Ever wondered if even seasoned writers need a proofreader? In this video, I share my honest thoughts on why a fresh set of eyes can make all the difference, no matter how confident you are in your own grammar and style. I’ll walk you through what professional proofreaders really look for, and how their attention to detail can help your writing shine.
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
Do I really need a proofreader? I mean, I’m experienced. I’ve been writing for years. Let me expand it a little. Maybe you’re an English teacher. Maybe you’re a professional proofreader. Well, you know what? Busman’s holiday it’s, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break, taking a step back. Let a fresh set of eyes, look at it. And for those of us who are not professional proofreaders, even though we’re confident that we know grammar and so on, proofreaders find things all the time. Have you ever noticed that if you type something and there’s a typo you never see it. It looks normal to you because you’re the one that did it. This happens all the time. Yes, you need proofreading.
What do they look for? They’re going to look for grammar, punctuation, continuity, consistency, but they’re really at the nitty gritty. They’re not gonna be looking for continuity so much in the story, but they’re going to look for continuity in your style. If you use fragments, they won’t object to fragments. If you start sentences with and, but because and so on, they’re not going to object to that. Although in more formal writing, you know, you don’t do that. They are therefore helping you, uh, showcase the best of your work. It’s a beautiful thing right? Now, how do you find them?
I can recommend the Editorial Freelancers Association. The hyphen e f a dot org. And be sure and look for someone who has experience with a kind of style, genre, feel—the ethos you’re going for.
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Also, I have a book coming out. By the time you’re seeing this, it may already be out, but I’m asking you to buy it pre-order or buy, please. It’s called Beat the Bots: A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI. It’s getting great reviews. I think you’ll find it enormously valuable. Please also, would you ask your librarian to order it? That would be just great. Thank you so much.
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