Speakers
Session 3 – breakout seminars (running concurrently)
This session is for proofreaders who want to find out more about a potential new area of work.
Magazines: people read and then recycle them... or do they? In this session, we'll explore how magazines can be a useful resource with a far longer shelf life than you might imagine. So, it's worth taking time and care over these publications. What value does the editorial profession bring to magazines?
We'll also look at the different tasks involved in proofreading a magazine, as there is far more to it than just proofing the features.
Why would you want to do this kind of work? And what might help you get started?
Come along for answers to all these questions. Part case study and part 'how to', this session will also include opportunities for discussion and exchanging tips.
Louisa is a proofreader and copyeditor with a specialism in magazines. Louisa has proofread Freelancer Magazine since March 2023, adding a second title, The Independent Schools Magazine, in September 2024.
Working with words is a thread woven throughout most of Louisa’s career, which started with journalism training following an English degree. Public relations work for a home and garden company followed, where Louisa secured product mentions in titles including Ideal Home, House & Garden, and even The New York Times. As a bid writer, working on £multimillion contract catering proposals, she proofread and edited the bids she didn’t write and gained a reputation for attention to detail and a willingness to challenge any responses that didn’t meet the brief. Going freelance in summer 2020, she has balanced proofreading with grant writing, bid writing and a range of other projects. While attending her first CIEP conference in 2024, Louisa realised she could legitimately call herself a copyeditor as well as a proofreader.
Louisa is now in her fifth year as a CIEP member – having joined before securing her first freelance proofreading client. She’s now an Intermediate member and has been the coordinator of the Berkshire local group since January 2024. Louisa uses her network to organise interesting, useful and inspiring speakers to support the group members in running their businesses.
Louisa has been a volunteer opinion columnist at her local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser, since 2021 and has now had the thrill of seeing her name (and photo) in print above 20+ pieces on everything from tourist tax to Disney villains. And for four years, she edited her church’s magazine (which included proofreading articles by the congregation).