I just finished the Index of my non-fiction book. That's right, I did it myself. People charge $75/hr and they want you to give them the list of words. What if you don't know all the words to put in the Index. The "professionals" use a computer program to search and include page numbers, but they don't take special care or read the book and that's why many times I can't find words I look for in Indexes.

I had the list of words so half of the work was already done (I thought). While putting page numbers to the Index words (now that the book is in its final stage), I found some web sites and words that I had overlooked. I know my book, made 3 runs through it, it took almost two weeks (cause I work), and I will do another run after getting the final pages.

It's a fascinating, labor-intensive job and I enjoyed it. I'm thinking about offering my services as an Indexer. You never know when another path will open up.

Wow...Saundra...I never even considered what it took to index a book...what a labor of love! Absolutely, offer your services...sounds like a great thing...

Isn't it amazing what we can find out about ourselves when we try. Saundra, maybe you need to start a website on Indexing. Good Luck.

chick

Argh, indexing. When I was a Technical Writer back in my other life, I had to index computer manuals. Yuck.

Congrats Saundra, job well done!

Thank you for supporting the Indexing idea. I'm considering an Indexing website. If anyone is writing a non-fiction book and would like suggestions or help with the Index, please let me know.

Saundra, you go girl! I think its a great idea and since you have what it takes to do them, perhaps you could investigate the software they use and possibly buy some and then start your own biz; as you said. Do you think the software would save you time? Or be more of a nuisance?

Boy, talk about a labor-intensive business. I think it would take a special person to do this. You obviously have what it takes. Not me, I would be pulling my hair out! If it were MY book, okay...but doing someone else's ... I dunno...but for $75 smack-a-roos an hour, I could do it! ha!

Interesting. Back of the book-indexing is slightly different, but all use same theory...as what librarians learn in mandatory coursework on specialized classification and indexing theory..no matter what subject discipline.

Nowadays technology folks talk about taxonomy of complex databases and websites..which is a modern spin on....classification and indexing.

If you are anal about organizing the world to make it more understandable to others, appreciate and love applying the relationship of concepts to words within a universe of knowledge and information...then indexing is more than just ...words. It's learning about bits of the universe...from different angles.

Yes, librarians and writers (some who might enjoy this type of meticulous work and content analysis), discover a whole world of knowledge opens up to them ...

so much trivia I've picked up...I feel like the Gladman garbage bag man...I don't know how valuable this trivia is until I recycle it/reuse it for future jobs in completely different sectors. Believe me there are interrelationships amongst medicine, engineering, accounting, law, management and adult education --all sectors where I've done indexing and secondary research.

Orchid, well said. Are you still idexing and researching? What an interesting background you have.

Currently, part of job is indexing engineering documents. Rest is database administration, user group training and management stuff.

All previous jobs had research that ranged from 25% - 60% for each employer. But each job always included content analysis, indexing, classification and writing precis.

Admittedly I could not be completely happy for years, if I had a job 100% doing just indexing since I love the immediate buzz of customer service.

Wow, Saundra! Sounds like you did a great job and might have a new career option! I worked in a library for two years back in college, and never gave any thought to indexing, other than filing those 3x5 cards.

Orchid, I have a new-found respect for you after reading your last post. Sorry it took this long to respond.