Amanda
(Work-From-Home Parent)

It is never easy to balance parenthood and your work life! But working from home can help, as we found out when we spoke to working mom (and recent Knowadays graduate) Amanda. So, how can being a freelance proofreader help you achieve a work–life balance?

Hi, Amanda. What made you consider Knowadays?

I had a career in social work before my kids were born, then I started staying home with them. Now they are all in school, and I wanted something to keep my brain active in between the school run and sports activities. And after looking online for ways to get started working as a freelance editor, Knowadays seemed like the best company out there!

“I had a career in social work before my kids were born, then I started staying home with them. Now they are all in school, and I wanted something to keep my brain active in between the school run and sports activities.“

Had you done any proofreading before?

Yes, but only informally. The course was very useful. It made me think about a lot of things I had not encountered before, such as how much to change when editing ESL work.

How have you found the transition to working as a freelance proofreader?

I felt beyond prepared to start (and the guaranteed trial position was a perk). Day to day, part of the beauty of this work is that my life hasn’t changed a lot. I still have time for my family, but I also get to choose what documents I want to work on each day.

I usually check the Proofed site every morning to see what’s available, select the work I want, then make sure my kids are ready for school before I ‘go to work’. And if I need to take a break to do something in the middle of a document, I have the freedom to do so.

Have you been self-employed before? How are you finding it?

I owned an e-commerce boutique focused on ethical jewelry. I love being self-employed.

Proofreader and working mom!

Where do you proofread? Have you got a workspace set up?

I work from home. Most of the time I’m in my home office, but when the weather is perfect, I take it outside and work there instead.

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

I love that I get to learn about a wide range of topics. I’ve proofread everything from how COVID-19 has impacted school systems to how all-solid-state batteries are being improved. It keeps my work interesting. Topic-wise, I really love proofing work across all social sciences.

Are you proofreading elsewhere, in addition to your work at Proofed? If so, how did you find this work?

I have some private jobs on the side. I edit the marketing material and blog for a start-up company aimed at helping personal coaches, and I recently started editing for a lifestyle podcaster/blogger who is writing a book. My first gig was volunteering for a women’s ministry blog, editing their guest posts. All of these I found through networking.

Are you making a decent income from freelancing so far?

I am!

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

There’s the mom gig. With three kids in school and each one having their own activities (and living outside of town!), I usually spend a lot of time helping at their schools and in the car. But I also love to bake and read, which I have a lot more time for right now.

Was the course good value for money?

Absolutely! I have never regretted taking the course. It was a great refresher for what I already knew and it definitely taught me some things I had forgotten.

“I have never regretted taking the course. It was a great refresher for what I already knew and it definitely taught me some things I had forgotten.“

Becoming A Proofreader

Wondering if freelance proofreading is for you? Sign up for a free trial of our Becoming A Proofreader course, and try it out for yourself!