How to Become a Proofreader

Before 2021, I had no idea how to become a proofreader.

Furthermore, even if it were possible, I didn’t know if a person could make enough money to support a family on proofreading income.

But once I started down the path, I soon realized that yes, you can make a living as a proofreader. In fact, it pays about as well as many other jobs out there.

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some tips about how to become a proofreader. If this is something you’ve ever thought about, I’m here to tell you it can be done, and you are in the right place.

The prerequisite: natural aptitude

First of all, you do need to have a certain level of natural ability to be a good proofreader. Do you effortlessly spot errors in a text? And furthermore, do you enjoy it?

If you’re reading a book and a missing period at the end of a sentence stops you in your tracks, or if you automatically make note of a misspelled word on a restaurant menu, you are probably a good candidate to be a proofreader.

And if you’ve ever been called a “grammar nazi” or enjoyed high school English a little more than everyone else, those are also good signs.

If you’re reading a book and a missing period at the end of a sentence stops you in your tracks, you are probably a good candidate to be a proofreader.

Could you be a successful proofreader without the innate ability to spot errors? Anything is possible, but that would be analogous to me trying to succeed as an artist. I literally can’t even tell if my clothes match without asking my wife (who is an artist). I just do not have the natural ability to understand color theory to even that degree. Success in the field of art would require me to overcome many more obstacles than someone with actual natural ability.

So if you do have the “gift” of a sharp eye when it comes to the written word, you have a good foundation to build upon.

Learning the craft

If you do have the right natural skill set, the next thing to do is find specialized training to learn the basics of the craft.

I created Proofreading University to distill everything I have learned into bite-sized chunks to get you up and running quickly.

There are plenty of courses out there, many of which cost hundreds of dollars. All of them have good content and can help you get started.

Alternatively, you can learn everything you need to know to get started for free right here at Proofreading University. I created this website to distill everything I have learned into bite-sized chunks to get you up and running quickly.

Finding and landing your first client

Once you’ve educated yourself, it’s time to start finding clients. I personally primarily use Upwork to do this, but there are other options. You could reach out to local businesses or students to offer your services. You could try Fiverr. Or you can find jobs on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn.

Whichever method you use, you’ll need to figure out your rates, develop a pitch, and just start putting yourself out there. If you do go with a site like Upwork, I highly recommend setting up your profile and pitches like this guy does:

You’ll need to figure out your rates, develop a pitch, and just start putting yourself out there.

It may take a little while, but don’t give up. The first client is the hardest to get. You may have to adjust your pitch or your rates until you find a winning combination, but use each rejected proposal or pitch as feedback to get better.

By the way, if dealing with rejection intimidates you, do yourself a favor and read the book Rejection Proof by Jia Jiang.

Working with your first client

Eventually, you will land a client or two. First of all, congratulate yourself! You deserve it.

But now the work really begins.

The baseline expectation is that you will find and fix every error in a text, but to be a successful proofreader, you need to do more—you must provide excellent service. That means quality work, timely responses, and a respectful attitude at all times.

The baseline expectation is that you will find and fix every error in a text, but you need to do more—you must provide excellent service.

You want clients coming back to you over and over again because you do top-tier work and are easy to work with. In other words, if you can make your clients’ lives easier, they will give you as much work as you can handle, and equally importantly, they will often recommend you to other potential clients.

Branching out by saying “yes”

There are lots of other things you’ll have to learn about the business side of things, but this is how I went about specifically becoming a proofreader.

And since I started, I’ve now branched out into editing and writing as well, which touches on the last bit of advice I’ll give: always be willing to say “yes” to new opportunities and trying new things.

The only way to find your niche is to try a lot of things and see which ones stick.

When you first start out, you might think you know what you want, but the reality is, as you get more into it, you’ll find your niches, and they aren’t necessarily the ones you thought they’d be. And the only way to find out is to try a lot of things and see which ones stick.

I now have a wide range of clients and a diverse set of services that I offer, but it all came through having a positive attitude and a willingness to take on new opportunities when they arose.

Tipping the odds in your favor

The most important thing when trying to break into proofreading (or any other job) is to just keep at it. No one is going to hand anything worthwhile in life to you, but if you take the right approach and work hard, you can tip the odds in your favor.

Good luck!

If you are interested in learning more about how to become a proofreader, be sure to check out Proofreading University to learn more. You can also subscribe to the blog using the button below.