Proofreading or editing

[Bullfinch13]

I’ve been a professional writer for over a decade (in a certain non-fiction subject) but finding work is becoming harder due to smaller available possibilities and more people wanting to write.

I’ve worked in professions that are related to marketing and require editing and proofreading and have started looked at courses to take on more work. I have applied for a couple of proofreading jobs and have completed a marketing course, however I imagine the competition for such positions and wondered if a proofreading course is worth it? I often notice issues in published books and feel like I would be good at the work. Is either a profession worth going for? I only want to work part time ideally, but don’t think at current my CV would be strong enough to get any sort of paid work in either profession, part or full time.

Can anyone recommend how to get into either profession? I imagine both are a lot of work and take years to build up and I don’t want to sound blasé about the work. I just want to continue working with words as I adore them so much. I previously worked in bookshops but due to moving later this year to a place unknown, I can’t apply for a job without knowing I’d be letting someone down.

Any advice, good or bad, would be gratefully received. I guess I’m looking for my other word-related dream job but have no idea what it is.

I am not an expert, but you could try setting yourself up on Fiverr as a freelance proofreader, list your experience, set a competitive price? I have a friend who does it.

If works best if you have a few writerly friends who you can do bits of work for, to start you off with some positive reviews.

For what it’s worth, I’m a Medical Writer, which I love as a writing-adjacent job
that is well-paid. But you do normally need some science experience.

I've been a subeditor for forty plus years. The problem is people are using AI , spell checkers and grammarly and it's not only reducing standards and cutting back the work available, it's also massively reducing what we're paid. Those do anything for five quid sites are not helping and are an insult to the profession. I don't know now about book publishing as I work in magazines, but that might be the way to go.

I’ve not heard of Fiveer, is it a writers website? I’ll have a look. Science isn’t my forte, so don’t think medical writing is for me unfortunately!

Ah, well this is a bit naive (stupid) of me really. I’ve somewhat assumed that the things affecting my current work wouldn’t be affecting other types of writing work, but of course they will be. AI is becoming very prevalent within this sector, I’m sorry to hear that it’s affecting you.

I’m so frustrated. I’m seeing magazines go under due to lack of funding, people constantly not wanting to pay for the words they consume, and now publishers stealing work for AI purposes and even an AI publishing house open. Sometimes I hate the things we humans do to ourselves.