Anyone a proofreader?

[Liketotalk]

I'm thinking of a career move and just wondered if anyone could tell me how you get into freelance proofreading. What qualifications you need etc? I used to be an online editor.

My Mum proofreads OU assignments for a friend of hers and gets paid for it. I was about to start looking into it as a possible term time job when the DC's are all gone to school...

Funnily enough I am also just looking into doing a course and then setting up a small business doing this - have some friends who are medical writers who have just set up alone and would probably give me some business initially. That is as far as I have got so interested to hear about it.

My only qualifications are that I have read Eats, Shoots and Leaves 3 times and am extremely pedantic

I believe the standard recommended course is run by Book House.

Brill thank you. Anyone know how competitive it is and how much work is available? Also, do you know what the going rate is? Thanks.

I have been a proofreader in the past, qualifications include an English degree and experience in PR and marketing. Really it was just being in the right place at the right time. I think there are courses, but actually who you know is probably as important as what iyswim. Good luck.

btw I charged £25.00 ph freelance, but you may get less if you go through an agency. This was a few years ago.

Thank you janajos. I do actually have experience in PR and Marketing so hopefully that would help. I just don't know where to start tbh. Could you recommend any freelance agencies/websites? Also would you recommend doing the Book House course mentioned by Lilymaid? It's quite expensive at £300 but if it's a recognised course it may be worth doing. Thanks for your help :)

Sorry, another question! How is the volume of work? Do you get loads at once that have a tight deadline or is it a pretty steady stream with varying deadlines? Sorry to keep on asking questions but I'm fact finding at the moment to make sure I'm making the right decision. So if anyone can help with these questions that would be great. Thanks.

I bought the Chapterhouse course some years ago but never completed it. It required me to learn the printing trade markings for corrections I seem to remember.

Also you were expected to market yourself and find your own work; maybe proof reading leaflets or voluntary group publications to start with.

One way forward might be to contact the Disability Officer at a local university (preferable an ex poly if there's a choice). They would keep names of approved proof readers as some students need this done for their essays and dissertations. They might also be able to put you in touch with any local companies they use.

I have seen the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (www.sfep.org.uk/default.asp) highly recommended - their courses aren't cheap, but at least they aren't so blatantly in it for the money as Chapterhouse. In-person teaching, not online, as well.

If you want to get some practice in (unpaid), Distributed Proofreaders (www.pgdp.net/c/) is the proofreading arm of the Gutenberg Project (puts out-of-copyright books on to the Net for free download). They provide practice assignments and give you feedback. Not exciting stuff - lots of American Civil War memoirs - but might do to begin with. Good luck!