If you love grammar, spelling, and have an intense attention to detail, then proofreading might be the perfect job for you. Proofreaders are often able to dictate their own hours and work remotely, making it a perfect job for a side gig freelance career. Plus, it’s a fun way to get paid to read!
Cultivate A Love For Reading And Learning
As a proofreader, your time will consist of one main thing: reading. Make sure you enjoy reading and could see yourself reading for hours a day before deciding to become a proofreader. Know you are someone who can read a book or article even if you are not particularly interested in the topic or storyline.
Understand The Proofreading Role
Know what is and is not in your job description as a proofreader. Your job as a proofreader is to read the book after it has already been edited for content for typographical errors, spelling mistakes, missing punctuation, awkward phrasing, and anything else that would distract readers from the story. It can be tempting to read a book manuscript and have opinions on the style of the book, the content, or even details like character development. But as a proofreader, offering up these opinions or possible corrections is not your job. You are not inserting yourself into the text, but instead only helping the writer better communicate their own voice.
Practice Proofreading
Take every opportunity to practice proofreading. There are several free resources online that can help you test and hone in on your proofreading skills. Remember to take your time and go over the practice tests with the answers to learn from your mistakes.
Market Yourself And Get Connected
In order to be hired as a proofreader, you will not only need to market yourself and be prepared to speak confidently about your skills. You will also need to engage with the community you are trying to be hired by.
Continue To Develop Your Resume
Even if you are not using your resume to apply for traditional jobs, keep track of the work you have completed to show prospective clients in a writing resume. Keep track of the types of proofreading you have done, the types of clients you have worked with, and anything else to show your experience.
Culled from: https://makealivingwriting.com
