PROOFREADING
AND COPY-EDITING (UK)*
How
do I become a freelance proofreader and/or copy-editor . . . ?
Hello and
welcome to my website on this fine day.
The question posed above seems to be on many people's minds, judging from
the response to my book on the subject: Freelance Proofreading and
Copy-editing – A Guide (about which more later). My name is Trevor
Horwood. I have been a full-time freelance proofreader and copy-editor
since 1991 and I am an Advanced Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. The
purpose of this site is to give you some idea of what freelancing entails,
and whether or not you would be suited to it. In return, it will give me
a chance to plug my book . . . Well, we all have to earn a living, don't
we?
Navigation
for newcomers
The
information is divided into easily digested chunks, which can be accessed
from the categories in the sidebar to the left. The site uses frames and
is optimized for viewing at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
If you have a small monitor, you may find it easier to dispense with frames
by clicking the link top left. Alternatively, hold down the Shift key as
you click any sidebar link and it will open in a new window. (If you are
not viewing this page in a frame, or are trapped in someone else's frames,
please click here.) Internal links
are provided to aid navigation, while others lead to external sites that
may prove to be of interest. You might like to bookmark this page now (or
'add to favorites' if you are using Internet Explorer) by pressing Ctrl
+ D, so that you can always find your way back here. Alternatively, if
you are using IE4 or higher, you can click the link at the foot of this
page to bookmark automatically.
While
you are here, I hope that you will take the opportunity to visit my online
bookshop, where you will find much to interest the would-be freelance.
But
first, I'm sure there are some questions you would like answered, so click
on the FAQs in the sidebar and we'll begin . . .
*I regret to say that my book is likely to be of little use to anyone working outside the UK market, particularly those based in North America. Apart from the many differences in spelling, style and punctuation between British and American English, all my contact lists, training resources etc. are UK centred, and the advice and opinions given are based on my experience with British publishers. I have no idea if things work the same way elsewhere, and I wouldn't presume to advise you. My best advice is to seek out some local freelances (an Internet search should unearth a few) and contact them informally, asking if there is an association equivalent to the British-based Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) that you could contact for more details.