Alanna
(Living a Simpler Life)

Is the modern world overwhelming? Wish you could live a simpler life? If so, proofreading from home could be the perfect career choice. To find out why, we’ve spoken to a Knowadays graduate, Alanna, who is now enjoying the freedom of freelancing.

Hi, Alanna! What made you consider Knowadays?

Before I started the course, I had been in sales and operations management for over a decade. I would leave home every day before my wife and son were awake and then come home every night right before bedtime. But I wanted to focus on the important things, so I started looking for work-from-anywhere opportunities. Then I found Knowadays.

Was there anything particularly challenging in the course for you?

I am an avid reader and once pursued a master’s degree in English literature. Grammar and punctuation, however, are different creatures, and the parts on hyphens and dashes were a bit of a struggle. But the course helped me get a great handle on the English language.

How have you found the transition to working freelance?

Proofed makes it easy to transition from the class to working for real. So far, everyone on the team has been easy to communicate with, willing to help, and provided excellent feedback to continue my growth. This is also my first time being self-employed and I highly recommend it.

How has life changed for you now as a freelance proofreader?

My family and I want to live a simpler life together, and we hope to travel more one day. Now, I have the freedom to choose my working hours, which will help us reach those goals. And my income from proofreading will give us the freedom to live our best lives before retirement age.

“My family and I want to live a simpler life together, and we hope to travel more one day. Now, I have the freedom to choose my working hours, which will help us reach those goals.“

What is your day-to-day work like? And where do you work?

Right now, I wake up and spend the morning with my son. Once his school is done and my wife is home from work, I take a document to work on for the evening. And I am usually done early enough to spend time with my wife, so it has let me see much more of my family.

In addition, once COVID-19 is over, we will be able to end our days at the same time and enjoy the lake and woods around us in the evening! For now, though, the freedom to choose my schedule ensures I am available for my son when he needs me, and we can stay safe.

Alanna’s view from the office.

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

I love getting to grips with different types of writing. I have proofread poems, essays, personal statements, cover letters, and resumes. No two days are exactly the same!

“I love getting to grips with different types of writing. I have proofread poems, essays, personal statements, cover letters, and resumes. No two days are exactly the same!“

Are you proofreading elsewhere in addition to your work at Proofed?

Not really. Eventually, my goal would be to proofread for Proofed and coach people towards living simplified lifestyles. Keep an eye out for Simplified by Alanna!

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

I help my son with remote learning, spend time outside camping in Texas and Arkansas (in the future, this will be across the United States), listen to music with my two cats, read fiction and historical fiction, and continue dreaming with my wife.

What has been the single best benefit of having done the course?

The confidence of knowing I can do something other than go into an office every day. If you are thinking about taking a different path and are passionate about words, take this course. You can’t put a price on something that provides you the freedom to choose your own path.

“If you are thinking about taking a different path and are passionate about words, take this course. You can’t put a price on something that provides you the freedom to choose your own path.“

Do you have a website or LinkedIn profile you want to share?

Sure! You can find me on LinkedIn here.

Becoming A Proofreader

Could freelance proofreading help you transition to a simpler life? If that sounds appealing, give our Becoming A Proofreader course a try by signing up for a free trial today.