Genesis

[opsmgr]

Well hi, this is the beginning of life as a proof reader for me, and I found your site through Google - on page 1, well done!
I've spent this afternoon reading through the forum and you all sound like a friendly bunch, so I thought I'd put my head over the parapet and wave.

Actually, I have a question which may sound offensive, but is not meant to be: Of all the introduction courses to proof reading I found on the web, why is yours so amazingly...cost effective?! I mean, I see it as something so valuable and yet it's nothing like the costs of all the others, which range up to £300 or so. (I sense a price rise!). I don't wish to start on the wrong foot here, but I am almost about to order a course, and the whole 'feel' of your site attracts me, so is it because it's online, or are the others out for a fast buck, or am I just too suspicious for my own good?

Yours seriously

[gpuss]

Hi opsmgr - and welcome. Feel free to raise that head above the parapet.

Why is the course only 25 pounds? Put simply, I compared it with the price of a good book on proofreading rather than a course as such, as I think this course has more in common with a tutorial. Of course, a book isn't updateable and accessible anywhere in the world (I mean ... if you forget to take it with you ...), and doesn't link seamlessly into a community of like-minded folk.

The proofreading course I did way back in 1995 cost me a few hundred pounds (and that was a lot of money then), but when I opened it up I found that it was an English course telling me stuff I already knew, but with a few proofreading symbols nailed on at the end.

So when I actually started proofreading I didn't know how unprepared I was. The course didn't tell me how great a part typesetting and style play in the proofreading process. I decided to write my own that covers not only typographical aspects but also the parts of English that trip people up.

Also, some of the larger courses advertise in the national press and have many employees, which someone has to pay for. They also have mentors, which is great, but this forum is my mentor.

So in a nutshell, I think the price reasonably reflects the nature of the course. I never wrote it to become a millionaire but in case you're interested I need to sell just one more to reach that milestone

[William]

I hope you sell it, gpuss. Even if opsmgr is quite obviously an alias of yours!

[gpuss]

I reject that allegation utterly!

[opsmgr]

Just as well, 'cos we ain't one and the same, William. It was a serious question.
But then, if you think gpuss and I are the same, you'd expect this reply, but if I thought you thought that , then I would want to deny it, which you'd expect etc...!

[Emily]

There's something else. Every now and again when I log in to the course to check up on some vital detail (I'm at it now), the course has got a little bit better. I logged in today and saw the contents are now clickable. The course really does change and improve with time - it's far from static.

Have I bigged you up enough, gpuss, or shall I carry on?