Becoming a book indexer career

How difficult is it to find work as a professional indexer. Even where the author is an indexer herself, she may choose to employ someone else to index her book, as pat booth did for indexing. This course is not meant to be a substitute for a comprehensive indexing course but does provide a detailed introduction to the process of indexing and working as an indexer. Book editors are the people who shape what the world reads. Badgett presents a cleareyed overview of the field, describes a range of specialties, shares insights from her fellow accidental indexers, and offers a wealth of savvy advice on starting and running a freelance indexing business. Apr 14, 2019 learn about the education requirements for book publishers. As with all careers, however, not everyone has the skill or temperament required for the profession. Every time someone opens a nonfiction book and flips to the index to look something up, she or he is taking advantage of this persons hard work. If you have written the book yourself, its quite difficult to distance yourself from the text and think how to construct an index in a way that will be most helpful for the reader. For many it is part of a portfolio career encompassing other paid employment or freelance activities such as editorial work, or provides a means of income which fits round other commitments. In this article, she explains that hiring an indexer to create a professional index is something that many authors neglect. If youre familiar with graphic design and marketing, the other option is to selfpublish the book as an ebook, or to find and pay a printer to print your book. Aug 07, 2019 book editing requires significant formal education. Maintaining a strong portfolio will put you in a good position to sell your book to an agent, publisher, or commissioner.

This is a mistake that could cost you access to entire markets. How to make money from home by indexing books toughnickel. Indexers can index books, magazine articles, and other types of publications. For this indexing career profile, interviewed carolyn weaver from weaver indexing service. If you love reading and youre interested in a lucrative and relatively secure career that involves overseeing the work of others, as well as. The indexing books as a car eer mooc is intended for individuals interested in exploring a possible indexing career as well as for authors and editors who work with indexers. They also offer workshops on working as a freelance indexer and establishing an indexing business. I have a friend who worked for the nlm usa as an indexer and i also happen to be taking a course in health sciences myself. How behavioural biases kept me from becoming an indexer. So you want to be an indexer indexing is a professional, creative, serious, enriching career with serious potential for income generation, knowledge exploration, and community improvement. This is a book that every indexer and indexertobe needs.

The editor for astronomy will look over your inquiry, which needs to include specific. Because authors and publishers rarely create the indexes themselves, this job must be completed by a professional indexer. What id like to do is talk now to those of you out there who want to do what ive done, build a career as a writer. There are many career tracks within publishing that are always on. If you think indexing may be for you, have a go at the questionnaire and simple indexing exercises on the next pages. If the book is larger than that, the publishers will give me a little more heads up or give me a little more time to index it. This is a book that every indexer and indexer tobe needs. Indeed may be compensated by these employers, helping keep indeed free for jobseekers. Its not unusual for publishers and editors who have not come from a scholarly background, or who have worked mainly with fiction, to have an incomplete understanding of what an index is, its purpose, and how it works. Not all writers work as or want to be novelists, poets or authors. Information about freelance indexing an index is the alphabetical list of topics at the back of a nonfiction book. Becoming a published author often involves sending transcripts of your book or other composition to publishers and. The indexer may be the author, the editor, or a professional indexer working as a third party.

Its the most practical and straightforward guide to the process of composing index entries and compiling a working index. She likes comedy, books and indexes and really likes comedy book indexes. What are the pros and cons of a career as an author. For a helpful, lowpressure conversation about whether indexing is a good choice for you, call susan holbert tollfree at 8774087299.

Whats not to like about working from home at hours that suit you. Once i get the book, ill usually have a month to index it. What the famous did that wasnt by jack lynch, mojo. They decide which manuscripts are worthy of becoming published books, and then they turn those manuscripts into masterpieces.

No previous editorial or indexing experience is needed. Indexing is the process of providing organized access to. Jan 22, 2016 the 6 career advice books all successful people read yes, your parents may have read these books too, but sometimes you just cant beat the classics. May 10, 2010 how difficult is it to find work as a professional indexer. You will have to train and practice before you can begin to enjoy the benefits of a workathome career as a general transcriptionist. If you love to read, book editor is probably the most fab job you can imagine. The applicable majors section below shows fields of study relevant to a career as a novelistwriter. I am a professional book indexer the yawning chasm. Maria sosnowski has been a freelance indexer for over ten years. May 22, 2012 what id like to do is talk now to those of you out there who want to do what ive done, build a career as a writer. An indexer organizes information and creates an index which can be used to locate that information. Shell created whartons popular success course, and his book includes a number of inspirational stories about students and others who chose. How to contract with a book indexer word for word book. So you want to be an indexer american society for indexing.

This is exceptionally high, and she indicated that it came at the cost of working long hours. However, it does state that you should first check with the book editor before pitching your desired books to the magazine. Indexers are scarce, since few people know that indexing is an editorial specialty. You can find out more about becoming an indexer from the society of indexers. Do you want to become a freelance editorial professional. Estalita slivoskey has been a fulltime indexer since 2005. Praise for fundamentals for becoming a successful entrepreneur most books on new venture creation are relentlessly performative, giving guidance on how to complete a business plan. The more technical the book, the more important the index. Praise for handbook of indexing techniques, 5th edition i welcome this fifth edition.

The 6 career advice books all successful people read. There isnt a single route to becoming a writer, which is one of the major benefits of the profession. A career in indexing indexing offers the flexibility of working from home. Learn about the degree programs, job duties and book editor. How to become a novelist novel writer academic invest. Some do it as a fulltime career, others use it to supplement income from other activities or pensions, or as a means to earn some money while staying at home with small children.

For information about applying for work as an indexer with nlms contractors, please contact the index section for a listing of all firms with a current indexing contract. Your agent could help you publish the book very quickly, it could take numerous tries, or it might not sell at all. For a large portion of my career, i lived and worked out of canada. Apr 25, 2020 an indexer organizes information and creates an index which can be used to locate that information. Because authors and publishers rarely create the indexes themselves, this job must. Explore work duties, employment outlook and salary in order to make the.

If youre familiar with graphic design and marketing, the other option is to selfpublish the book as an e book, or to find and pay a printer to print your book. Almost all indexes are created by freelancers who work at home for publishers all over the country and the world. Indexing is one of the most important parts of publishing a book. Info about becoming a medline indexer the traveling.

Book indexes are created for publishers by freelancers who work at home. The indexing books as a career mooc is intended for individuals interested in exploring a possible indexing career as well as for authors and editors who work with indexers. I was recently contacted by a qualified health sciences librarian with a biomedical degree as well as mlis who is searching for a virtual position because there are no local opps in her area. Indexers are scarce and their skills are in demand. How to contract with a book indexer word for word book services. Becoming an indexer, the indexer the international journal of indexing if you are embarking on an indexing training course or considering turning to indexing as a career, why not take a look at becoming an indexer. If you love books and reading, have a fairly analytical mind, would love to be a business owner, and are looking for a career change or a parttime career opportunity, indexing might be just the thing for you. Apply to legal assistant, customer service representative, integration engineer and more.

Indexing services susan holbert and pierce butler want to start a homebased career in a unique branch of editorial freelancing. With the accidental indexer, nan badgett has written the definitive guide to the indexing profession. Book indexers usually work from home on a freelance basis. Work in publishing week and the missing michelle obama. Indeed ranks job ads based on a combination of employer bids and relevance, such as your search terms and other activity on indeed. Sep 27, 2019 learn about the education and preparation needed to have a career in book publishing. A strong portfolio is worth the time and effort it takes to create, and shouldnt be done in a rushed manner. To become a publisher, the first thing you need to do is determine if a career as a publisher is right for you. These are useful for anyone who may be thinking of taking up indexing as a career. Apply to associate, engineer, administrative assistant and more.

I can honestly say that this job is way more different and less stressful. Paula clarke bain is a professional book indexer and editor. How to build a successful career as a published writer. The book contains what you need to know if you are considering becoming an indexer what the life of an indexer is like, how to learn indexing, and how to start your indexing business. Book indexing is not a getrichquick scheme, nor is it a way to passive income. How would you describe the main functions of your job. With a degree in business management, an early career as a fortune 500 database analyst, as well as extensive experience as a small business owner, estalita brings a passion for accuracy and service to her work. The easier reading the book, the more likely someone who is not an indexer on staff will do it.

Sep 28, 2014 how behavioural biases kept me from becoming an indexer. Adopting the voice of an experienced and wise mentor, they guide the wouldbe entrepreneurnew venture creator. The accidental indexer by nan badgett nook book ebook. First off, and this is important, you have to need to do it.

In a traditional backofthebook index, the headings will include names of people, places, events, and concepts selected by the indexer as being relevant and of interest to a possible reader of the book. If you search online, youll find a lot of information about becoming a general transcriptionist. I work in book publishing and hire freelance proofreaders and indexers, and im afraid the 2 commentors above are correct. Writing is an extremely diverse occupational field with multifaceted career paths. Get real job descriptions, career prospects and salary information to see if becoming an author is right for you. To receive an information packet with articles on the feasibility of indexing as a career, email indexing services. Becoming a freelance proofreader or editor or indexer seems like the ideal job if you want to work from home. Career explorer salary calculator be the first to see new indexer jobs. After working many years in a customer service roll, whether it was in retail or restaurant. In a traditional backofthe book index, the headings will include names of people, places, events, and concepts selected by the indexer as being relevant and of interest to a possible reader of the book. Proofreading, in particular, seems to be a very attractive career.