Finding the Perfect Proofreader for Your Writing

Proofreading is the final step on your editorial journey. It’s the last chance to catch those pesky typos and ensure your work is ready for publication, so enlisting the right proofreader for your work is important. In this blog post, I go through some tips on how to find the right proofreader for you. 

Understand your needs

There are a number of editorial steps that your work should have gone through before getting to the proofreading stage, so it’s important to make sure it's a proofreader you really need. Your work may still need to be copyedited if it hasn’t already. You can read more about the difference between the two in my blog post here. 

Where to look for Proofreaders

There are plenty of places to look for proofreaders: 

• Online directories including through the CIEP, PTC and EFA 

• Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram

• Recommendations and referrals – friends, family, and colleagues may be able to share their experiences

  
  

Experience and Expertise

After your initial search, you should look at the experience and expertise of the proofreader. If you have written a YA Romantasy novel, you might look for someone with experience in that genre. If your book relates to a specific subject, Chemistry for example, you may want someone with expertise in that area. They may be more likely to catch the tiny discrepancies someone without that knowledge might not. If proofreaders have a particular specialty, they will normally disclose this on their website. If you have a preference for a particular style, or language use e.g. US/UK English, check if they have experience with this. They should also have a portfolio of their work available to see. 

As well as their experience, you may want to look at their qualifications; do they have recommended training such as that from the CIEP or other reputable providers? Perhaps they don’t, but they have in-house experience. This, alongside their portfolio, may give you increased levels of confidence in their ability. 

If someone recommends a proofreader based on their own experience, ask them about it. This can be really helpful when deciding if that proofreader would be a good fit for you. Proofreaders often have testimonials on their website documenting other’s experiences. 

If you cannot find this information on a proofreader's website, it’s OK to reach out with questions. A good proofreader will want to make sure you are comfortable with your selection, and won’t have a problem with providing you with more information to make your decision. 

Evaluating potential proofreaders 

Once you have done some initial research, it’s time to reach out to your proofreader and enquire about their services. At this point, they will ask you for some more information on your work to ascertain if you will be a right fit for them (it goes both ways). If they are interested in working with you, they may offer you a sample edit. You can read more about the importance of this step and why I offer it here. Many proofreaders offer this as a free service where neither party is under any obligation to move forward with the work if they have any concerns, but it’s important to check this with the proofreader ahead of time. 

Make sure you review the comments in the sample edit; is their feedback concise, clear, and actionable? What about their communication skills via email: do you communicate well together; do you feel they have listened to your concerns and have they answered in a timely manner? There shouldn’t be any ambiguity around the various steps of the proofreading process. Many proofreaders will outline this at the start as I do here.

If at this stage, you don’t feel like the proofreader is the right fit for you, it's ok to say that. They may be able to refer you elsewhere.

Budget Considerations and timeline

Make sure you do your research on costs. You can take a look at recommended rates here. Every proofreader sets their own rates, and will usually price per project, per hour, or per word. This will be laid out in a quotation for you, based on the information you have provided, and the sample edit. They may ask you if you have a budget in mind, so give this some thought ahead of time, there may be some flexibility. Remember though all forms of editing are an investment in your work, beware of compromising quality for low prices. 

Consider your timeline. Many proofreaders are booked up well in advance, so it’s a good idea to start looking early to get booked in if you have a specific date in mind. You may have found the perfect proofreader for you, but they are unable to accommodate your fast turnaround. If they can, they may charge a rush fee, so this is important to keep in mind. Make sure you set clear expectations from the outset, and the proofreader will be as accommodating as they can. 

Making the final decision

Finding the right proofreader may take some time, but by asking the right questions, and doing a little research, you should be able to find your perfect match. It’s OK to make comparisons and shop around, but be careful that you don’t lose your preferred proofreader by taking too long to decide. After all, they are a business and need to ensure they have a steady stream of work. 

Should you have any questions relating to my proofreading services, please get in touch via the contact form or email at susannahbutler.edits@gmail.com. I’d be happy to discuss your work, and find out if I am the right fit for you.