One of the fundamental and essential processes, and the first, when it comes to wanting to publish (both with editorial and self-publishing) is that of correction. I have been dedicated to it for more than 10 years and I review all the time of texts, from manuals, self-help books, poems, technical documents or literary works mainly. But the correctors we are still little known figures, perhaps because of that work in the shadows and that it is not always valued or given the importance it has. It also happens that many authorsindependent above all, they are not very clear how to contact a proofreader, or they do not know what type of correction their text may need or what information to give to request a quote. well here are these 5 steps to answer questions.
But first one first, which is the most important and must be stressed: any self-respecting writer who wants to publish is in the obligation to revise your text, whether it is to make a proposal to a publisher or to self-publish. And you must also demand the correction in any publisher or editorial service. If you also pay for the publication process, it is also even more necessary.
A text can be very good in its content, but if in its form there are faults spelling, grammar, or syntax lose all that possible quality in a moment. And it would not be the first time that we get hold of a book, especially if it is self-published, and we come across these errors. I know this from my own experience both with works published by publishers —especially the more modest ones— or publishing services.
Now let's go with those steps.
5 steps to contact a proofreader
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Visit their website
If you have it, of course, although there are also portals, editorial services or specific literary sites where they report on them. But it is very possible that you have your own website. There sure find more contact information, services and rates, payment methods and professional profile. Also visit their social networks.
And if you contact editorials (whether it's the traditional calls or the ones that charge for editing and publishing), make sure you enter their services is the correction.
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To request a quote
The data we need to calculate the price per matrix (usually 1000 matrices) or corrector page is the number of characters with spaces. You find it in your document Word, in the tab of Tools and its dropdown menu where it appears Count words.
All the rates of depending on the texts and their status, which also influences the time that the correction work may require. Also in the case of complete proofreading, in general, the fee is usually double a proofreading.
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What fixes do you need?
Spelling, style, or both.
There is usually both ignorance and confusion when it comes to distinguishing or considering what corrections a text needs. So we have:
- la spelling, that corrects grammatical, syntactic and spelling errors. It also touches and applies typographic resources such as quotation marks, numbering, italics, bold, etc., and standardizes the criteria for their use. All adjusting the spelling to the rules of the RAE in its last revised version that was in (2010).
- of style, which improves the expression, coherence and structuring of the text so that its reading is fluid and the message is clearer and fits what is intended to be transmitted. It is also more expensive than orthotypography.
Many correctors consider that they are complementary or do not conceive one without the other. It's more, that of style can encompass both always clarifying the degree of intervention that a text needs. There are times when you have no choice but to recommend doing both.
And then there are some special services what can be rbibliography reviews and indexes, which can be arranged separately.
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Documents in Word
word is the most used word processor and what else is handled in terms of correcting, so it is the one we usually work with. They also look at PDFs from time to time, and Pages, the Mac's processor, is hardly used. So do not send us PDF or other formats. Also, we use the change control (in the Review tab) so you can see the marks and comments of the corrections.
Besides, when finished, the corrector can later attach a report more or less detailed correction of the work you have done.
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ask any questions
write or call for any questions that may arise. or comment the correction. In the end, it is the author who has the last word in accepting or rejecting the changes we make. We will always try to clarify those questions or hesitations or we will debate with reasons about those changes, but I insist, it is the author who decides about whether to leave a tilde without putting or a badly put comma. That yes, the doubts of Saturdays or Sundays can surely wait for Monday.