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WHAT IS FREELANCE PROOFREADING?
by Brian Scott
Did it ever
cross your mind that maybe those amazing authors whose work gets lapped up by
the New Yorker can't write or spell nearly as well as those five-star reviews
suggest? Or that editors often miss crucial spelling errors and word omissions
that can make a work seem amateurish? If so, you're thinking of the realm of
the mystical proofreader who often makes published material look perfect and
impeccable.
Proofreaders are the final line of defense before
publication of material. Even though their lot is often lumped in with that of
copywriters and editors, they are in fact a different breed altogether. After
initial editing for clarity and coherence, and typesetting of a manuscript, the
publishers rely on freelance proofreaders to check for formatting, spelling and
manuscript errors/omissions. Freelance proofreaders hone an impeccable sense of
grammar, and their spelling is second to none. More importantly, they pay
attention to miniscule details. They carefully read every line and
cross-reference with the original manuscript. Proofreaders make all the
difference between a perfect run and a thousand disseminated copies of an
error-riddled manuscript. Elsewhere, proof-readers pore over web content,
brochures, and just about anything that requires error-checking.
Error-correction requires one of two things, depending on for whom and for
what medium the finished product is being generated. Don't panic, however, as
the requirements to become a successful freelance proofreading are not nearly
as prolific as one might imagine.
If one is proofreading for hard
copy, such as a book, then the publisher requires you to know the correct
"mark-up" conventions, as dictated by the chosen Style Manual of the employer.
Consult the Chicago Manual of Style as a baseline for all other Style Manuals.
Many big publishers will have their own bastardized style format which they
will introduce to you during the process of undertaking a proof-reading
position. Corrections you mark for would be implemented or reviewed by another
party and the final manuscript would move to the next stage of publication.
However, if you find yourself employed within a less formal setting,
then you are both the one to mark and correct a manuscript. Manuals of style
are much less important here, and you may find that your role cross-pollinates
somewhat with that of a freelance copywriter, as text may require rewrites
under your guidance.
Gaining work to proofread and write may be
initially difficult, as your abilities remain unproven. A few good ways to
build an impressive CV include finding part-time work with a facility that
already provides proof reading services, and a degree or diploma with a focus
on formal editing will help (but this is by no means necessary) to impress
skeptical clients. Forming relationships with established copywriters and
proof-readers (as well as SEO technicians), will lead to trickle-down benefits
as overflow from their successes comes to you. As always, the local community
(particularly restaurants and other service-type establishments) is a viable
source of income and networking, and offers gigs to rewrite menus and
advertising content.
Volunteer positions on websites and an online
blog that showcases your writing and/or abilities can also be helpful. Never
forget to take advantage of unorthodox opportunities like contacting websites
and organizations about poorly written or extremely typo-riddled print. Offer
to produce new copy and give them a sample of a rewritten passage from their
published text as proof of your viability. While this may not work all the
time, you may just impress enough to get your foot in the door, and that's all
you need.
While your job description may be radically different
depending on the expectations of those who employ you, with the proviso that
you bring high-level language skills and a beady editor's eye for detail to the
table, appreciation for your work skills is assured. Here your best hope for
steady employment lies with being fluid and adaptable. Ready yourself to fill
roles wherever and whenever they pop up, and you're sure to succeed.
© B.
Scott
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Scott has been
a professional freelance writer for more than a decade. He is an active forum moderator at Writing Answers, a vibrant community of writers helping writers.
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