In January 2021, during the height of COVID, I lost my job.
I was yet another casualty of the massive worldwide shutdowns that crippled the global economy.
At that point, I had a decision to make.
Should I continue my 15-year career in quality management—a field I had burnt out on years ago but paid well—or take a risk and start a new career at 40 years old?
I chose the latter and started Cedar Press.
Addressing the Need for Proofreading University
I built my proofreading and editing career from the ground up. I knew I was good at grammar and spelling and that I liked to proofread my friends’ seminary papers. But I had no idea how—or even if—I could do it as a career.
The answers were not forthcoming.
It took a ton of digging to find out about the industry and how to make a go of it. There was no one source for how to become a proofreader that was freely available and had quality information.
There was no freely available single source of information I could find that laid out exactly what I needed to know to start Cedar Press. So I decided to do something about it.
Sure, I found a number of courses I could pay for, and that’s what I eventually did. But even then, the course I chose, while very good, didn’t address many of the aspects of the job as it exists in the internet age.
For instance, I have not once used actual proofreading marks since I began because no one sends me paper copies for review.
Simply put, there was no freely available single source of information I could find that laid out exactly what I needed to know to start Cedar Press. So I decided to do something about it.
I created Proofreading University.
What Is Proofreading University?
Proofreading University teaches you everything you need to know to get started as a freelance proofreader.
The website is designed to give you exactly what you need to develop a clear plan to establish yourself as a proofreader. It has multiple learning paths, called “courses,” to cover wherever you are in your proofreading journey:
- Beginner: This course covers the basics of freelance proofreading—what it is, what skills you need, how to build a portfolio, how to find clients, and how to set rates.
- Intermediate: This course goes beyond the basics to teach you how to do the actual job of proofreading. It also includes information on what tools and resources you’ll need.
- Advanced: This course comprises multiple short tutorials covering how to proofread documents in a specific industry.
Who Is Proofreading University For?
Proofreading University is for anyone looking to get started in a career as a freelance proofreader. The site is designed to be a free repository of information that you can use instead of (or together with) a paid course.
Proofreading University teaches you everything you need to know to get started as a freelance proofreader.
You could be a stay-at-home mom looking for a flexible part-time side gig. Or you could be a guy like me who wants to do proofreading and editing full time. Or anything in between.
Basically, this website is for anyone curious about, looking into, or getting started with freelance proofreading.
Why You Should Check It Out Even if You Don’t Want to Become a Proofreader
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you may not want to become a proofreader.
That’s okay—maybe you want to hire me instead. But you can still find value in Proofreading University in a number of ways:
- You can develop a better understanding of what a proofreader’s job entails. This information can help you vet and choose a proofreader that will meet your needs, understand how much you can expect to pay, and more.
- You can pass along valuable information to those who may need it. You likely have at least one family member or friend who has what it takes to become a proofreader. Or perhaps you have an employee whose job description includes reviewing documentation. This site can help them grow in that role, thus providing you with more value.
- You can become better at spotting mistakes in your own writing. You don’t have to be a professional to get better at proofreading your own work. There are tips and tricks at Proofreading University that you can incorporate into your writing process to weed out more errors earlier on. This can directly result in better quality and even lower costs.
I’m excited to announce the launch of Proofreading University. I believe it is a great free resource for anyone wanting to earn money online or even just improve their writing skills.
I’d invite you to take a few moments to head over to proofreadinguniverity.com and check it out.
Proofreading University is a great free resource for anyone wanting to earn money online or even just improve their writing skills.
And if you shared it with a friend, you would have my undying thanks and admiration. 🙂