When To Use Freelance Proofreading
By michal leah
proofreader, beta reader, and writing teacher.
As a writer, you know how important it is to put your best work out into the world, and freelance proofreading can help you do just that. Whether you’re looking to get published or to self-publish directly to readers, it’s essential that your writing be polished and error-free before anyone else sees it. That’s where freelance proofreading comes into play. This article will break down the benefits of using freelance proofreading services as part of your pursuit of manuscript success. But pay attention, because there are also some caveats about when and how to use freelance proofreading.
What Is Freelance Proofreading?
Put simply, freelance proofreading is the review of written material by an independent professional proofreader. They can look for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and more. While some writers may be able to do this on their own (which is great!), most can benefit from working with an outside professional.
Why? Simply because writers tend to become blind to their own writing style and errors. Having an outside perspective can help them spot and correct errors that may not be so obvious at first glance, especially to the writer. Plus, good freelance proofreading providers will also offer helpful feedback on structure and flow as well as accuracy. (Do note that proofreaders might not offer creative feedback on story, character, or plot, as that is more in the realm of a developmental editor.)
Why Budget for Freelance Proofreading?
The benefits of hiring freelance proofreading are numerous—from helping refine your use of language and ensuring accuracy to providing valuable insight into how readers may interpret your work. Clarity is king, after all, and you want to make sure that your ideas are getting across. You might find out during the freelance proofreading process that you aren’t being as clear as you thought.
Working with a professional can also help identify areas where improvement is needed before you submit your manuscript or publish it yourself. (You don’t want to only hear about your typos and errors from customers and reviewers, trust us.) Having a freelance proofreading provider look over your work can also help bolster your confidence in the final product—a key perk if you’re looking to submit your work for publication to literary agents and publishers.
Caveats to Using Freelance Proofreading
It’s important to note that freelance proofreading isn’t always necessary—or even recommended—for every writer at every stage of their career. While having someone else take a look at your work can certainly help refine language and find errors that might otherwise go unnoticed, some writers simply aren’t ready for feedback.
If you haven’t had any experience with getting writing notes, you might find yourself challenged by this process. You should be ready and willing to accept constructive criticism or negative feedback without feeling personally attacked and being open to revising according to rigorous feedback from another person who knows what they’re doing. It's also worth noting that while freelancing proofreading can be beneficial at any stage of the writing process (even for early drafts), it’s ideally used as an absolute last step before submission or publication.
If you revise large sections of your writing, you risk reintroducing errors that will make your freelance proofreading investment moot. With these considerations in mind, if you’re interested in taking advantage of what freelance proofreading has to offer, you can bet that your writing will be better off for it.
find your writing voice
If you're looking for a supportive editor to help you share your story and feel heard, look no further. Michal Leah offers proofreading, beta reading, and sensitivity reading to make sure your story is told authentically and intentionally. Michal brings attention to detail to everything she does, and that means your story will be in the best hands possible.
