You’ve heard a lot about Sensitivity Reading as a work-from-home business and you’ve thought to yourself, “Maybe that is something I can do too as a side hustle.”

You’ve read everything you could find on the subject. You know that it’s a service that is in high demand; that authors, publishers, game developers, marketers, and others hire Sensitivity Readers to review manuscripts, novels, scripts, ads for unintentional bias, misrepresentation or racism.

You’ve thought to yourself, “This is something I could do. No problem.” But not everyone is qualified to become a Sensitivity Reader despite their best intentions.

Here’s why.

1. You Don’t Like to Read. In fact, you are not an avid reader. The last time you even picked up a novel and finished reading it from cover-to-cover was in 2003. Sensitivity Readers must LOVE to read and do it often. They regularly order a new book from Amazon, or walk into a local bookstore. They get several email newsletters in their inbox and read several articles a day. They may even write articles on Medium, or their own blog.
2. You Don’t Like to Write. The last thing you wrote was a check to your gardener. You don’t like to write and have never ever been good at it. This fact is just fine with you as you excel in other departments. Sensitivity Readers not only read for a living, but they write up reports to their clients. These reports (which include praise, suggestions, notes) can range from five to fifteen+ pages; according to the project. Sensitivity Readers want to be as helpful as possible, so they not only point out concerns but offer suggestions. Many times they also include research on the subject with references.
3. You Detest Social Media and Online Forums. You gave up on Facebook a long time ago and don’t even have a Twitter account. You think Instagram is a waste of time and have no clue why people join forums and post/share useless information. Sensitivity Readers must be active online as that will be how they find their clients. They also join groups and forums that interest them, (or fall within their niche), to answer other’s questions and contribute meaningly. Sensitivity Readers understand that social media and a strong presence online is necessary to be successful.
4. You Prefer to Be an Employee and Not a Boss. You’re not used to taking chances or stepping out on your own. You prefer to be told what needs to be done, and you do it. You don’t want any stress that comes from being your own boss. Sensitivity Readers love to be challenged. They see working for themselves as a win-win. They determine their financial wellness, when and where to work and what projects to take. They love being in control of their lives, even if that means a few bumps in the road at the beginning.
5. You Have Never Been Different, or Personally Faced Bullying, Racism or Bigotry. You are not from a marginalized group and have never faced/seen the consistent negative side of human interaction. Sensitivity Readers come from all walks of life, but they all share a common thread… personal experience with being different, experiencing racism, bigotry, being bullied, or the like. Sensitivity Readers may be minorities, little people, Jewish, Muslim, dealt with mental illness, worked within the foster care system, been homeless, raised in the inner-city or a trailer park, are part of the LGBTQ community, are obese or plus-size, have a disability, etc. They understand that their personal experiences are what make them a great Sensitivity Reader in their chosen niche(s). Who better to review a book where the main character is Gay, then someone who is a Gay Sensitivity Reader? Sensitivity readers live their lives with courage; draw from personal knowledge when reviewing material, and can instantly see issues with a character/story/situation when others have completely missed it.

So, did you find yourself described in several of these points? No? Then that’s great news. If you love to read and write, are on social media, want to work for yourself, and are part of a marginalized group, consider becoming a Sensitivity Reader.

Originally posted on Medium.com.

Patrice Williams Marks is an author, Sensitivity Reader, founder of courses that teach Sensitivity Reading, founder of a non-profit charity, founder of several film festivals with diverse entries from filmmakers and writers. She also has a background in public relations, marketing, and journalism with an emphasis on research.

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