As I celebrate ten years of Perfect Words, by Amanda George, I realise that I have now spent as much time running and growing my freelance editing/proofreading business as I did in my last job, as Publications Officer at a beautiful Cambridge college. I felt so privileged to work at the college and I loved my job, both of which gave me so many of the tools and contacts that I needed to go forward on my own when the time was right.
Happily, I am still working for St John's, but on a freelance basis. And while they were my only client in 2009, now they are one of many, which means I never get bored. In one week I can read anything from a PhD thesis on the representation of deaf characters in literature, to workshop minutes on cutting-edge topics that are affecting us all, or an academic paper on rocks and fossils. Not to mention the fashion blogs and all the fun stuff that sometimes comes my way. So I'm always learning, not just about the nitty-gritty of running a business, marketing and tax returns, but also how to edit and proofread better all the time, while learning a little bit about lots of subjects.
Thank you to all my wonderful clients, who brighten each day and are part of my life. Long may we continue working together and producing polished and professional documents. Here's to another ten years!