Proofreading from home - anyone?

[Macontour]

Hello, I have three children and was recently made redundant from my role in a large Pharmaceutical company. I am currently exploring the possibility of becoming a proofreader as I can work from home around my family. I was wondering if anyone else proofreads, and realistically how easy it is to get work (established)? I have 18 years pharmaceutical experience and a degree in Human Biology so would this make me more desirable to certain clients? I have looked into courses and the distance one run by the PTC seems the best bet for me in my current situation. Any help or advice would be gratefully received.....Thanks.x

It's very competitive but if you can do medical stuff, then you have an edge. It seems medical writing is booming too, so you wouldn't need a course if you have the skills.

Get yourself sorted with job alerts from various sites (guardian, creativepool and possibly medical agencies).

Thanks goldenpeach, do you do this kind of work then? Out of interest, is it better to go to the publishers directly, or are there agencies out there that I could register with who would pass on suitable work? TY.x

Anybody else have any advice they can give me?

I don't do much proofing, mostly writing for the web as too much competition for editing. But for your field you have a chance. Contact anybody, publishers, agencies...

My sister did a proofreading course and now works for an online transcription company, she makes decent money.

I've done some proofreading (I now work as Editorial Publishing Manager freelance). I was lucky though as I used to work in publishing and after babies set myself up as a freelance proofreader. When I was an editor working in house I used to get letters / CVs from potential proofreaders. I'd send them a test, perhaps give them a small job to start with, and see how they were at the job. I'd say contact the publisher direct and contact them again if you get no reply. Courses are good too. Society of Freelance Editors and Proofreaders might have some tips too. I was earning between £10-£15 per hour working for my previous employer (academic publishing). I know that medical proofreading is a sought after skill so worth pursuing I think.

Hi - just seen this! I'm a freelance editor/proforeader and have been for 12 years.

Agree re the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (the SfEP that Becky mentioned above - it ahs a enw name) - it runs courses and is a great resource. It also has a directory that a lot of companies use when looking for freelances. It's hard to get work proofreading/editing when you have no contacts in the industry but I'd google all the STM publishers that publish in your specialty/ area, and contact them.

Watching with interest as just applied fir a proof reading course with a view of some freelance work in the future

By the way great typos Wagtail

:) I type too fast and don't check what I've typed on Mumsnet... good luck!

Hi- this is my first ever post!! I was prompted to begin a new thread because the previous proof reading thread is over a year old.
Basically I am hoping that there may be a few of you who could point me in the right direction to begin a proof reading career.
I have a degree in English lit and worked for many yeyin hair beauty and fashion. Would it be worth focusing on publishers who print copy in that area?

@NJD61 - there are loads of threads on proofreading on this board, so I suggest you search for them.

Visit the SFEP site for info on training courses and getting started - www.sfep.org.uk/

I'd recommend either the SfEP's 3 proofreading courses - www.sfep.org.uk/training/about-sfep-training-courses/proofreading-suite - or the PTC's basic proofreading course - www.publishingtrainingcentre.co.uk/courses/self-study/tutor-guided-courses/basic-proofreading-editorial-skills-one

After you have done training, you can think about targeting clients. I don't know how many books are published each year in hair, beauty and fashion - you need to do research. Also think about websites, blogs, etc.