I'll Read, You Count!

I've often been told I should write a post about proofreading, or why people need to hire a proofreader, to promote my job as *drum roll*..... a proofreader!

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out...Author Unknown

I can understand why people tell me to do that, from a business sense, however, I'm just not that kind of person. "You're crap at English, hire me!" "Spell check is an idiot, hire me!"

Sorry, but no. That's just not how I feel. 

When authors write, with a thousand words in their heads, it's too easy to write "discrete" instead of "discreet". Most authors are too concerned with a plot line than with spelling. Half the time, the author is probably aware of the difference between "bear" and "bare", but their mind is writing "The End" before they think about how to spell.

The first draft of anything is shit.........Ernest Hemingway

And then, when the story is finished, not all authors want to check over their work. Most of my regular clients do, which my eyes appreciate, but some just don't. And that's cool, because when I go shopping, I don't work out the cost, I let someone (or something) do the maths for me. It's easier and quicker, because numbers aren't my strong suit. Therefore, I can't expect words to be someone else's strong suit.





We all have our areas of expertise, be it words, numbers, or which poison won't be detected (I can advise you on anything but numbers.....), but even then, it's nice to leave the fiddly bits to someone else.


Skill alone cannot teach or produce a great short story, which condenses the obsession of the creature; it is a hallucinatory presence manifest from the first sentence to fascinate the reader, to make him lose contact with the dull reality that surrounds him, submerging him in another that is more intense and compelling....... Julio Cortázar