RE: Brian's advice on editing and proofing

Dear Author,

While we do a technical proof of the layout as part of the service we offer, we don’t do copy editing/proofing. Here's what I suggest (which is always in flux based on client feedback):

The danger in proofing someone else’s work is that often times, what may appear wrong to me is exactly what the other intended, so as a practice we never change what format/convert.

Writer’s Digest offers a service through their pool of editors at $2/page.

A client told me about Reedsy, but I don’t have any feedback on it yet.

You could also try one of the digital proofing tools like Grammarly which I really like (see below).

Michael Benjamin (a client) told me about WhiteSmoke, but I haven’t used it yet.

Editing is a very subjective role, and I’ve found that one author will love an editor that another author hated. I also think that the amount of projects an editor has at the time, as well as the deadline to complete the work will often impact the quality of work.

For this reason, I don’t like to do referrals because editing is subjective, but I’ve gotten good reviews from other clients for Irene Chambers who you can contact at: irchambersva@gmail.com.

I can also recommend Meagan Friberg, based on her character, but you should ask her for some referrals. She can be reached at meaganfriberg@gmail.com.

Be sure to tell them I referred you, and please let me know how it goes if you hire one of them.

Some final thoughts:

Proofreading can’t be rushed! If you rush an editor, the quality of work their work will be impacted.
When you advertise for an editor, often the only responses you get will be people who are available, and you have to ask yourself if they are good, why are they available? Referrals are always the best way to go.
You can always release a 2nd edition at a later date, but should put your best work out, because if it's not edited much at all, you will run the risk of a bad review that will stick with the book even after you fix the problem.
I always recommend an author get a printed proof because so many errors don't become evident until you see it in print, I believe it really has to do with how the brain works.
You could let us drop your manuscript into PubWriter so you could have it read to you. Here's a sample. There's a small fee unless you are get it ready yourself (we can provide instructions on how to format it in markdown and share it with us via dropbox).

Grammarly

Grammarly is quickly becoming an indispensable technology for all writers - I can’t imagine the hours of of rework that we could have avoided if every author used Grammarly BEFORE sending us their manuscript to format!

Here’s a video I made for a client to show it in action:

Here’s the MS Word Add-in (if you are on a PC): https://www.grammarly.com/office-addin/windows

If you are on a Mac, you'll need to copy & past into their web editor.

Hope that helps!

My best,

Brian Schwartz
Author ★ Publisher ★ Speaker ★ Consultant
www.SelfPublish.org
PH: (805) 225-1251

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