Breanna
(The New Mom)

Proofreading from home can give you precious time to spend with family, all while doing work you’re passionate about. To see how freelance proofreading can fit into the busy life of a new mom, we’ve spoken to Knowadays graduate Breanna.

Hi, Breanna! What made you consider the Knowadays course?

I was heavily pregnant and considering my options for being a stay-at-home mom so I wouldn’t have to be away from my baby after he was born. I had already tried childcare and soap crafting, but then I came across Knowadays and decided to take the course.

I finished the course while in the hospital after giving birth! My newborn was in the NICU, and it was a great distraction from a stressful situation that requires a lot of waiting and worrying.

Did you find anything in the course particularly challenging?

I was surprised by how many of the grammar and punctuation rules I had learned in school were actually false! Relearning things that were so deeply ingrained was a challenge.

“I was surprised by how many of the grammar and punctuation rules I had learned in school were actually false!“

How has your transition to working freelance with Proofed been?

Working for Proofed has been an amazing experience! It’s like proofreading boot camp. It’s challenging work, but you learn so much and become a much better editor for it.

How has life changed for you as a freelance proofreader?

I have never been self-employed before, besides childcare and crafting, and I have to admit there is no going back! Being your own boss is amazing and oh-so-rewarding.

Also, I am no longer stressed about money or getting back to work outside of my home. As a new mom, there is always guilt when you have to leave your babies for long hours. Babyhood is so fleeting, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be there for all of it while also earning a living.

“Babyhood is so fleeting, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be there for all of it while also earning a living.“

What is your day-to-day routine like now? And where do you work?

As a mom, my day-to-day life is always a bit chaotic! I am able to work a few hours during the day when the kids are playing or napping, and I get a few hours every night after my husband comes home and takes over.

At the moment, I proofread wherever I can as we’re in a relatively small home (e.g., living room, bedroom, kitchen, patio). But due to my new source of income, we have decided that a backyard she-shed/home office is within the budget. We start building this year!

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

I am a full-time mother! I spend time with my family. We live on a small island near Seattle, and we stay busy with outdoor activities and community programs. I’m also an acrylic painter; I cannot wait to build my office, which will double as an art studio!

What has been the single best benefit of having done the course?

Self-esteem. I just feel really good about myself, having conjured a career out of thin air (with the help of Knowadays, of course).

Was Knowadays good value for money?

Absolutely! The course has been an invaluable resource for me. I would not be where I am without it. I am making more money than I have in years, and I am even able to start saving.

““(…) The course has been an invaluable resource for me. I would not be where I am without it. I am making more money than I have in years, and I am even able to start saving.”“

Is there anything else you want to share?

Being pregnant during a global pandemic was a frightening experience. Having something to focus on during the last month of my pregnancy was, honestly, life-saving. I am still in disbelief about how much my life has changed for the better because of this step I took for my future. Thank you, Knowadays and Proofed – I could not have done it without you!