Norfolk (East)

Page owner: Community director

About the   local group

The coordinator of the   local group is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The group first met on 17 September 2005, as the Norfolk local group, with six people attending the inaugural monthly meeting. Although initially successful, monthly meetings proved unsustainable and after a drop in attendance, the group became inactive for a short time before restarting in February 2009 with bimonthly meetings.

These were initially held in a local pub, but we were then fortunate enough to be given access to a meeting room in the Holy Trinity Church in Norwich, which became our permanent base until late 2017, when we moved our meetings to the Heathfield Centre, adjacent to Heathfield Student Community Home in Norwich. The facilities there allow us to enjoy a bring-and-share meal before each meeting (starting at 7pm), and this is then followed by a very informal discussion (starting at 7.30pm) where we share tips, pass on potential work leads, share recent successes and challenges, give each other moral support and reassurance, and offer opportunities to network and socialise with other members as well as those interested in becoming an editor or proofreader.

Following the formation of the Norfolk (West/Central) local group in March 2020, the Norfolk local group changed its name to Norfolk (East).

Our meetings

At most meetings, we hold a structured workshop covering an editing or proofreading topic. Previous topics have included:

• Pricing a project
• FRedit and other macros
• Editing tools
• Accounting software
• Record keeping
• References
• Stylesheets
• Software for analysing and checking documents
• Computer tools and other tools for editing
• Using Excel to help manage your business
• Setting up a website that works for you
• Editing/proofreading fiction
• Macros for Beginners
• Effective Time Management

As well as the bimonthly meetings and occasional coffee get-togethers (to welcome prospective new members), we occasionally have group outings, and in recent years these have included visits to:

• Clays (book printers)
• RefineCatch (typesetters)
• Cromer (a day at the beach!)

Some of our members also attend meetings of the Norfolk (West/Central) local group.

Our approach

We are a friendly, helpful and sociable group and are always pleased to welcome people who are interested in joining the CIEP and finding out more about life as an editor or proofreader. Within our ranks we have a wealth of experience, and a good mix of oldies and newbies, from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom are happy to share their experience and support each other.

It was quite a daunting thing for me when I first set out into the proofreading world, I had no idea how to get going with any of it. I’m very lucky to have been able to join such a wonderful group – your encouragement and advice have increased my confidence by leaps and bounds, and although I'm still to land my first job, you’ve given me the boost I need to keep at it.

Feedback from a newcomer to the group

Our website

As a local group, we set up a directory-type website – Norfolk Proofreaders and Editors Network (NPEN) – in 2017 to market our services to local authors, students, academics and businesses.

Find out more

To find out more about the group or if you would like to attend a meeting, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

January 2011 – Visit to Clays Ltd., book printers. © 2011 Gordon R Hooper

July 2014 – Visit to Cromer beach. © 2014 Joanne Amos

January 2016 – Training session: Analysing and checking documents. © 2016 Gordon R Hooper

September 2016 – Social meeting and bring-and-share meal. © 2016 Gordon R Hooper

September 2017 – Louise Harnby celebrating her Judith Butcher Award. © 2017 Gordon R Hooper

Diary

Details of upcoming   meetings can be found in the Calendar of events.