Knowadays Success Stories

Proofreading might not seem like an obvious follow-up to the military, but Cole did exactly that! After 10 years in the army he decided to boost his skills with the Becoming A Proofreader course, and now works as a freelance proofreader and editor.

“As an intelligence officer, I was often the in-house proofreader and editor. I wanted to leave that world behind but still use my experiences in my career, so editing came to mind.“

Samantha had always dreamed of a career that gave her the freedom to work from home. With freelance proofreading as her main source of income, she now chooses when, where, and on what she works.

“I really enjoy having the flexibility to decide when I work and how much I do in a day. Being self-employed has taken some adjusting, and there are a lot of things that I’ve had to figure out as I go. But I think I’ve set down solid foundations for my future.”

As a freelance proofreader, poet Alie uses her language skills to help others improve their writing, but also has the flexibility to work on her own creative projects. So far she has self-published a 20-poem chapbook, and her poems have been published in several journals!

“Knowadays changed my life. I was really stuck before. I loved writing poetry. But I was very lost in terms of how I was going to make a living. I wanted to do work that I could feel good about at the end of the day. Knowadays have given me that.“

After completing her PhD in cardiovascular medicine, Emily wanted to start a career in medical writing and editing. Becoming A Proofreader helped her to develop her proofreading skills, and gave her the confidence to edit all types of documents, medical or otherwise!

“I have gained some valuable experience in editing, which I have used alongside my academic expertise to really advance my writing and editing skills.“

As a recent graduate, Zac was searching for work that would fit into his lifestyle. Freelance proofreading lets him earn an income, do a job he loves, and still enjoy his independence.

“I usually work in coffee shops or at home. But I also value my freedom and independence, so the opportunity to travel while working is something I want to explore. I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of the flexibility of freelance life over the next year or so.”

Jennifer had been working in the diamond and jewellery sector for over 20 years, and was looking for a second job that she could do from home. She started out proofreading around her other full-time job, and gradually gained the confidence to make proofreading her main source of income.

“Working from home is fantastic. After 15 years doing an hour-plus commute each way to my job, now I’m loving freelance life and I’ve got my evenings back!“

While waiting for his first novel to be published, Claudio decided to support his literary ambitions by learning to proofread. He is now making the transition from full-time office-work to freelance proofreading, and writing his second novel at the same time.

“I’m slowly making the transition from full-time office work to freelance writing and proofreading. So far the change seems to be going well! It has allowed me to dedicate more time to writing, so I’m currently working on my second novel as well as proofreading.“

Actor Liz was looking for a way to earn money between acting jobs, and had always liked the idea of proofreading. As a freelance proofreader, she enjoys seeing the author’s personality come through in their writing, and having the privilege to read and refine their work.

“Now, three months, ninety documents, and well over a hundred thousand words in, I feel confident and in control of my freelancing. The support from the Proofed team has been friendly and comprehensive, too, which has helped a lot.“

As a proofreader and editor at a software company, 90% of Marita’s workday is dedicated to proofreading. She took Becoming A Proofreader to brush up on her knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and writing style for work — and now also has the option to work as a freelancer with Proofed!

“I wanted to brush up on my knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and general writing style for my work. But I also have an interest in proofreading itself.“