Why You Need a True Final Proofread
A client of mine (I will call him “Jeff”) hired an independent copy editor to edit his book. Then the edited manuscript was turned over to a professional layout and design firm who did a terrific job laying out his book and creating a killer cover. The problem? Dozens of small and not-so-small errors were introduced into the manuscript during the layout process. This is COMPLETELY NORMAL and to be expected. Computers create weird spaces or glitch and swap a few letters around with punctuation.
Jeff thought that because the book had been through a review before the layout, he did not need to spend the $2 a page or so to have a professional proofread after the layout. He went to print without it.
What He Should Have Done Instead
Once the book was laid out, Jeff should have either had several people/volunteers read it carefully and make notes of errors and corrections OR he should have hired a professional proofreader to finish the job. Once you spend ALL of that time writing the book and ALL of that money publishing it properly, WHY would you skip this vital step?
What He Then Did
Jeff “unpublished” his book, took it off sale and brought the laid out file to a professional proofreader. She read and re-read the book several times over the next 10 days and made over a HUNDRED notes that Jeff agreed with.
Here is the thing… Jeff’s manuscript was well written; it was beautifully edited, it was professionally laid out… it just needed that last final step to be considered a professionally published book. There is no need to “rush” to publish. All that does is satisfy the lesser side of our natures. Take the time to do it right and you will be SO glad. The satisfaction that comes from publishing properly, setting goals and creating plans to achieve those goals and “doing it right” will save you time and money in the long run.
Previously Published as part of a larger whole at THEBOOKDESIGNER.com. For the original article, CLICK HERE
D5 Creation
Aside from the professional proofreading, I believe its important for me, as the author to read my work word-for-word before allowing my book to hit publication. For me, it’s the only way to be fully responsible for my writing. Of course anything I find could simply be something questionable to discuss with the proofreader; I don’t profess to know all the rules; but in reading my work, I can catch anything that is not visually or audibly right with me.
I saw this in a friend’s book and couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t think she was the kind of person who would let all those errors go out into the world! I was relieved when I found out that she was as shocked as I was, that exactly what this article is about had happened to her with her first published book. I’ll get my first one out there one of these days, and I’m thankful that I’ve been forewarned by her experience, and by your post.
I had this happen to my book. 3 different editors, then it went to print. A couple of people notice the same error. Another editor is going through it and finding mistakes. Uhg! Do I sell them or take them off market and have them reprinted?
Thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.
Publishing an unproofed book hurts your reputation. Think of the readers who discover you with this story that you might have rushed through and still contains multiple small errors. Will that reader be impressed by your professionalism? Will the reader buy another of your books? Or with the reader search for an author who puts out an error-free story?
So true! I’ve rushed to meet a deadline so a book could be out at an arbitrary date. It only cost me more money to “eat” the damaged copies and have revisions done and files uploaded. It’s not worth the headache. This is one of the reasons we say, “There is nothing fast about the publishing business.”