Proofreading/copy-editing before approaching publishers . . . it's essential.
Occasionally, I'll come across an author who'll tell me the following: I don't need to have my book proofread or edited before I send it out to agents and publishers. I know it's great, and I've proofread it myself and caught all the mistakes. Besides, there's no point doing too much to the text as the publisher will have an in-house copy-editor and proofreader who will do all that for me. Why should I pay to have someone work on the story or style and weed out any mistakes when the publisher will do it for me? It's a waste of time and money.
Gently, I have to break it to them that this approach is very, very, very unlikely to result in a published book. Firstly, you're unlikely to get past the slush pile if the publisher's reader is faced with typos, inconsistencies and issues in the style and content. A rare few may get through this on the basis of being a fabulous idea, but not many - what publisher wants to spend the time (and money) weeding out all those basic problems? If your book is littered with mistakes and problems, these will stand out a mile to the publisher and put them off greatly.
Secondly, you want the publisher to be impressed by both you and your book. They want to deal with a professional writer, and presenting an error-free manuscript is the ideal way to convey this. It's true that some books you see on the bestseller lists have been heavily edited and proofread in-house, but if you want to sell your book to a publisher, why not save them much of that effort?
Finally, no matter how well you think you've edited and proofread your book, unless you are a professional writer and editor, I can assure you there will still be mistakes and problems. You're too close to your own book to see the issues, and a professional proofreader and copy-editor will be looking for things you may never have thought of.
By all means edit and proof the book as much as you can, but if you are serious about getting that book published, let an expert take a look as well.
Gently, I have to break it to them that this approach is very, very, very unlikely to result in a published book. Firstly, you're unlikely to get past the slush pile if the publisher's reader is faced with typos, inconsistencies and issues in the style and content. A rare few may get through this on the basis of being a fabulous idea, but not many - what publisher wants to spend the time (and money) weeding out all those basic problems? If your book is littered with mistakes and problems, these will stand out a mile to the publisher and put them off greatly.
Secondly, you want the publisher to be impressed by both you and your book. They want to deal with a professional writer, and presenting an error-free manuscript is the ideal way to convey this. It's true that some books you see on the bestseller lists have been heavily edited and proofread in-house, but if you want to sell your book to a publisher, why not save them much of that effort?
Finally, no matter how well you think you've edited and proofread your book, unless you are a professional writer and editor, I can assure you there will still be mistakes and problems. You're too close to your own book to see the issues, and a professional proofreader and copy-editor will be looking for things you may never have thought of.
By all means edit and proof the book as much as you can, but if you are serious about getting that book published, let an expert take a look as well.
Labels: copy-editing, proofreading, publishing
posted by Charlie at
10:10
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