Amanda

Amanda
(Work-From-Home Parent)

  • Jul 02, 2020
  • 4 min read

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.

Editor Profiles: Working Mom

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!

Start your journey

Start your journey

Start your journey to becoming a proofreader!

Level 1

Becoming A Proofreader

Try for free

Becoming A Proofreader

  • Guaranteed work for graduates of Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor
  • Your path from beginner to confident trained professional
  • Invest in yourself and start a flexible, fulfilling new career
  • One-on-one support from friendly, expert tutors
  • Join hundreds of happy learners living a new lifestyle of freedom and flexibility

Join the Conversation

KIM WARK says:
August 28, 2020 at 2:25PM
I am looking for a proofreading position. Can you help?
    Proofreading Academy says:
    August 28, 2020 at 3:34PM
    Hi, Kim. The Becoming A Proofreader course comes with a chance to work for our partner company, Proofed, if you pass with a high enough mark. You can find out more here if you like (and there's a free trial of the course available): https://www.proofreadingacademy.com/about/guaranteed-work/

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.