Testimonials - Proofreading & Book Editing - New Zealand Institute of Business Studies

“Embarking on this course has given me renewed physical and mental vigour in some aspects of living which had lost some of their sparkle. I am enjoying the new direction my life is taking.” Gladys Burgess, Ashburton.

“I am enjoying my retirement after leaving my stressful employment in the insurance industry. I have enjoyed the Proofreading and Book Editing Course immensely. I really enjoyed creating my own business cards and letterhead. This course has provided excellent skills knowledge plus the tools for setting myself up in business.” Faye Robinson, Halswell.

Note: Faye is 68 and is now ready to start her new proofreading business.

Renata was born in Russia. “I am passionate about personal relationships. I’ve been in love, married, separated, divorced – not an easy part of my life – but this training helped me turn these situations into personal growth opportunities. This Life Coach training has given me new strengths, new interests, new hobbies, etc. A door has opened into my new life.

” My role now is to help other people open their own doors into their own new lives. As a Life Coach I will be able to help people find their own inner peace and to see how beautiful and enjoyable their lives can be.” Renata Marhevka, Christchurch.

“The skills and experiences I have gained on this Proofreading course are already helping me in my chosen career, and in my personal life. It has surprised me how much I have already used this new knowledge in the classroom, and in my voluntary work on the marae.

“At school my students have benefitted from my knowledge of story plotting, creative writing, proofreading and editing. I have noticed their new ability to produce finer, more advanced pieces of writing. These are skills teachers are not generally accustomed to passing on to their students.

“On the marae we are setting up a trust to protect our assets into the future. My editing skills have proved invaluable with preparing these documents.

“An unexpected bonus with this course has been recognising my future pathway and the peace of mind this has brought into my life. I am now assured of where I want to be in the twilight of my career and I greet it with much enthusiasm. I also realise I needed ‘time out’ from my previous routine of working set hours. I have enjoyed with great pleasure rediscovering who I am and where I’m going.

“I’m now enjoying good health and this course has set me on fire, ready to face an exciting new future. I’m energised and ready for what lies ahead.” Prue Christie, Tokoroa.

After she graduated Frances Kenny wrote this: “I found my tutor’s feedback helpful, self-explanatory and easy to follow. Another benefit was this home-study system had a ready-made community of other students so I never felt alone in what I was doing. It felt like a safety net. I could ask for help when I needed it. Thank you.” Frances Kenny, Hokitika.

“I am sorry my Proofreading and Book Editing Course is now over. I have enjoyed doing it very much. During the time when my other consultancy work reduced it has given me a worthwhile fresh challenge, and another income.” Jim Kennard, Nelson.

“I’ve had amazing encouragement from the whole NZIBS training course team which I have appreciated. I have established my home-office, got my Australian Business Number, designed my stationery and I have already begun networking. The last two tutorials were so informative and helpful. I now have all the skills and tools I need to set up my own business. I now have a career I know I am going to enjoy immensely – which does wonders for one’s mental health.” Nicole Schreiweis, Glasshouse Mountain, Q4518.

Report of a conversation with Proofreader graduate Ian Ready.
“I graduated with my Proofreader Diploma in 2007. Since then I’ve been teaching English to students in Vietnam. I also proofread newspaper articles for Vietnam News, the English language newspaper which keeps the ex-pat community informed. Once the word got around that I am a professional proofreader I got extra work proofreading and editing documents for Vietnamese government officials. I’m 72 now and my age seems to work in my favour in Vietnam. I love the life here.” Ian Ready, Vietnam.

Quentin Adams works in Kuwait. He says “I supervise staff from 19 different countries so correcting their written work is a difficult task. This course helped me hugely.”

“I have fibromyalgia which prevents me from working in a typical job environment. I have always loved books, reading and the English language. My reason for doing this course was so I could develop a proofreading business I can operate from home. Thus, I can take short rests and still meet proofreading deadlines. I have now graduated DipEdit and my business is OPEN.” Morag Lowe, Rangiora.

This student emigrated from UK to New Zealand for family reasons. Hence, she had no local work history nor useful connections in NZ. That gave her a standing start at building her new career.

“I liked the freedom to choose my own study time. The wealth of product and service knowledge in the training course materials was impressive. The URL links and references to other websites helped me expand my proofreader skills and understanding of the publishing industry.

“I liked the practical exercises (with answers at the back). They helped me understand as I progressed whether I was on the right track or not. There was nothing I disliked.” Robbi Porter, Christchurch NZ.

Robbi Porter graduated with MERIT grade, Level 4 diploma.

“I appreciated learning how to set myself up in business as a professional proofreader and copy editor.” Maria Henry, Waimate.

Someone on FACEBOOK asked Judy McDonald how she set herself up as a freelance professional proofreader. Her reply is interesting . . .
“I did this NZIBS course, almost six years ago now. I have been working consistently as a proofreader/editor since, and the course fees have long since been recouped, but there are a few things people need to realise.

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Firstly, the course is only a starting point. The main thing is that it provides you with a way to approach potential clients.
I got started by approaching my local technical institute and university and volunteering to do work for them for free as part of my course training. They took me up on the offer and this led to paid, ongoing work.
Secondly, the course, when I did it, was paper-based. Whereas now almost all work you will get is computer-based.
You need to know how to use the ‘Track Changes’ facility in Word. (Which is included in the course.)
You might have to buy/rent an ongoing subscription to Adobe Acrobat Pro to enable you to edit PDFs.
However, the paper-based markup techniquews comes in useful every now and then, so it’s not a waste of time, and the course certainly teaches you how easy it is to miss errors. It comes as something of an eye-opener to those of us who believe we can see a spelling or grammatical mistake at fifty paces.
Thirdly, your previous background has a lot to do with where you will find work. I have a master’s degree and this was useful when dealing with the kind of work that makes up most of my customer base: students and staff at tertiary institutions.
Fourthly, it takes time to build up your client base and to become known.
A website helps, especially for finding off-shore customers.
Fifthly, don’t expect you will make a living wage immediately. You are a freelancer, with all the attendant hazards.
Yes, the hourly rate is quite good, but you will almost certainly face periods of next to no work, and periods when you get far too much work, when you will have to ask another proofreader to take on jobs that you can’t do.
It is very worthwhile getting to know a few other proofreaders whom you trust and who trust you, because that enables you to help each other share the workload.

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All of that said, I enjoy what I do. I’ve learnt a lot from the material I’ve been called upon to check.
I’ve met (electronically-speaking) some lovely people who have become more than mere customers.
It’s often a great privilege to help someone who is trying to work at a very high level in a language which is not their native tongue.
I like my customers and I have a huge respect for them. Judy McDonald

“I was halfway through this proofreader training course when I decided to start my own proofreading and book editing company. The background for my thinking is a little complicated but basically I rent and I can’t afford to buy my own home in Auckland. I can’t survive as a solo mother on a small wage so I needed a serious plan. I know you have to spend money to make money. I know what I am good at. So here I go.” Katrien Blomme, Auckland.

NOTE: Katrien has graduated with ‘Excellence’ grade. Her proofreading business already has local and international clients.

1st November 2015, I had been waiting with some dread for the return of my final assignment #12 so I was gobsmacked, delighted and overjoyed to find I have been awarded a DipEdit and with Merit pass.
Ah education has changed so much since the 1960s when one just got stuck with PASS and no one made much of a fuss.
I do appreciate all the expert advice, comments and encouragement you have given me throughout the training course and probably will continue to do so.

The daughter, who is home beamed and congratulated me when I told her. When I showed her the framed diploma she insisted it replace her LLB, Admittance to the Bar on the living room wall!

I might have mentioned a ‘1922 diary’ I have been transcribing and that I had put in a quote for a government grant the museum was applying for. Lovely phone call this week to say my quoted fee has been accepted, so my costs will be covered. Hurrah.
Naturally I told the committee man “I am now qualified and with Merit.” He was really pleased too as it gives more credence to the museum project.

My other project of compiling family history papers for the Telford’s Family of South Otago, is nearing completion. It has been a huge project.
Despite asking several times what format my client wanted the end product in I had no clear answer till a couple of weeks ago. I have been working in A4 but now she wants it in A5.
So this last week I reformatted it which has been good exercise and meant extra proofreadings. Of course after I had done a ‘final’ printout I was emailed important photos for inclusion. Oh what fun!

Both these projects involve transcribing, formatting, proofing, editing (often substantive editing), research, correct book layout, finding out about different papers and bindings. Basically everything your course has covered.
On several occasions each client has said, “Well, you’re the expert”.

This morning I sat down and amended my rack brochure incorporating all your suggestions. Yes, it is a lot better now and you must have worked hard on it because there was exactly the right amount of space to fit it all on.
Your other suggestions for turning assignment 12.5 into a PRESS RELEASE are really good and will keep me busy, which I am glad about as there is a small sense of ‘loss’ now that I have finished.

Thank you, I am so glad I did your Proofreader & Books Editor training course. Sue Ballantyne, Dunedin.

“I want to tell you I enjoyed this course immensely. It took me 14 months because I have a hectic family life. It has given me an insight into a new career I knew very little about. To be able to earn a living from something I love to do – read – while I continue to indulge in an equal love – writing stories for children – is fantastic.

“While progressing through this course my confidence in myself and my abilities has increased. I have a PLAN to work towards and the tools to do it.” Kirsten Duncan, Dunedin.

Margaret Bartlett & ‘Pittsy’s Pleasure’.

Margaret’s friend, Mark Pitts (Pittsy), led a colourful life even though he had myotonia, a rare muscle‑degenerating disease. Margaret Bartlett asked Pittsy if would like her to write his life story.

Which she did.

Besides drafting the 200 page story from Pittsy’s battered brain cells (from too many falls) Margaret also compiled the photos, arranged for the manuscript to be proofread by Jackie Minchin and contacted Karen Price from Contexo who designed the document for print and arranged the book production process.

After Pittsy’s death the book was printed and sold around the Pitts family and wider circles.

Margaret thanked her tutor, Joan Rosier-Jones, for guiding her writing skills. “Thank you everyone at NZIBS for all you offer.”

Margaret Bartlett, Nelson.

“I have just completed a NZIBS qualification in proofreading and editing. I can already see all around me the need for website proofreading, online newspaper proofreading, advertisement proofreading, ezine proofreading etc.

I have established one contact in the publishing industry who informs me there is a huge demand for QUALITY proofreading in brochure printing, agency advertisements, flyers, websites, ezines etc.

Because of my teaching background I have been able to establish useful contacts with two secondary schools which want me to proofread their end-of-year school reports. One school has invited me to assist with proofreading the principal’s correspondence. I can see I’ll be busy.” Chris L.

“This Proofreading & Book Editing course has helped me in my current work as the editor of an association magazine. It has made me more aware of how important proofreading is to creating a publication. It has helped ‘train my eye’.

“I feel my written work is clearer, more consistent and must be easier to read. It has also made me more aware of the different roles in publishing. I’ve used the course resources to develop a comprehensive style guide. We use this throughout our office so we have consistent, clear and grammatically correct publications.” Angie Cairncross, Raumati Beach.

“My tutor was very patient and understanding which was important to me as an older student (late 60s). I was a bit slow at times in understanding what I needed to do. But I’ve graduated with my diploma in Proofreading and Editing.” Dave Norman, Hikurangi.

“This training course has dragged me kicking and screaming into the 21^st century. I’ve re-learned the current use of commas and hyphens etc, which is different from what I was taught in my primary school sixty years ago. This course has proved to be invaluable and I think you for it.” Sheryl Calvert, Lower Hutt.

“Thanks to the NZIBS Proofreader & Editor training course I now have a folder full of templates (letterhead, invoice, flyers, business cards and updated CV) plus testimonials from satisfied clients. I feel as prepared as I can be to start on the next part of this adventure. Having my own business which I run from home.” Kate Ide, Queenstown.

“I decided to do this training course to give myself a back-up option in case I ever decided to change my career path. My children are young and balancing their needs as well as a full time job is challenging.

“Even if I don’t end up being a full time proofreader and editor I am now equipped with a very useful skill that will serve me well in any kind of job.

“I work full time at a company where I am required to check all marketing materials and trade communications. This course has certainly helped me with this aspect of my work.” Sonia Edwards, Auckland.

“I started this journey to become a proofreader, hoping I could stop ‘just working’. I wanted to forge for myself a long-overdue new career option.

“I have now found that proofreading has opened up a whole new world for me. I’m an international proofreader.” Teresa Algie, Feilding.

“This NZIBS training course relates to current times and job themes.” Colleen Ellison, Wellsford.

“Wheee! I am a real Dip Edit now. I came home yesterday to find my diploma in the letterbox. Lots of nice comments from my tutor Bartha Hill, endorsed by Brian Morris. Plus a load of useful BONUS information.

“Now my plan is to move forward and show some lucky people how much I can help them.” David Muller, Auckland

“I never thought I’d be embarking on a new direction in my life in my 50s – until I saw your advertisement for the Proofreader & Editor training course. I never thought I’d upskill myself at my age.
“But this course has taught me so much, not just about our wonderful English language and its idiosyncrasies, but I’ve learned so much about myself along the way.
“It was my intention to start my proofreading business slowly until I got to the point where I was earning a reasonable income from proofreading work at home. I had been travelling 3 hours a day to/from my job with a bank. I wanted to enjoy a better work/life balance, so after 24 years I resigned.
“I have been successful in securing work with an online publisher of medical journals. I proofread manuscripts to their house style. I check for plagiarism and some other duties. This paid work is giving me confidence and experience as I go forward.
“I have been offered freelance work by the woman who prepared my CV, who also has her own at-home proofreading business. Things seem to be falling into place. My husband has been wonderfully supportive on this journey of mine.
“Over the past 12 months I’ve made some huge changes in my life; one was embarking on this training course. I’ve never been happier.” Joanne Collett, Whangaparaoa.

“I found out this morning I have secured a job as Editorial Quality Control with an online medical journal publisher!
This is due in no small part to my (almost) completed Proofreading and Editing course, which I began last September, seeking a new direction in my life and work.

“I am over the moon, and am so very glad I began the PAE journey with the Institute.” Joanne Collett, Whangaparaoa.

“I’m excited to be embarking on this fantastic new career, and find myself discovering new possibilities for work every day.” Leandra Lombard, Christchurch

“I liked the way the course built up to showing us how to build a business as a proofreader and editor.” Saidia Van Heerden

“I loved the way the training includes preparation for setting up in business (as a proofreader). It was so practical and informative. I feel so much more informed and confident about doing this now. My tutor was very knowledgeable and he developed my own knowledge much more than I expected.” Claire O’Connor, Wellington

“I heard the editor of an American magazine speaking on a podcast. She said she was looking for an editor. I emailed her and offered my services. She sent me a sample article to edit. Result was she liked my work and used the article I’d edited in the latest issue of her magazine. I’ve been offered regular work and we are currently negotiating new contracts.” Emma Summers, Christchurch

A lovely thought from graduate poet Anthony Rynbeck.

“My grandniece has yet to receive her framed poem, which is my gift. I thought it timely that she receive it nearer her upcoming birthday.

“Framed love poems to my wife adorn several walls around our home.

“Framed poems make wonderful gifts.”

“If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done before.” Peter Drucker.

“The feedback from my tutor was always useful, with a constructive tone, by which I mean a good balance between encouragement and critique. I always felt help was at hand if I had any queries. The course was more demanding than I’d anticipated but I soon saw that as a positive thing.” Victoria Martin, Nelson

“This training course covered everything I needed to confidently undertake proofreading and editing work. It has raised my awareness of the English language and correct punctuation in everyday activities. I enjoyed being able to study in my own time, which gave me flexibility.” Jan McKay, Christchurch

“I’m so pleased I now understand the difference between proofreading, copy editing and substantive editing. Plus, I’ve gained a greater understanding of English grammar.” Neil Garthwaite, Porirua

“The learning progression was very clear as I moved through my training and assignments. I appreciated having the same tutor throughout the whole course. I liked working at my own pace. This meant I could go back and go over things again without any pressure.” Catherine Knox, Half Moon Bay

“There are always challenges when entering a new learning environment. I soon learned how to manage and adjust. I used the Student Discussion Board many times in the year just passed and I found the comments there extremely helpful. I followed the Principal’s advice and began to build a database of all my old networks.” Marlene Ngapo, Paeroa

“I appreciated the holistic approach of the training course. I not only got trained in proofreading and editing but I also learned how to set up my business. Each tutorial dealt succinctly with the given focus, was not too long or overwhelming, and the assignments were always relevant.” Val Foley, Auckland

“I loved the competitions on the Student Notice Board. My tutor’s feedback on my assignments was very helpful. I always got a quick response. All feedback was clear, concise, easy to understand and pretty thorough. This course has definitely helped improve my writing” Michelle Green, Auckland

“The information about the printing and publishing industry interested me. I enjoyed learning about new websites and free Internet services.” Penny Walshe, Waikanae

“It was good to get my assignments back from tutor so quickly. I appreciate the improvements this course has helped me make in my work. I enjoyed the variety of practice assignments and the different types of manuscripts we got to work on.” Audrey Holmes, Kimbolton

“I enjoyed the course very much and it has opened a new direction for me. Now I have a greater appreciation of the publishing world and what is involved.” Donna Rookes, New Plymouth.

“I liked the resources which came with my course materials, especially the reference books. I feel confident because I have covered all aspects of proofreading and editing in depth. I loved the practical application of the last two assignments which have prepared me well to be a professional proofreader and editor.” Suzanne Hardy, Mt Albert.

“The information you provided went far beyond my expectations. Overall, my learning curve has reached new horizons.” Jeanine Anderson, Auckland.

“There are always challenges when entering a new learning environment. I soon learned how to manage and adjust. I used the Student Discussion Board many times in the year just passed and I found the comments there to be extremely helpful. I followed the Principal’s advice and began to build a database of all my old networks.” Marlene Ngapo, Paeroa.

“The information about the printing and publishing industry interested me. I enjoyed learning about new websites and free Internet services.” Penny Walshe, Waikanae

“It was good to get my assignments back from my tutor so quickly. I appreciate the improvements this course has helped me make in my work. I enjoyed the variety of practice assignments and the different types of manuscripts we got to work on.” Audrey Holmes, Kimbolton.