Self-publishing is becoming increasingly popular with authors, but that also means that there’s increasing competition. How can you stand out in such a crowded market? Good marketing is a big factor – how can someone buy a book they don’t know about? But the content is just as, if not more, important. Making sure your writing is error-free is a great way to endear your book to your readers. So how can you ensure your self-published work is error-free?
Why Does Proofreading Matter?
You may be wondering if proofreading is actually necessary for fiction writing – surely, the story itself is what matters. But the truth is that proofreading is crucial in both fiction and non-fiction work. As a self-published author, you’ll be competing not only with every other self-published author out there but with traditionally published authors as well, who tend to have a team of editors and marketers and much larger budgets than the average self-published author. Readers are put off by constant spelling and grammar mistakes, especially if they affect readability. Proofreading is your last chance to catch errors, whether you do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
What About Grammar Checkers?
There’s been a rise in the number of apps that claim to be able to check your writing for grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors and provide insights on the clarity, flow, and readability of your writing. Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway App, and ChatGPT are the most popular grammar checkers. While there are many benefits to using these, you should be careful about which of their suggestions you accept. English is a complex language that often relies on context, which is something that AI doesn’t always get right. We put ChatGPT to the test and found that the writing lacked the nuance necessary for editing and proofreading, although it did a good job of correcting grammar and flow.
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Hire a Proofreader
Hiring a proofreader is your best option to ensure your book is error-free. Proofreaders can fix any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes; look for inconsistencies; make minor changes for clarity and concision; and adapt the vocabulary for the intended audience. They usually work from a style guide (such as CMoS or APA), so they can ensure consistency across the whole document. Human proofreaders catch things that AI grammar checkers usually can’t, like context, sarcasm, and irony. The best way to find a proofreader is to look online, but please vet anyone you’re considering carefully.
Or you could hire a trusted company to handle the proofreading for your self-published book. Proofed has a team of highly trained editors who can ensure your book is error-free. If you’d like to see if our team is right for you, why not take advantage of our 500-word free trial?