Get some distance from the text! You’ll be able to use that information to decide if this is how you want to spend your time for future book projects, or if hiring a proofreader is a more palatable option. In the past, professional proofreaders proofread books on paper. You can adjust your screen size in Calibre’s reader, too, making it possible to read your ebook in epub or Kindle format on your computer. By the way, it’s never a good idea to proofread a book before it has been copyedited, so always make sure your book is copyedited before it’s proofread. Many more errors are found after the book is laid out in pages, and printed out so it can be handwritten on. Whether you’re a student, a mechanic, a doctor, or a professional writer, you’ve probably come across proofreading in some form or another — though you might not be aware of it. A proofreader will know they’ve flagged a typo, but the typo appears in the published book. A manuscript peppered with typos, grammatical errors, or contextual inconsistencies will jolt a reader out of the narrative the book is meant to tell. If your ebook has been formatted as an epub (for Apple, Nook, and Kobo), it’s best to proofread it using Adobe Digital Editions 3.0 (free). Clear your head of what you’ve written so you can take a fresh look at the paper and see what is really on the page. Every markup that we make or correction that we suggest is informed by the copyeditor’s style sheet, a list of decisions the copyeditor made to make the book as a consistent as possible. – Posted on Jan 31, 2020. You can’t go wrong with online training through General Proofreading: Theory & Practice. Meet Neil Gaiman's, George R. R. Martin's, and George W. Bush's editors and proofreaders at Reedsy. Your email address will not be published. Those of you who ever dreamt to publish their own shall find this article very helpful. Yet there’s no denying that hundreds, if not thousands, of viewers were yanked from the medieval realm of Westeros because of this tiny appearance of a modern artefact. “How much do authors make?” is a major question for potential and current authors. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, ×  In traditional publishing, every book will be proofed before it’s released to the public. Let’s cover a couple of DIY proofreading tips to help you ensure your work is as polished as can be. But when I correct a badly written or grammatically incorrect sentence, I find that I am highly likely to introduce new errors. Better yet, give the paper to a friend—you can’t get much more distance than that. The Christian publishing scene is vibrant, diverse, and BIG! Look for text that states the edition of the book. Getting work as a proofreader is quite … For at least 20 years, I’d made it my routine practice to edit EVERY editing and rewrite job on paper, because I knew with 100-percent certainty that the results would be ominous if I didn’t do so. This was born out after I proofread my book The Joyful Athlete DOZENS of times, nay several hundred times, whereupon the publisher’s proofreader warned me that I’d better dang well print-and-proofread because it was riddled with errors. You know what we’re talking about, then. Keep track of your process with each book, so you can find ways to make proofreading more efficient. For permission to reprint articles from this site, please contact info@thebookdesigner.com, Marin Bookworks 369-B Third Street #572 San Rafael, CA 94901. But a lot of that depends on editorial rigor in pre-production or how aggressive the pursuit of perfection is. I prefer to proofread digitally because it allows me to use nifty proofreading tools that aren’t available to me when I proofread on paper. The ebook formatting and design company 52 Novels has created a proofreading procedure that works well for epubs. If your book is headed for print, you’ll need to proofread the PDF that will be sent to the printer or print-on-demand service you’ve chosen. 4.6 out of 5 stars 315. Have our editors craft a query package to help sell your manuscript. I like to use an old Kindle DX e-ink reader for proofreading for three reasons: the screen is smaller, which gives me less to focus on at a time; e-ink is as close to paper as you’ll get (so, little glare); and the DX has a text-to-speech function, so I can listen while I track with my eyes. There shouldn’t be any errors. Make sure you set your document is to your desired form of English. Do readers notice? Errors that your eyes will never see are errors your ear will notice. You can even mark errors with proofreading stamps, which is entirely too much fun. Lastly, the thrust this piece cannot be stated enough: don’t assume the first iteration from production is final and publishable. You can’t be too careful, eh? The ‘proof’ in ‘proofreader’ comes from the publishing term describing an early printed copy. I’d second what both Ian and Michael point out. I’ve come to understand by bitter experience that proofreading onscreen is madness. Effective proofreading requires multiple rounds, and each round should be focused on just one task. Having said that, until we know more, how you proofread may be a matter of preference. display: none !important; Yes! It starts with scanning your […], […] http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/08/7-tips-for-proofreading-your-book/ […], […] 7-tips-for-proofreading-your-book/ […], […] to Edit Your Book in 4 Steps Self-Editing Basics: 10 Simple Ways to Edit Your Own Book 7 Tips for Proofreading Your Book 21 Proofreading and Editing Tips for […], […] Book Designer provides 7 Tips for Proofreading Your Book sure to get you through your next release […], […] 7 Tips for Proofreading Your Book by Corina Koch MacLeod and Carla Douglas — The Book Designer. Self-publishing authors can do the same, using these two free software options: Both pieces of software have drawing tools and text tools that will allow you to circle errors, insert missing words, and make notes in the margins without disrupting the book designer’s layout. It’s always nice to have new visitors. So whether you’re planning to seek out traditional representation for your book or to publish on your own, editing and proofreading is a vital part of the publishing process. All of this points to the importance of having a last look at your book, in its final environment, after it has been designed for print or formatted for e-reading devices. Practical advice to help build better books, by Corina Koch Macleod and Carla Douglas on August 26, 2015 30 Comments. How to Proofread a Print Book. It still requires focus and concentration, but this method really lets you “see” your work with fresh eyes. Our online proofreader is fast, accurate, and accessible anywhere. I think it could be the small screen that helps. Learn how your comment data is processed. I find through personal experience that proofreading on a screen is not an effective way to proofread. If you’re proofreading a print book, standard proofreading procedure involves checking that words at the end of lines are breaking in the right places. Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation John Seely. All you need is adding your text and let the tool complete the job. It’s heartening for editors to see how careful authors are in this stage of the publishing process—it always makes for a better book, in my opinion! Over 500,000 authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them. I felt insulted, huffy, until I began editing on paper. Every time someone opens your book file—you, your copyeditor, the formatter or book designer, or your keyboard-curious cat—an error can potentially be introduced! A professional proofreader does more than just look out for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. Now, most proofreaders will proofread a book with software that allows the… You can’t mark up the text as you would in a print book. > Understanding Publishing Sell a book – As a proofreader, you will be able to create an error-free book. I love using text-to-speech too, and I’m frequently surprised by what I am unable to see but able to hear. Then, you worked with a book editor to make sure that it’s as good as you can make it. How to Proofread an Ebook If you have ever written any fiction or non-fiction story you know that writing a first rough draft is not a problem. Here are some tips. If your book will be an ebook, it makes sense to proofread it on an e-reader. Some of the digital editing and proofreading tools are inching us closer to more accurate proofreading onscreen, but if you have the time and inclination, the hard copy proof is a tried and true method. Reedsy is more than just a blog. 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