Book Editing

I don't use editors, only proofreaders. Editors are trying to help you fix issues with your story. I tried using them in the past, and it did help sort out some issues in episode 8, but the editor himself told me that he didn't think I needed an editor, just proofreaders.

As for proofreaders, the only recommendation I can make is the guy (and his name is Guy) that does my final proof. (Before that, it goes thru a string of friends and family, most of which I pay.) My final proofreader is Guy Dublin (guy DOT dublin AT gmail DOT com) He is quite meticulous with good turn around time, and doesn't try to impose grammatical standards on you that clash with your own style. (Just keeps you consistent.)

As for payment, the average that I have found is anywhere from 0.004 cents per word to as high as 0.01 cents per word. I would expect to pay around $500 to $700 for a proofread of a 100,000 manuscript.

Keep in mind, however, that even the best proofreaders will miss things. I expect to have at least 10-20 errors slip through in a 100,000 word manuscript. Obviously, the more people who proofread it, the fewer errors you will have...but to expect perfection is unreasonable. You may be able to obtain it, but it will take years.

Good luck

Thanks for the contact and the recommendation. Guess I shall go with a proofreader instead of editor as well then.

That's then anyhow about a financial investment I was hoping for and is just within range of what I can afford for my little project. Will aim to contact him in about a month time.

Also, if it's down to 10 to 30 errors then I will be more then happy, as I am aware that on grand scale nothing can be perfect.

Someone told a group of us how he had at least five people proofreading his book. All of them and the publishing company missed the most obvious error possible. His name was misspelled on the title page!!!

I'm sure you could find some free proof readers around. Probably on this forum even.

You just have to worry about individuals possibly claiming credit for your work, or posting it for free. Just print it off, or print it as a .pdf image and send the .pdf.

I was informed by someone that you print it out because that is still the best way to do editing marks.

Yes and no. It depends on the person. You can use Microsoft Word to make the proofreading changes, and if you do it right, make the changes so that the document the same as before the proofreading started, but Word kept the changes you suggested by highlight each sentence/word that are wrong, and adding a comment section you can view. You can then view the suggested changes for the wrong sentence/word and see why they stated it was wrong, and then ignore the changes, accept them, or correct them yourself. Makes it pretty painless.

I would recommend printing it off, unless it is someone that you absolutely trust with a digital copy of your work. Don't want someone stealing your work, and attempting to claim it as their own.