From Freelance Proofreader to Published Author: How Qat Made the Leap

Are you one of the many people out there who wants to write a book but don’t think you’ve got the chops to make it happen?

I was. And so was Qat.

Qat and I both were freelance proofreaders before we became published authors. (And, FYI, we both still use proofreaders for our own books :-D)

You guys already know my story, so let’s dive into Qat’s!

Q: Hi, Qat! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What do you do for a living?

I help people overcome chronic pain through yoga and the therapeutic art of mindful movement. I published my best-selling book, Yoga for YOU, this year, and use it as a foundation for my coaching clients to begin their journey to crafting a healthier and more meaningful life.

Q: Sounds amazing! How did you become a part of the Proofread Anywhere community?

I’ve been a freelance proofreader and writer on the side for a few years now. I don’t remember exactly how I came across Proofread Anywhere, but I remember it caught my eye immediately. I was interested in transcript proofreading, but I got so caught up in the success of my book, I never made it that far!

Q: That’s a valid reason for not pursuing transcript proofreading 🙂 What made you decide to write a book?

I have actually written several books, but I’ve never tried hard enough to get them published. I’ve been writing since I could hold a pen. I intended to publish my novel first but decided I could write and publish my yoga book faster, and maybe it would help a little with my business… That turned out to be the understatement of the year!

Q: Tell us more! Give us all the details of your book.

The title of this book is Yoga for YOU – Crafting a Yoga Practice to Suit Individual Needs. It is geared toward people who want to progress in their yoga practice on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. In it, I introduce the four Mindful Movement Techniques I designed over the last ten years to jump-start metabolic reconditioning to reduce inflammation and start overcoming chronic pain.

I decided to hold nothing back and just spill all my secrets! It apparently worked. I have more clients than I know what to do with now.

As for the writing process, I went through the Self-Publishing School course, and I completed my final draft in 23 days. Two months later, I was a published author.

Q: That is a crazy fast amount of time to write an entire book! Major props to you for your hard work. What was your experience like working with your freelance proofreader?

I had an easy experience, but I had gone over it myself pretty thoroughly already. I believe even the best proofreaders need another set of eyes for something like this. No one can catch all the errors in their own work.

(From Caitlin: You can be listed on the SPS Rolodex as a general proofreader and have the opportunity to work on books just like Qat’s. Read more here!)

Q: SO true. I always say that even proofreaders need proofreaders. So what was the most challenging part of the writing and/or self-publishing process?

The writing process was smooth until I finished my first draft. Then I had to deal with my perfectionism in the self-editing process. The book just took forever to meet the standards I had set for myself.

Q: What advice would you give anyone thinking about writing or self-publishing a book?

There is only one way to find out if it is right for you… JUST DO IT!

Q: Any tips for proofreaders interested in working with authors on what NOT to do?

Don’t ignore the author’s feedback! Communication is SO important. In the end, a self-published author will always have the final say, so proofreaders need to respect that, whether they fully agree or not.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a published author?

The credibility this has given me. My clients are more eager to work with me because they can hold physical proof that I know what I am doing. This has also significantly expanded my reach. Clients come to ME now. I do not have to go find them.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

The process was pretty fast for me this time, but it does not always have to be. I was in a hurry to get published because as soon as I finished my first draft, I found out my dad only had a few months left to live. His final requests to me were to hold my first book in his hands and to see his daughter become a best-selling author!

This certainly lit a fire under my butt to do it fast and do it well! So I did! And I am so pleased to say that he got his wish before he died. I even dedicated the book to him. I will always be my father’s daughter.

Our Take

Isn’t Qat’s story incredible?! We love how she was able to write her book so quickly AND become a self-published author so her dad could celebrate her success with her. And even though Qat was a freelance proofreader before she became an author, she still knew how important it was to have other sets of eyes on her work to make it polished and professional. Way to go, Qat!

Your Turn

Have you ever thought about writing a book like Qat but didn’t know where to start? We've got you covered.

Or maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a career as a freelance proofreader? We’ve got your back on that, too.

What action are you going to take today to make your dreams a reality?