you like, perhaps fitting the work around family commitments. If you like you can start part-time and go full-time later. And while you probably won’t make a fortune, you can certainly make a decent living.

What Do Freelance Proofreaders Do?Proofreaders do a final check on the text of books and other written materials (e.g. magazines, newspapers, web pages) before they are sent for printing. They mark up any mistakes they find using a standard set of proofreading marks. These corrections are then implemented before the book goes to print.Proofreaders may be asked to work in 1 of 2 ways. Firstly, they may be sent the author’s original typescript with the copy editor’s corrections marked on it, together with a copy of the proofs. In this instance they are required to check that the typesetter has carried out all the editor’s instructions and not inserted any mistakes of his own. This is known as reading against copy. Or secondly, the proofreader may simply receive a set of proofs and be asked to read through them checking for any errors (e.g. spelling, punctuation or factual mistakes). This is known as doing a straight (or blind) reading.What Skills Will I Require?First of all, you will need a good command of spelling and punctuation, and at least a basic knowledge of English grammar (though you can take courses in these subject areas if required). You will have to be thorough and conscientious, and possess a good eye for detail. A typical page proof may have no more than a couple of mistakes in it, but as a proofreader you will be expected to find them.The other necessity is a knowledge of the standard proofreading marks and how they are applied. The standard marks can be found in guides such as The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook (UK) and The Chicago Manual of Style (US), both of which can easily be obtained from libraries or the Amazon internet bookstore. You can also take courses such as the Professional Proofreading & Editing Course from the Maple Academy, which will teach you the standard marks and give you practice in applying them.Finally, you should get a good modern dictionary to check spellings and usage. This should be the full-length edition (at least 150,000 words). Pocket and concise dictionaries won’t do!Is It Necessary To Take A Course?It’s not absolutely essential, but if you haven’t worked in publishing before it’s probably best to do some training before marketing your service to clients, if only to build up your confidence and sharpen your skills. As mentioned above, Maple Academy offers a comprehensive introductory course covering both proofreading and copy editing, with correspondence tuition from professional proofreaders and copy editors. How Should I Sell My Service? Publishing houses are the main employers of freelance proofreaders, and one good way of finding work is to write to them offering your services. Hundreds of publishing houses are listed in The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook (UK) or Writer’s Market (US).Rather than sending out a mass mailshot, however, you may get better results by targeting publishers who produce books on subjects where you have specialist knowledge. If you have experience in teaching, for example, concentrate on school textbook publishers. Or if you have German as a second language, target publishers in the moderrn languages field. Don’t forget to mention any relevant qualifications and experience when applying.Many other businesses use freelance proofreaders as well. PR, advertising and marketing agencies in particular are well worth trying, as are printers and typesetting companies. You should find plenty of such businesses in your local Yellow Pages or telephone directory. Send them a letter of application, or even better give them a call. Writers and aspiring writers are yet another possible market for your proofreading service. Try advertising in magazines aimed at writers, such as Writer’s News (UK) and Writer’s Digest (US). Try to get hold of a sample copy first, however, so you can see how other proofreaders are advertising. Finally, you could also try advertising in local business magazines and directories.

John G. Hamilton is Course Leader for the

Professional Proofreading & Editing Course

, the leading correspondence course for freelance proofreaders and editors, run by Maple Academy (UK). For full details see http://www.mapleacademy.com/maple.nsf/Courses/Professional+Proofreading+Course

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Start Your Own Freelance Proofreading Service}