RESOURCES FOR EDITORS, PROOFREADERS, AND WRITERS
The tools and resources I recommend to help you run your editing and writing business, connect with your clients and readers, and make money online.
Free Resources for You
Subscribe and download what you want
Start a Proofreading Business
Learn the exact steps you need to take to start a successful freelance proofreading and editing business from home.
10 Grammar Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Master the top 10 grammar mistakes people constantly make so you can improve your writing and proofreading skills.
10 Punctuation Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Learn the 10 most common punctuation mistakes you need to avoid if you want be a professional proofreader or writer.
Business Goal Setting Workbook
Your guide to setting and tracking goals for your freelance business so you can have a productive and successful year.
DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH WILL REWARD ME MONETARILY OR OTHERWISE WHEN YOU USE THEM TO MAKE QUALIFYING PURCHASES.
My Favorite Courses
Proofreading and Writing Courses I recommend
Proofread Anywhere
Want to start your own proofreading business? I highly recommend honing your skills first. Check out Proofread Anywhere’s free proofreading webinar to learn how to get started.
Grammar Lion
Worried your grammar skills are out of date? Language changes over time and memories fade! Sign up for Grammar Lion’s free comma course to help you conquer your fear of commas!
Write Your Way to $1K
Haven’t a clue how to get started as a freelance writer who actually gets paid to write? Elna Cain shares her strategy for getting high-paying clients quickly. Check out her free email course Get Paid to Write!
Ghostwriter School
Love to write but don’t want to be the face of a brand or have to promote your content nonstop? Ghostwriting is a lucrative writing niche that allows you to focus on what you love to do—writing! Learn how to start a successful ghostwriting business with Ghostwriter School.
Knowadays
Interested in proofreading for academics, students, and businesses but not sure how to get clients? Knowadays (formerly Proofreading Academy) offers guaranteed work to people who earn a distinction on its comprehensive proofreading course! Sign up for the free trial!
Become an Author
Writing a book but worried about not making any sales? This course will help you write, self-publish, and market your nonfiction book! Not only will you write a book people will actually want to read you’ll also learn how to sell it so your book doesn’t end up on languishing on the virtual bookshelves.
Get Proofreading Clients
Confident that your grammar and punctuation skills are up to date but worried about trying to find clients? This course from The Proofreading Business Coach will help you get over your fears and come up with a foolproof plan for getting proofreading clients.
Mastering Microsoft Word
Are your tech skills the only thing holding you back from starting a proofreading or editing business? Mastering Microsoft Word will help you get confident with all the advanced features, from Track Changes and Compare to formatting and using Styles.
Freelance Blogging in a Weekend
Want to make money from blogging but don’t have time to wait for your own blog to become successful? Freelance Blogging in a Weekend will teach you how to make money as a blogger for hire. Learn how to make $300 to $500 per blog post or even more!
Freelance Editors Club
Looking for a community to help you start and grow your proofreading or editing business? I’ve been a member of Tara Whitaker’s Freelance Editors Club for almost a year, and it has been worth every cent! From weekly coworking sessions to biweekly Q&A calls to mini coaching sessions to a book club to a private community where you can ask questions, the FEC has everything you need to feel confident about your business and build a community of likeminded female editors.
My Favorite Tools
Stuff I love and use
Lyrical Host
Want a website host that gives you a more personal service? Lyrical Host can’t do enough for its clients!
Namecheap
Need a business website? Purchase the perfect domain name so you can start creating your online empire!
LastPass
Worried your passwords aren’t secure? I use LastPass to store all my passwords in one secure location.
PerfectIt
Checking for consistency is an important part of being an editor. PerfectIt will help you cut down the amount of time you spend searching for inconsistent hyphens, spellings, etc. and give you peace of mind.
ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid offers grammar and style checking combined with more in-depth reports to help you strengthen your writing by highlighting issues like overused words, repeated phrases, readability, etc.
Canva
Need to create social media images or a new logo for your website? Canva is so easy to use, even if you’re not good at design! Use Canva’s templates to create eye-catching designs without starting from scratch.
ConvertKit
Every online business needs email subscribers. I’ve used ConvertKit for years and find it very intuitive and easy to use.
FreshBooks
Need to send invoices to your clients? FreshBooks makes it super easy to get paid and keep track of your accounting.
SendOwl
Want to sell an e-book or printable on your website? I use SendOwl to sell and collect payment for all my books.
Behind the Scenes
Proofreading and Writing Books I use EVERY DAY
DISCLAIMER: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. THIS PAGE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH WILL REWARD ME MONETARILY OR OTHERWISE WHEN YOU USE THEM TO MAKE QUALIFYING PURCHASES.
The Chicago Manual of Style
One of the most used style guides in North America. Whether you need to know how to treat numbers, when to italicize certain terms, or how to use punctuation, CMOS has the answer!
The Associated Press Stylebook
The style guide for news and journalistic writing. The AP Stylebook will show you how to apply AP’s rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, and word and numeral usage.
New Oxford Style Manual
If your client’s audience is based in a country that uses British English, then you may wish to familiarize yourself with the New Oxford Style Manual. It includes a style guide and a dictionary.
The Copyeditor's Handbook
An excellent resource to help you fine-tune your copyediting skills. It includes exercises and answer keys at the end of each chapter as well as detailed explanations. Get the workbook too!
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
My go-to dictionary for American English spelling queries. When I’m working from home, I use the hard copy version, but when I’m out and about, the free online version does the job.
The Best Punctuation Book, Period
My favorite resource for punctuation queries. Casagrande explains everything in a detailed but clear manner. The comma section is particularly useful. Highly recommend.
Marketing Your Editing and Proofreading Business
Harnby’s book provides a very detailed breakdown of how you can market your proofreading and editing business. I found it extremely useful when I was started out and still do.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
One of the best books around for teaching grammar. It includes easy-to-understand rules, abundant examples, dozens of exercises, and pre- and post-tests.
Comma Sense: Your Guide to Grammar Victory
Many of us have forgotten what we learned about grammar in school, or we’re holding on to outdated grammar rules. Comma Sense goes right back to basics so you can solidify your knowledge and impress your clients with your grammar prowess.
The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction
Copyediting fiction is a whole other kettle of fish than copyediting nonfiction. Did you know you can sometimes break the rules in fiction?! Schneider’s book covers a wide range of topics like dialogue, voice, grammar, and conscious language.
Editing Fiction at Sentence Level
Harnby’s book is for writers who want to hone their craft and editors who want to edit prose at sentence level. If you want to learn how to hold narrative viewpoint, control adverbs, filter words, and tentative language, and master sentence rhythm, this is the book for you.
Writer's Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published
As a writer, if you want to go down the traditional route and get published by one of the big publishing houses, Writer’s Market has all the information you need to make that happen. It includes a huge list of book publishers, magazines, contests, and literary agents.