Solitude vivifies; isolation kills.
Joseph Roux (nineteenth-century priest and poet) I worked in an office for nearly fifteen years before I went freelance. I’d stop and chat with friends and colleagues by the water cooler or coffee machine. There was always someone to talk to; sometimes it was difficult to knuckle down to the job, so social was the environment. Now that I’m freelance, I work from home. I don’t have colleagues in the traditional sense. I’m on my own from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Non-freelancers have frequently asked me how I deal with the isolation and are often surprised when I reply, “I don’t feel isolated.”
The experience is certainly different from that of my prior office life and it requires a different mindset, but need it be isolating? Or was Roux onto something when he reminds us of the different ways of being alone? I asked some of my freelance editorial colleagues about how they manage a life of working from home.
The following is a summary of our collective wisdom on how to generate your very own freelance water cooler when you need it, and bathe in the quietness when you don’t. The challenges Many of us become freelance because it suits our needs – moving house, moving country, redundancy, parenting, disability, and caring for dependents are just some of the reasons why people move their work base from the office to the home. These changes can bring rewards but also challenges, forcing us to withdraw from the traditional and easily accessible friendship and professional groups that we’d previously relied on. Some of the contributors to this article highlighted how having young children has provided them with much-needed human contact at the school gates. But many of us still miss the “office banter”, the “colleague” element – Jo Allen summed it up well, referring to “those people who do the same or similar jobs so you can swap and share ideas: the manager who always supports your ideas; the people who are there to confirm your decisions; the security of responsibilities understood; and the confidence of knowing how to do the job”. Online networking Our discussions highlighted one thing above all else: Facebook. Yes, editorial association-based discussion lists, LinkedIn boards, Twitter and Google+ all came up as recommended spaces for connecting with like-minded colleagues in similar working environments, but Facebook stood out as the place to go to meet, chat, share ideas, and let off steam. Facebook is the ultimate freelance water cooler. Several people actually wondered how they ever coped without it, and one person commented that he’s not sure he’d still be freelance were it not for Facebook. I particularly like the fact that it’s so easy to differentiate one’s public image from the more personal posts that might be limited to friends, down to the private messaging options for the one-on-one chat. Using online networking forums means you don't ever have to feel like you’re working on our own even if there's no one else in the room. Face-to-face networking The other favoured resource for combating feelings of loneliness was the good old-fashioned face-to-face meet. It requires a lot more effort than dipping into your Twitter account, but the rewards are huge. Several contributors commented on the benefits reaped from regular attendance at their local society chapter, and Eva Blaskovic lamented the fact that she didn’t have as much time as she’d like to take advantage of more workshops and functions. If there isn't a local group near to you, you could always follow the lead of Helen Stevens and set one up! Joining your national editorial freelancing society may be a critical first step in accessing colleagues who face the same professional and personal challenges as you, as well as providing excellent social and learning opportunities. To find your local, regional or national freelance editorial group, visit the Editing & Proofreading Societies page. See also the Networking section of the Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base, curated by Katharine O’Moore-Klopf – a hugely comprehensive resource for freelancers. Of course, you needn’t limit yourself to editorial groups. “I’m also looking into various local small business networking groups – there seem to be quite a few nearby that are specifically for women or mothers,” commented Abi Saffrey. And another colleague is pursuing an MA, which gives her valuable face-to-face time with adults. Sara Peacock emphasized the value of joining hobby-based groups, such as a choir or knitting group, and Wendy Toole explained how, prior to the internet era, she took a series of minor part-time jobs, which gave her both additional income and social contact with other people. Cafe culture “Scope out a decent coffee shop – having the odd couple of hours working in a different environment with people around makes you feel a lot less isolated and a lot more like you're just your own boss,” was a sound piece of advice from Gaz Haman. That got the thumbs-up from many of the discussants. It’s all about a change of scenery. Even if you’re not directly interacting with other people in a particular place, time spent outside your usual work space is an effective refresher. You can even incorporate your java time with your work – the cafe may not be the best place in which to do editorial tasks that require deep concentration, but it may be a space where you can catch up on emails, invoicing or any of your more general house-keeping tasks. Co-working One of the most innovative solutions was highlighted by both Sally Fildes-Moss and Kristine Hunt. Co-working is “where freelancers meet up to work alongside each other in places such as cafes” , enabling them “to feel less isolated, pick each other's brains, bounce ideas off one another and so on – or just to work in a less solitary environment”. Sally emphasized the fact that there is less pressure to market oneself in these situations, providing instead “a bit more of an office atmosphere than a networking atmosphere”. For an interesting case study of co-working, she recommends the following article: Co-working Could Bring Inspiration. Kristine points us towards Meetup, an online resource that helps you to join or create relevant local community groups – absolutely worth a gander if you’re feeling that isolation is getting on top of you and you’re stuck for ideas of how to move forward. Pet paradise I’m not joking – having a dog can be a sure-fire way to combat feelings of isolation. No, they won’t be able to bounce business ideas around with you and they won’t be able to advise you on how to deal with the frustrated author of the book you’re editing, but pets still make wonderful companions. My trusty Lab is always ready with a tail wag whenever I’m stressed by a deadline or tackling a particularly demanding proofreading job. And as Wendy Toole reminded us, dog walkers are usually sociable and you get work on your health – keeping you work fit and body fit. They keep your feet warm in winter, too. Other options If you don’t fancy any of the above, consider the following:
Is it isolation or solitude? The first question my colleague Kristine Hunt asked during our discussion is: “Why assume isolation is bad? I don't miss the office politics, formal clothing, jockeying for time off, etc. I'm not so much antisocial as one who enjoys quiet time alone, so freelancing at home is ideal in that regard.” Many of us felt the same way. Freelancing from home does require a different mindset, but once you’re in it, it can be quite hard to revert to old ways of working. Others commented that the solitude that homeworking brings allows you to work at your own pace. “I can get so much work done just focusing at home and taking breaks only when I need – or don't need – them,” noted Eva Blaskovic. And Hester Higton remarked, “I love being able to shut myself away from the world and have my own space where I can beaver away at my own pace.” To round off, Sarah Wright points to an illuminating article from Susan Cain in the New York Times Sunday Review, The Rise of the New Groupthink, in which she reminds us that being alone, and enjoying the attendant privacy and freedom from interruption, can be an intensely creative and rewarding experience. Many of us do need our water coolers, online or off, but we can also enjoy the solitude that our freelance homeworking status brings us.
Do you work on your own? Do you have a set of tips or tricks to combat feelings of isolation? Or do you revel in the solitude you derive from home-based freelancing? Please feel free to share your experiences in the Comments section.
Contributors: Many thanks to my generous editorial colleagues who took the time share their thoughts and experiences: Abi Saffrey, Corbett Brown, Eva Blaskovic, Gaz Haman, Helen Stevens, Hester Higton, Jo Allen, Kristine Hunt, Sally Fildes-Moss, Sara Peacock, Sarah Wright, and Wendy Toole.
Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders.
Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn.
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This Roundup features resources that will be of particular interest to those editors and proofreaders who are new to onscreen work, or to experienced editorial professionals who want to expand their skills. It includes links to useful courses, articles and books.
Courses
And my colleague Adrienne Montgomerie has posted the following information in the comments, but just in case you don't read that far, I've repeated it here:
Articles
Books
Want to add anything? In particular, specific onscreen editing/proofreading courses from outside the UK would be of interest since well over half the Parlour's visitors are from elsewhere in the world. Please feel free to let us know in the Comments section (or email me and I'll add your recommendations).
Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders.
Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. There is no reason for any small business not to be online … in a professional, powerful way. That way, when a customer wants to find your menu of products, they will.
Steve Strauss (USATODAY.com columnist, author and lawyer) 1. Competition Proofreading and editing are competitive. If your colleagues have websites but you don’t, you’re less likely to be found by potential customers. You're potential market is worldwide so make yourself visible to those to beyond your own geographical boundaries. 2. No- or low-cost marketing Your website is a low-cost, high-impact marketing tool. If you use a host such as Weebly or WordPress, to name just two, then the only cost to you need be the time you spend building and maintaining it (though I'd recommend paying a little extra for a professional custom domain name). Once live, customers can find you rather than your having to find them. 3. Create an online résumé You can use your website as an online résumé. Keep your home page uncluttered, but use other pages to show off your clients, skills and portfolio of work. 4. Control your space A website is more than ‘having an online presence’ – it’s a professional space in which you control both the content and the design of that content. In other words, your brand identity. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Google+ are restrictive in this respect. Even highly functional professional editorial directories will define how you can display your content. You can, however, use these networking platforms, and others, to drive people to your website. 5. Content is always fresh Websites are easy to update, meaning the content you include is always the latest content. Update your site frequently and search engines are more likely to notice you. And that means clients are more likely to find you. 6. Become a curator Your website can be about others as well as you – use it as an information-sharing tool. Think of it as a way to be helpful to others, a source of solutions. Update your resources regularly, and brand your content consistently, to keep your website fresh. 7. Your clients probably have one – shouldn't you? If you want to be seen as someone who's up to date with the same technology and trends as your clients, an attractive, solution-focused website can be part of the arsenal that demonstrates this. 8. It’s not hard Things have come on a long way in the past few years. Even if the idea of building your own site scares you, make the jump and at least do a bit of research. Most website providers offer design templates that you can use and adapt to suit your own needs (WordPress, Weebly, Yola, and 1&1 are just a few examples). You don’t need any technical knowledge of computer programming or coding to get up and running. Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. Visit the UK's Society for Editors and Proofreaders if you need industry-recognized guidance on the role of a proofreader:
See also:
Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. The Publishing Training Centre (PTC) is a UK-based resource centre and training provider for anyone involved in the publishing industry, including copyeditors and proofreaders. It offers industry-recognized training courses (short and distance learning), useful articles, news, career guidance, the Freelance Finder directory, and a new discussion forum. See my article Does Training Matter? What Publishers Say about Proofreading & Editing Courses to see what publishing houses think about the PTC. I have undertaken a number of their courses over the years. Of particular note for aspiring proofreaders is the Basic Proofreading by Distance Learning course, which I took back in 2005 and highly recommend. The course comprises a number of assignments that are assessed by a personal tutor. At the end of the training you will be awarded a certificate indicating the grade you have achieved (pass, merit or distinction). This counts towards membership application for the Society for Editors and Proofreaders and also entitles you to inclusion in the PTC's Freelance Finder directory. Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. This Roundup provides useful resources for authors, project managers and publishers on what to look for when choosing an editor, and where to find editors and proofreaders. Choosing an Editor: What You Should Look For – Advice from the Pros
Finding an Editor/Proofreader: Where You Can Look
What have I missed out? If you know of any useful articles on finding an editor, or a great searchable directory of editorial professionals, add them in the Comments section and I’ll update the article. Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. How to annotate a PDF with digital proofreading marks Below are my free proofreading stamps files in red, blue and black. They conform to British Standard BS 5261-2 (2005). 
You will not have to resize these stamps – I've designed them to work with the font size that most book files use. Simply upload them into your PDF editor and you’re ready to go!
Tip: In Acrobat you will have to download each stamp individually. In PDF-XChange (even the free Viewer), the process is semi-automatic - just make sure you download the XChange stamps files below and follow the installation instructions.
What users are saying ... 
A sample of just a few of my proofreading stamps
For Acrobat users (PC and Mac)
For PDF-XChange users (PC)
Louise Harnby is a fiction line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in helping self-publishing writers prepare their novels for market.
She is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors, and runs online courses from within the Craft Your Editorial Fingerprint series. She is also an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. Louise loves books, coffee and craft gin, though not always in that order. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. If you're an author, take a look at her Self-publishers’ Writing Library and access her latest self-publishing resources, all of which are free and available instantly. 
How to install my PDF proofreading stamps
This article contains installation instructions for for most versions of Acrobat and PDF-XChange. Scroll down the page to find the set appropriate for the platform you're working with. There's also a video for XChange users and link to the stamps files themselves.
NOTE: Rest assured that you don't need advanced technical knowledge to install the stamps. In fact, you don't need any technical knowledge at all! You simply need to be able to follow the instructions as they are given. I've provided a video tutorial for PDF-XChange users. Some of you may find this more user-friendly than the written instructions.
Please follow my instructions to the letter. I've provided installation support to a number of users in recent years. On every occasion, problems occurred for one of the following reasons:
PDF-XChange (Pro and the free Viewer)
One of the main benefits of using PDF-XChange Viewer is that you can import all my stamps in one go.
Video tutorial For those of you who'd like to watch a tutorial of the steps outlined below, here's a video demonstration in which I talk you through the process, step by step, while actually downloading a set of stamps onto my own computer. It's in screencast format, so you can follow exactly how I navigate my way through the installation. NB: This is the squeaky-chair edit, a limited-edition version created especially to provide the feel-good factor for editorial freelancers whose home offices benefit from well-oiled swivel-seating arrangements! Written instructions
* Can't find the AppData folder? If you can't find the folder, the most likely reason is that the Application Data (or AppData) folder (a hidden folder) is invisible on your computer.
PDF-XChange Editor 6.0
My colleague Helen Mortimor has kindly provided the following installation instructions for use with Editor 6.0:
PDF-XChange Editor 3.0
My colleague Steve Hammatt has kindly provided the following installation instructions for use with Editor 3.0:
Acrobat 9 (Standard and the free Reader)
The first time you do this you’ll have to write in a category (e.g. Red Stamps). When you import a second stamp you can simply select this option. You can also name the stamp if you wish but I didn’t bother, choosing instead to leave the default New Stamp. When you have uploaded all your stamps and are ready to start marking up your document, select Show Stamps Palette from the stamp icon in the ribbon menu and a box will appear. If you have different categories (e.g. Blue Stamps) you can select these from here. Acrobat <9 (Standard and the free Reader)
The first time you do this you’ll have to type in a category (e.g. Red Stamps). When you import a second stamp you can simply select this option. You can also name the stamp. When you have downloaded all your stamps and are ready to start marking up your document, select the drop-down menu from the stamp icon in the ribbon menu, and the categories you have created will be listed along with the defaults. You can then select the stamp from the category you require. Acrobat X
My colleague Jenny Macgregor has very kindly put together some instructions for downloading my proofreading stamps into Acrobat X. Here's her advice...
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Tips
Here are a few tips to bear in mind when using stamps. Search the Stamps archive for other useful articles and resources.
PDF-XChange Viewer: screenshot of minimizing tool and stamps palette.
Louise Harnby is a fiction copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in helping self-publishing writers prepare their novels for market.
She is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors, and runs online courses from within the Craft Your Editorial Fingerprint series. She is also an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. Louise loves books, coffee and craft gin, though not always in that order. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. If you're an author, take a look at Louise’s Writing Library and access her latest self-publishing resources, all of which are free and available instantly. The Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base is a thoroughly useful resource centre curated by Katharine O’Moore-Klopf. Its truly international flavour makes it well worth a visit wherever you're from. She is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors, and runs online courses from within the Craft Your Editorial Fingerprint series. She is also an Advanced Professional Member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. Louise loves books, coffee and craft gin, though not always in that order.
Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. If you're an author, take a look at her Self-publishers’ Writing Library and access her latest self-publishing resources, all of which are free and available instantly.
Tips for proofreading PDFs
These days, it's not uncommon to be asked to edit and proofread onscreen. If you're editing in Word, all well and good; you can amend the text directly. If you're tackling designed page proofs, you'll probably be working on a PDF. 
The PDF editor's onboard markup tool is one option. Using custom stamps is another, and that's what I'll be exploring today.
Why use customized stamps? Even in the standard versions of most PDF editors (as opposed to their freely available readers), the tools can be restrictive. For me, punctuation errors are a major problem – I feel that insertion and deletion tools for punctuation marks (and even single letters) are often ambiguous, with the highlight or strike-out line appearing to ‘spread’ further on the page than would be the case on a paper mark-up. About the stamps … I created a set of customized stamps that can be imported into my PDF editing software (I have both PDF-XChange and Acrobat). The stamps are based on the current BSI proofreading symbols and once downloaded can be imprinted onto the page, giving the proof the appearance of its paper cousin. No more clunky comments and digital sticky notes, and say goodbye to ambiguous highlighting. Now you can keep the comment boxes in reserve for queries to your author or in-house editor. The following is a sample of just a few of my stamps. 
Which software is compatible?
I’ve tested the stamps on Adobe Acrobat (standard version) and PDF-XChange and can confirm that they can be imported (other PDF editors that have stamping functions, such as Foxit and PDFill, may also be compatible, though I’ve yet to verify this – comments welcome!). What if you only have a free reader/viewer? No problem – you don't need to have the full paid-for versions of Acrobat or XChange in order to use the stamps. You can use your free Acrobat Reader as long as you ask the person who has created the PDF to 'enable comments'. With PDF XChange Viewer, you don't even need to worry about enabling comments – the stamps will work on your PDF as soon as you have uploaded them. An additional benefit of Viewer is that you can import all the stamps in one go. Can you use the stamps with a Mac? One of the first questions asked after I posted this article was whether the stamps files would work for Mac users. I work on a PC but an SfEP colleague has informed me that since the stamps files are PDFs it shouldn't make any difference whether you're working on a PC or a Mac. Rather, the most important thing is that you have the Mac version of your PDF editor, e.g. Acrobat for Mac. What does the marked-up proof look like? I’ve been delighted with the results, as have many of my clients. The marked-up proofs using the stamps are much clearer to read, as the two examples show. There are only four amendments in Example 1, the comment-box version. Imagine how much time it would have taken to select the text, choose the relevant option from the Text Edits menu and write the instruction to the typesetter if all the amendments in Example 2 had been made without using stamps. And if the typesetter opened up all these comments boxes, what a mess it would have been. 
Example 1: Using the comment box only.
Example 2: Using customized stamps.
Creating stamps
Creating the stamps is the fiddly part and the most time-consuming. Getting the correct size, so that you don’t have to resize each stamp when you’re working on a set of proofs, takes a little time and, of course, creating each individual stamp can seem painstaking. However, the job only has to be done once and I’ve been using mine for a couple of years now. It’s worth spending some time playing around with your designs early on in order to make life easier for yourself later. I’ve created stamps in red, blue and black because my clients have different requirements. I used Publisher to create the stamps, but you could use any software with a drawing tool. Set up each stamp on a separate page. Once you’ve drawn all your stamps convert the file into a PDF. Want to use the stamps that I've already created? I’m happy to share with colleagues who have the same commitment as I do to improving skills and supporting our industry’s professional standards. To access your copies of my stamps, click here – there's no charge. If you're using PDF-XChange (I'd recommend you do so), make sure you select the stamps labelled "XChange". Note: Please note that my stamps are based on proofreading symbols as defined by BS 5261-2 (2005). If you are working outside the UK, not all of the symbols may conform to those you are used to working with. For a set of stamps that use US proofreading marks, take a look at KOK Edit's excellent Copyeditors' Knowledge Base – scroll down to 'PDF'. Importing customized stamps For installation instructions, and some useful tips, see my article Installation Instructions for Proofreading Stamps. Future updates Periodically, I create new or modified stamps to deal with an amendment that's cropping up frequently in a job I'm working on. I'll place these additions in the Stamps archive located on the blog sidebar. Drop by now and then to see if there's anything new that's of use to you. I'll name the post with a description of the stamp and I'll include a picture and downloadable file in case you want to add it. Which PDF editor do you use? Do you use customized stamps in PDF editors/readers other than Acrobat and PDF-XChange? Please let us know in the Comments section so that others can see which software is compatible.
UPDATE:
Louise Harnby is a fiction copyeditor and proofreader. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders.
Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader & Copyeditor, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. If you're an author, take a look at Louise’s Writing Library and access her latest self-publishing resources, all of which are free and available instantly. Three links for those interested in the world of publishing and where it's headed: Professor John B. Thompson talks to Williams Cole (The Brooklyn Rail) in two separate interviews, one year apart, about the changing nature of the publishing industry. A third link is to Thompson's 2010 book, Merchants of Culture, published by Polity. Highly insightful, this is a very readable book that details everything Thompson discusses in these interviews and much more besides. If you really want to know about the changes and challenges facing the publishing industry today, I'd recommend this book. Louise Harnby is a professional proofreader and copyeditor. She curates The Proofreader's Parlour and is the author of several books on business planning and marketing for editors and proofreaders. Visit her business website at Louise Harnby | Proofreader, say hello on Twitter at @LouiseHarnby, or connect via Facebook and LinkedIn. |
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