About Me

As the indexer for House of Indexes I began my indexing career ten years ago. I was looking for something more fulfilling for a career when I ran across indexing on the Internet. As most people I had no idea that indexes in the back of books were created by freelancers who work out of their home. I love reading and learning and have numerous areas of interest and I felt indexing was ideal for me. Working out of my home really appealed to me, especially since most of my area of interests are invested in my home, such as gardening, interior decorating, home maintenance, health, religion, etc. What better way to learn an area of interest other than by indexing it?

I joined the American Society of Indexers (ASI), studying all the articles and self-help content from their website site and then later took the video course offered by Susan Holbert of Indexing Services. At the time I was managing our family's printing company. I didn’t have the time to devote exclusively to indexing but continued to study off and on over the next ten years.

Once I started to study indexing I found myself indexing all those various interests while I read about them, which became an in-depth study for each and every topic. In fact I became so obsessed with indexing I found myself indexing in my mind the different printed material I produced through our printing company, even going so far as to index counter top signs while out shopping. When I found myself indexing in my sleep then I knew without a doubt that indexing was the career for me. I was beginning to live and breathe it with immense satisfaction.

I knew an indexing business would require someone who was used to structure and self-motivation but with thirty-two years of self-employment under my belt, I was and am well equipped to handle it. I know the importance of deadlines and committing myself to obtain them. There were times I have worked 12-36 hours straight in order to deliver a job I promised on time. I am a hard working dedicated individual and do not treat responsibility lightly.

We recently closed the printing company after thirty-two years in business to pursue other ventures. I then took the UC Berkeley indexing course. At the time, I took it mainly to get some credentials I thought would look good in my resume. Some that would verify the skills I had already aquired. And I wanted to be sure there wasn't something else they could teach me. However, I really didn't think they could, I thought I knew it all, all there was to indexing and thought it would be just a matter of going through the motions, a piece of cake, while taking the course I learned different. No amount of self-education can replace an in-depth indexing course designed by a professional indexer with twenty plus years of successful indexing experience. Nothing can replace the one-on-one discussions and feed back with dedicated instructors who genuinely care for their students. Not just one instructor but several who team up by alternating there time to preside over chat sessions and even offer to help you iron out a particular problem by telephone. The Berkeley indexing course opened my eyes to just how involved indexing really is and the fact that indexing isn't for everyone. It showed me what I was lacking and what was more important what I never realized I was lacking so that I would know what I needed to improve on in order to become a proficient indexer.

After graduating from the course in March, I felt I needed to put more into reviewing and practice indexing all those various topics I love in order to specialize in them. And I have been doing just that while developing my skills and speed so I may provide my clients with the best service possible while in a timely manner. And I now feel confident that I am more than capable of doing just that.

Susan Wilkerson
Indexer
House of Indexes
susan@houseofindexes.com

 

 

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