Can’t afford a proofreader? Jump in with all eight legs!

Proofreading 4-Pack, Part IV – Can’t afford a professional proofreader?

(Continued from Part I, Proofreading, an inch at a time, Part II, Copy
editing – getting the bugs out, and Part III, Hiring a proofreader – don’t get stung.)

Even with my more-than-reasonable proofreading rates, I’ve had several writers say they just can’t afford it. I can dig it! There are other options available for getting your manuscript proofread and edited.

Writer’s group – If you feel you can’t afford a proofreader, join a writer’s critique group in your area. A good writer’s group is invaluable! If you can’t find a group, start one!

Exchange services – With other professionals – I’ll read yours if you read mine. Or trade one service for another. I proofread a monthly newsletter for Anne Hillerman and her Wordharvest workshops and in turn get a free ad in her newsletter. This exchange is a benefit to us both.

Join Linked In – This is a great way to find other professionals in the publishing industry. There are literally hundreds of groups for writers broken down by genre, e-book vs. print, and a lot of other in-betweens.

Online exchange – Join an online exchange group or forum like Fictionaut, Dropbox, Backspace.org, or Yahoo groups for writers.

Join Facebook groups – One of my most favorite, supportive, and positive groups is Writer Unboxed. On Facebook there are pages and groups galore!

Proofreading sites and blogs – Search for sites and blogs – like Grammar Girl or GrammarBook.com – that share proofreading and copy editing tips.

Dictionary Plus – It’s not enough to have a dictionary (or to use an online dictionary). You should have a couple other desk references for grammar and punctuation – like The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus or Diane Hacker’s Rules for Writers.

Subscribe – Pick one or two magazines that are geared toward writers like Writer’s Digest, Writers’ Journal, or The Writer. Every month I find at least a couple of articles in these periodicals worth their weight in gold. If you don’t want to fork over the subscription price, ask for them at your local library.

Start saving – Perhaps you could afford a proofreader if you did a little belt-tightening. With the recession in full swing, a plethora of websites with money-saving ideas have popped up. Do you really need a $5 latte every morning?

This blog was originally posted on Chris Eboch’s blog Write Like a Pro!

All four photos from this Proofreading 4-Pack were courtesy of Gwen Dubeau. Please stop by and see some of her fabulous work (it’s for sale!) at Gwen Dubeau.