Lauren
(Making Money Online)

Have you ever considered working remotely and making money online? Whether you’re looking for an extra source of income or want to transition to a completely new career, freelance proofreading and editing can be a reliable, flexible way to earn money.

Lauren was looking for a job she could do from home that would fit around homeschooling her daughter. She completed our Becoming A Proofreader course and now works for Proofed on the weekends. This has allowed her to take control of her career – she can decide when, where, and how to work, and she has more time to spend with her daughter.

Hi, Lauren! What made you consider Becoming A Proofreader?

I was looking for a change of career and a job I could do from home. Proofreading seemed ideal, and the Knowadays course fit my requirements perfectly. Especially the offer of guaranteed work at the end!

What were you doing before you started the course?

I was working as an administrator at a primary school.

Was there anything surprising or particularly challenging in the course for you?

Relearning some of the grammar rules. I discovered I had been taught some of them incorrectly many years ago (such as comma use), and it is hard to change habits after so long!

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

Really smooth. Proofed has been very easy to work with, and the feedback I received in the early days helped me to continuously improve as a proofreader.

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

It’s my first time, and I really enjoy being in control of what I do and when.

Are you making enough money?

It’s building up slowly. As my words-per-hour rate speeds up, I’m able to take on slightly bigger docs. Each month, my pay is a little bigger than the previous month, so things are improving all the time.

How has life changed for you as a freelance proofreader?

So many ways! I can now work from home and can choose where, when, and how I work. I’m learning all the time – not just as a proofreader, but also from the eclectic documents I’m proofreading. The work is really interesting, I have more time with my young daughter, and I’m completely in control of my career. It has really changed my life for the better.

“The work is really interesting, I have more time with my young daughter, and I’m completely in control of my career. It has really changed my life for the better.“

What is your day-to-day routine like now?

I don’t work at all during the week as I home educate my daughter. But on Saturday morning, I log on to the Proofed queue on my tablet and wait for documents to be uploaded. I keep my tablet with me all the time over the weekend, and when an interesting document comes up I stop what I’m doing and “go to work” (wherever my laptop happens to be!). I usually stay up late on a Saturday, as often a document pops up into the early hours. I squeeze in as many as I can over the two days, giving myself little breaks.

Was the course good value for money?

Definitely.

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

Making an awkwardly written document read smoothly so that the content can really shine through.

Do you have a favorite type of document or subject area to proofread?

Short essays, around 2000 words, on a variety of subjects.

Where do you proofread?

At home, usually in a little workspace set up in a corner of my bedroom.

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

I home educate my daughter, take trips to the park, read, and sew.

Is there anything else you want to share?

If you’re interested in words and fancy a change of career, I’d urge anyone to give the course a go. It’s not a quick fix or something you can do half-heartedly, but if you put the time in, it is a really rewarding career that will keep you on your toes and never let you get bored.

Becoming A Proofreader

Like the idea of making money online? Knowadays can help you learn the skills you need to start a fulfilling new career as a freelance proofreader or editor. You can even try the courses for free!