Have you been dreaming about traveling while you earn? A typical 9-5 might not be your cup of tea and you’re looking for a route to escape the rat race. A career in proofreading might be all that you need to pursue the digital nomad lifestyle. It can be rewarding and fulfilling at the same time. You’re probably wondering what it takes to be a full-time proofreader. Do you need to go to some special school in order to become a professional reader? There is no straight answer to this question but read along if you want to make a full-time living doing something you enjoy.
It Starts With a Passion
Some people go into a particular career because of the money. It can be hard to sustain the enthusiasm if you don’t like what you’re doing. Similarly, for you to be a professional proofreader, you need to enjoy writing in every form. There are occasions where you will be tasked to proofread academic papers. This can be a tad too challenging if you’re not flexible. You could seek out dissertation writing services if you want someone to help with proofreading. Even if you’ve never handled such a job before, you should see it as a challenge.
Develop A Schedule
A career as a full-time proofreader can be challenging. You will not be working the normal office hours. Depending on the company you’re working for, you will be allowed to set your hours. There is also the possibility of working on projects that have deadlines. Once you’ve taken the project, you won’t have any other option but to clear it within the stipulated time frame. This will keep on your toes as every project comes with its own challenges. That is why it is important that you’re coming up with a schedule to promote efficiency.
Don’t Procrastinate
Most freelancers will only start working on the projects when there are a few days to go. This shouldn’t be the case with proofreading as you might end up not doing a great job. For proofreading projects, make sure you’re starting early. You might need to go through the essay a couple of times if you’re to do a great job. When you procrastinate, you will be hurting other aspects of your life. Remember there is no one to keep you accountable. You will be relying exclusively on proofreading to put food on the table.
Constant Learning and Improvement
It is impossible to say that you’ve mastered a craft. There is always an opportunity to learn when it comes to proofreading. It could be you’ve never handled a particular topic or subject before and you will be required to do research just to make sure that the jargon is being used correctly. You should not be afraid to use a dictionary even if you’ve been proofreading for a long time. Remember, it is not your skills being tried. When a client pays for proofreading, they want to make sure there are no mistakes with the writing. Make sure you’re double-checking grammar and syntax mistakes. Read widely and wildly as that will improve your writing and proofreading abilities.
Tools of Trade
To be a successful proofreader, there are some tools that you should have in your arsenal. Grammarly Premium is one such tool. It will make proofreading a lot easier. Caution should be exercised when using such tools because they might fail to highlight some mistakes. They should be used in conjunction with your proofreading skills instead of entirely relying on them.
Set Your “Me” Time
Starting a freelancing business can be stressful. Getting clients and meeting deadlines can sometimes be too much to handle. You need to set some time to unwind and relax. That doesn’t mean you’re abandoning your duties. You will need all the energy you can get when working as a freelancer. By taking time off, you get to recharge.
Have Your Finances In Order
With freelancing, you’re not assured of a regular paycheck at the end of the month. You only get paid when you deliver the service. This means you can work as much as you want. You just have to make sure that your finances are in order so that you’re not caught by surprise when work dries up. You need to set something aside for the rainy days. In fact, you will need to be more disciplined with the finances compared to when you were still getting a salary.
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