My journey into freelance

I decided a few weeks back during an episode of extreme fatigue that I really need to reconsider my work choices. I have been doing the odd few days here and there covering teaching assistant posts in a wide variety of schools, but when flu hit just after a 4 day week, leaving me very weak and unfathomably tired, I knew I had to make a change.

I started this journey back in September 2012, when I embarked upon a proofreading and copy editing course. In my mind I knew I was capable of the tasks ahead, and having learned what I can only describe as a new language (international proofreading symbols) I thought I could take on the world. Unfortunately my self confidence took a battering when I received the results of the final proofreading assessment. I was not going to be accredited or certificated as I was one grade away from the publishing courses baseline of B.

Three months on and I am becoming more confident and more determined. I have now begun the long slow journey to becoming a freelance proofreader. In the past few weeks I have created profiles on LinkedIn, Peopleperhour and Freelancer. Placing bids and proposals for work on the latter, with my fingers crossed that someone out there will give a newbie a chance to step onto this difficult ladder.

Today I was torn between starting a new blog for this purpose or just incorporating it into this existing blog. As you can see I chose to stick with one blog. Not only does it keep all my thoughts in one place, but with so many people already following my path it seemed rather futile to begin again. Also it was just as easy to set up a new category, The Freelance Life, and move all the relevant stories into it and create a new page, Proofreading, advertising my services.

Now I just have the waiting game to contend with. In between writing introductory letters to publishing companies, submitting proposals and bids on freelance orientated websites, working the odd day cover in schools and of course being a mother and a housewife. Wow, that just made me feel very tired again!

Proofreading projects wanted

I am new to the world of publishing and have recently completed a proofreading course, with a final grade of B-. Unfortunately for me though I will not receive an accreditation certificate as I was unable to attain a final grade of B. Such a fine line margin, but I refuse to let that put me off trying to change my career path.

To get me started on this new path to becoming my own boss, I am appealing to all writers everywhere. I am looking for proofreading projects in the real world, to gain experience, to practice my new found skills and to improve my ability to spot the obvious and hidden errors within a text, essay or manuscript.

I am happy to work with printed typescripts, marking corrections in pen or even PDF or Word manuscripts (something I definitely need practice with in the current world of technology).

I will offer competitive rates of pay and am happy to negotiate costs (including postage/courier payments) prior to mutual agreement.

No project is too big or too small and if you have a specific deadline, just let me know in your initial contact.

If this sounds like something you would like to embark on then contact me, Faye Brown via email.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and please feel free to re-share.

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