Q: I’m a fantastic writer / I have an editor. Why do I need to hire you to proofread my already-stellar work?
Because I’m your last line of defense when it comes to perfectly publishable prose (yes, I’m a fan of alliteration). Your editor’s job is to make sure that, developmentally, your novel, manuscript, or work of nonfiction is almost ready for publication, while I ensure that it’s definitely ready. My highly trained eyes will spot every last missing bit of punctuation, every spacing error, every double-typed word, and every incorrectly numbered page (among my many other useful skills).
Think of me as your safety net. I catch any lingering errors that you or your editor may have missed. It happens more often than you’d think!
Q: Can’t I just proofread my own work?
Of course! And I can just catch my own fish. Kidding. I absolutely can’t. And you shouldn’t proofread your own work either. Here’s why:
We humans are horrible at spotting our own errors (that’s probably as true for life in general as it is for our writing). Anyhoo, writing of any length requires big-picture thinking; our brain helps us by focusing on constructing sentences to convey our thoughts but not so much on nitty-gritty details like proper punctuation. In fact, when you reread your own work, your brain will automatically show you what you expect to be there (meaning, even if there’s a grammatical error present, you probably won’t see it).
Q: What about Grammarly or some other spelling- and grammar-checker?
Unfortunately, these programs and apps simply aren’t able to discern all the nuances of the English language. While they’re great for pointing out incorrectly spelled common words, they won’t catch words that are spelled properly but used erroneously (think of the very different meanings of there / their / they’re), incorrect verb tense agreement, or the improper use of a semicolon.
Q: Okay, you’ve convinced me. What are your rates?
Because costs are calculated by the word and final factors include everything from the scope of your project to how quickly you’d like it completed, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. Broadly, I charge anywhere from $.018 to $.028 per word.
The factors I consider when determining your rate include the complexity of the work I’m proofreading (does it include a lot of industry-specific jargon?), error frequency (is your writing solid with only the occasional missed punctuation?), word count (shorter pieces take less time), and deadline (do you need a 50-page report back within 24 hours?).
Now, why charge by the word instead of the hour? Because it’s much more honest and transparent for you, my dear client! This way, no matter how much time is spent proofreading your piece to perfection, you’re guaranteed an up-front rate, one you’ve already agreed to pay. No surprises. No additional costs. A win for both of us!
To get started, send me a project inquiry. I’ll take a look and get back to you with a proposal within 24 to 48 hours, guaranteed!
*Please note, I may ask you to email me a page or two of your project before sending you a proposal.