The Importance of Proof Reading in Self-Publishing

Freedom to self-publish your book is good. However, self-publishing without proofreading is not at all good. After the title is finalized, and you’re done with writing, it’s time to get your book self-published. Marilyn Randolph, a self-publishing coach in SF Bay area, suggests to thoroughly proofread your manuscript or digital copy prior getting it on board. As a writer, your responsibility is to produce a flawless text for your readers.

Proofreading is an important step in which you read your draft like a reader, and not writer. It is recommended to read every single line of your text, make corrections to the errors you might have done while writing. Fix them so that your final draft is free from errors.

Why Should You Proofread Your Text?

• Proofreading helps you know whether or not you’ve included everything in your book.
• Proofreading gives you an insight into any inconsistency in words or sentences and helps you fix them.
• By proofreading, you can also delete unwanted sentences or content that you think can divert your readers from the main theme topic of the book or chapter.
• Proofreading depicts that you’re concerned about your book and readers, and indicates your accountability and authority.
• Proofreading helps you spot serious typo and grammatical errors which you might have missed if you would have skipped proofreading.

The Right Way to Proofread Your Content

• Read it loud and clear - One of the most effective ways to proofread your content is to read it loud and clear. If you’ll read your content loudly and clearly so that the sound goes into your ears, it will become easy to spot errors and help you fix them asap.
• Do not be in hurry - Never proofread your content in hurry. Sometimes our eyes miss important mistakes in a sentence, which you can spot only when you take time to read each and every line. Take your time, and read every single sentence like a reader to spot errors.
• Once finished, take some time - This might seem time consuming, but it is important. When you proofread the content, make sure that your mind is all fresh. Take a break for a few days and have a look over the content from a fresh mind - you’ll spot more errors.

The Right Time to Proofread Your Content

Proofreading is not something that has to be done soon after you’ve finished your first draft. The process comes to an end only after the first copy of your book is published. Proofread when:

• You’re about to self-publish.
• You get your manuscript. From layout to text position, check if everything is fine.
• Your first copy is out. Proofread it and approve whether it is eligible to be out in the market.

Marilyn Randolph, who is a self-publishing coach in SF Bay Area and published two books so far, says that writing tells a lot about the author. If your book is full of errors, readers might think you are not an experienced writer. Don’t let that happen! Proofread before you publish your book. If possible proofread it several times.