Some successful writers can and do manage to write, rest
their brains and fingers for a time period, and go back
to edit and proofread the work themselves.
For the writer, the mantra has always been “good writing is re-writing.” For the agent, having the ability to spot a good literary work is a must. BUT, the agent does not edit or proofread, as a rule.
I have heard it said in a forum for writers, “If writers can do their own editing,
they certainly can learn how to do proofreading.”
Is this necessarily true? I am skilled as an editor and proofreader but KNOW I am no writer … does a writer necessarily have the skills of grammar and spelling and word usage?
I know that I often miss my own mistakes because I know what I EXPECT to SEE
and know what I MEANT to SAY. This is often the case and why I have always said
that even proofreaders NEED proofreaders …
Proofreading is the end part of the editing process, focusing on surface errors like wrong spellings, grammar and punctuation errors. Proofreading should be done only after the editing revisions are finished.
Put another way, separate the editing work from your proofreading work.
When editing, you want to connect ideas and smooth out the word flow
rather than thinking of punctuation, grammar or spelling.
Here’s a sampler on how to proofread your work.
Never depend on grammar and spell checkers. They have limited dictionaries.
Spell checkers will not catch the error if your misspelled word is also a valid word.
(your and you’re, there and their, etc.)
Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. It is easier to catch grammar errors
if you are not checking punctuations and spelling mistakes at the same time.
Read slowly. Better yet, read the words aloud. Two senses (sight and sound) are always better than one. You can do this if you separate the text into separate sentences.
Press the return key after each period so that every line begins with a new sentence.
Use a ruler if you are working with a printed copy.
Circle every punctuation mark to force you to look at each one. Later, go back and ask
if these punctuations are correct. (Commas usually flood some long-winded sentences without your knowing it.)
Read the paper backwards. This technique is best in checking spelling.
Start from the last word and work your way to the beginning.
Since grammar is incoherent, your attention is solely on the spelling of each word.
Learning process
As you do your own proofreading, hopefully you would know your weak and strong points.
You would then know how to do a systematic strategy to find errors that are typical of you.
You will learn to discover specific areas in your writing that need careful attention.
Do you think paid editorial services can do this for you?
I do proofreading and editing in two different manners.
The most cost efficient method for the client is for me to just make the necessary changes
as I go. Some clients, however, want to SEE the changes that are made and also want me to make suggestions that they can adopt or ignore. This is much more timely, so costs the client more, but he or she can then see what needed fixed and hopefully learn what to avoid or use in the future.
I have been blessed with some wonderful clients who KNOW that they need my services. Sadly, so many savvy business people and great authors DO NOT believe that it even matters if their web sites, blogs or books are filled with errors. Even sadder still is the fact that a lot of their visitors or readers will not notice or even care if they do. As a former
Honor Roll Grammar, Reading and Spelling student, that really saddens me.
Remember, I am a Virtual Assistant who LOVES to do editing,
proofreading and transcription assignments!
Jan Tallent
Tallent Agency Virtual Assistance
573-775-4520 jan@tallentagency.com
