Right off, let’s define the terms, because what is called “proofreading” by people outside the publishing industry is usually editing instead. The editor works on the book at the manuscript stage, marking grammatical and spelling mistakes, querying inconsistencies and awkward phrasing, and among other things, verifying facts. The proofreader works on comparing every word of the manuscript with every word of the proof, verifying correct word breaks, making sure that all editorial changes were input, and making sure that elements of the work were placed according to design specifications.
Most know that proofreaders are not supposed to make substantive changes to a manuscript or go against the style sheet provided by the editor, but they do serve as an additional reader. The proofreader is expected to pick up any mistakes the others missed, as no one is perfect.
Proofreading is a tough job. Even for someone with a good memory like me, it’s difficult to hold more than a few words in your head at a time without leaving out a comma or mixing any of the words or details up. For instance, if Mike is a balding man of 40 in chapter 6, he must still be a balding man of 40 in chapter 18. I have even come across name changes suddenly that were not supposed to change; it was just the authors oversight/error. With that said, it’s intensely time-consuming and tedious.
People often wonder how proofreaders manage to do so much in such a short time. It is hard to get a handle on exactly how each operates within his or her own time frame. It seems each proofreader has his or her own style and that is what makes it so effective across the board. Learning to proofread and edit is a skill that surely has great latitude. It can make one quite a hot commodity as writers will never stop writing and our expertise will always be sought after. I dare say this is a profession that is somewhat recession-proof!
The bottom line is to be appreciative of your proofreaders and editors! We are truly your last line of defense against mistakes in your novel.
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Tags: Professional Editing, professional editor, Proofreading
Awesome post.