Guest: NAIWE’s Executive Director April Michelle Davis

Have you thought about learning to index books? Have you written a book and are thinking about indexing the book yourself? Do you index books but would like a refresher course? In this class, we will cover the fundamentals and theory of indexing. Once those items are understood, we will put our new-found knowledge into practice by indexing a portion of a book.

This is a seven-section email correspondence course where participants work one-on-one with April Michelle Davis, a professional indexer with over 20 years’ experience.

April Michelle offers this specialized class designed for those who are in the indexing industry (or who want to become freelance indexers). Add the course to your résumé, strengthen your skills, and learn how to run your indexing business like a professional.

Includes

Course materials, exceptional reference materials, hands-on activities, and discussion questions.

Class Overview

  • Writing an Index

  • Organizing the Index

  • Setting up an Index Entry

  • Editing the Index

  • Dealing with Content

  • Working with Electronic Tools

  • Becoming the Total Professional


Required Text
A Guide for the Freelance Indexer

April Michelle Davis will review the rough draft of an index you wrote and give you feedback (offer expires one year from course registration).

April Michelle Davis is the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors and the founder of Editorial Inspirations. She has a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing, book publishing, and professional editing. April Michelle has presented sessions about what an editor does and the steps to becoming an editor, tips for and the benefits of working with an editor, indexing, macros, grammar, marketing, and Microsoft Word at the Be a Better Freelancer conference, Randolph-Macon College, Northern Virginia Community College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, RavenCon, the Hanover Book Festival, the Editorial Freelancers Association, Copyediting newsletter, Editorial Inspirations’ trainings, and NAIWE.

April Michelle Davis has shared insights by contributing to several books: When Talent Isn’t Enough: Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined, Ease into Writing, The Indie Author Revolution: An Insider’s Guide to Self-Publishing, and Juggling on a High Wire: The Art of Work–Life Balance When You’re Self-Employed. April Michelle has taken her role full circle by becoming a published author: A Guide for the Freelance Indexer, Choosing an Editor: What You Need to Know, and A Princess in Disguise.