FAQs
Why Do I Need Proofreading?
Have you ever been totally immersed in a story only to suddenly stop because there’s a typo, a misspelling, or three spaces after a particular word?
Have you ever read a conversation between, say, Henry and April, and halfway through, April becomes Angela? Or you see an entirely different name for a character, like where Peter has become Michael?
I’m sure, as a reader, you’ve come across errors similar to these.
These little inconsistencies take you right out of the story.
When you’re writing a novel, crafting storylines and characters, you spend countless hours immersed in your story, repeating the cycle of writing and editing. You know what you want to say, but eventually your brain starts to autocorrect mistakes because it knows what you meant to write – so you miss what’s actually on the page.
Enter the proofreader.
The proofreader is the ‘fresh eyes’ coming in, not knowing anything about your book, having never read it before. The proofreader picks out those little errors and fixes them, so your reader is taken on a beautiful journey, rather than left wondering who the heck Michael is.
How Long Does Proofreading Take?
Proofreading is not the same as curling up in your comfy chair, cracking open the newest novel from your favourite author, and diving in. Though it’s just as fun! :)
There is so much more to proofreading. It takes time to meticulously go through every word, every punctuation mark, and every line to ensure it all makes sense and is consistent throughout.
I carefully comb through your book, checking for any last remaining misspellings, grammar and punctuation errors, and formatting issues – remember that ‘three spaces after a particular word’ issue earlier? – as well as inconsistencies in your characters’ names, descriptions, and place names – such as Happy Days Café in chapter 2 becoming Sunny Days Café in chapter 6 – all while staying consistent with your style sheet.
Proofreading an entire book takes time; it’s not a fast process. And that’s what you want from a proofreader to ensure accuracy.
Every book is different in terms of time needed and cost. How long it takes really comes down to how many words your book has and how much editing and work has gone into it before you hire a proofreader.
Can I see the corrections you make?
Yes, I work using Microsoft Word Track Changes. This allows me to make the corrections, and when you open your file you can see all my corrections easily. You can then either accept or reject each correction. You still have full control.
Will you change my voice or style?
No, I won't change your voice. What I do is correct things like spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and inconsistencies in things like a wrong character name or a place name. I won't change words or paragraphs for creative purposes. I also won't restructure your story.
✨
Get in touch to request a quote.
