Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Miller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me, in order to be successful, you need to do two things. The first is to be really clear about the services you provide. You have to be very specific. For example, many people don’t understand what a proofreader actually does, so I go into detail both on my website and in my contract, so there’s no confusion. The other thing is that you need to keep your skills fresh and up to date. Take courses, read books and blogs in your niche, follow others in your niche, etc. Do whatever it takes to keep learning.

Michelle , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Typos and grammatical errors have always stood out to me. And sometimes it can make a writer look very unprofessional. I love to read, but I also want to fully trust what I’m reading, especially if it’s nonfiction. My decision to become a proofreader stems from a desire to help writers communicate their message to readers clearly and professionally. Writers want their words read, but if there are too many errors, readers lose trust and put the book down. Not only am I advocating for the writer, but I’m also advocating for the reader.

I specialize in Christian nonfiction and clean fiction. I love proofreading cozy mysteries and Appalachian fiction. Being from the South, I know the dialect and can retain the author’s voice while editing. (Sometimes it’s okay to break the rules!)

Proofreading is the final stage of editing, so I ensure that everything is just right. I double-check everything and flag anything that I may find questionable. I also offer suggestions and comments.
The most important thing to me about my job is the relationship I have with my clients. I want them to know that I offer a safe and nonjudgemental space. I want them to feel comfortable placing their baby in my arms, knowing I’ll take excellent care of it.

After completing the job, I become a cheerleader for my clients, sharing their published work on my website and social media.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For 12 years, I had been a stay-at-home homeschooling mom. When I started my business, I had to change my mindset to also include working mom. Setting working hours in the beginning was challenging. I had to learn how to work during certain hours, plus stay caught up on chores and keep the family fed and happy. And since I don’t have a home office, a corner of my bedroom had to make do.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media can become overwhelming pretty quickly. I chose to use LinkedIn as my only platform. I built an audience by sharing valuable information and commenting on others’ posts in my network. By being consistent, I eventually started getting clients from LinkedIn, including a small publishing company.

My advice for those just starting to build a social media presence is to pick one platform to start with. Be consistent, posting valuable content at least twice a week. Also, return comments on your posts and comment on others’ posts. Build your network by connecting with others in your field or who could use your services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michellemillerproofreading.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-miller-proofreading1231/
• Twitter: https://x.com/BlessingsByMe