Jane
(The Freelance Photographer)

Becoming a freelance proofreader is a great way to support any other freelance pursuits in your life. Knowadays graduate Jane, for example, is a freelance photographer who now also works with Proofed for an extra source of income.

We wanted to hear more from Jane, so we caught up with her to see how she’s been getting on. Check out our conversation below.

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

I’ve always been quite particular about spelling and grammar and have a terrible habit of correcting people! So training to do it professionally seemed like the obvious way to go.

What were you doing before you started the course?

I’ve been a stay-at-home mum for several years. While I occasionally do some child and family lifestyle photography on weekends, I wanted a career that I could pursue Monday to Friday and that would fit in with school and after-school activities.

Was there anything particularly challenging in the course for you?

Before I embarked on the course, I had no idea how detailed and thorough it would be and just how much there was to learn. (I thought I knew everything there was to know about English grammar; I didn’t!)

That challenge has been extremely rewarding.

How has your transition to working as a freelance proofreader with Proofed been?

The transition to freelancing with Proofed was a very smooth experience. Proofed are well managed and always pay promptly.

It’s also been great to try out and join some of their specialist teams, and I have been enjoying working on PowerPoint presentations as part of a team.

How has life changed for you as a freelance proofreader?

Being a freelance proofreader has allowed me to earn a bit of money in my own time. And this is all while still being available for my daughter and able to pursue other interests, like my work as a freelance photographer.

“Being a freelance proofreader has allowed me to earn a bit of money in my own time. And this is all while still being available for my daughter and able to pursue other interests, like my work as a freelance photographer.“

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

I love the diverse range of topics covered in the documents I get to read; I am reading subjects that I would never have otherwise read, which is interesting.

I also like to picture the author and develop an idea of who they are and the kind of life they lead; I love the insights into a person’s personality that you can derive from their written work.

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

When I’m not proofreading I’m usually running the home. However, I always find time to exercise: I take a brisk walk daily and try to fit in a yoga or Pilates class. I also like to spend quiet time reading a good book.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Taking the course is a great way into the proofreading industry, and having guaranteed work with Proofed is fantastic for providing that all-important experience you need to have under your belt.

Becoming A Proofreader

If you’re like Jane (freelance photographer or not) and have an itch for correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, you could be a freelance proofreader in the making. If you’d like to see it for yourself, we even offer free lessons from our Becoming A Proofreader course.