Do I really need a proofer?
Most of you who have worked with me already know the answer to this. Yes. If there's one thing that you should absolutely outsource, it's proofing.
And here's a true confession: I did not proof my first four books. I just recorded them and shipped them out, assuming that my read was accurate and my vast vocabulary effectively shielded me from making errors. Once I included proofing in my workflow, I recognized just how foolish my thinking was. I was embarrassed and chagrined. Thankfully, those first books were low enough profile that my secret was safe...
Allow me to quote the amazing Amanda Rose Smith:
Your RH is not your proofer. That is not a professional way to do
this work. As per the ACX contract, you are required to submit finished
work. Work that has not been proofed is not finished work.
All
books need a full listen down against the script after they've been
recorded. Non negotiable...A book is not
done before someone who is NOT the RH (and preferably not you either) has listened to the entire thing against the script.
If you are ready to commit to hiring a proofer but you don't know any, here's a link to a list of editers and proofers referred by folks in the industry: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pz7Si8R2o0m15h4mBrmDcJ5CL9L5FDFvr_LH3bxqkdo/edit#gid=0. There are some great folks on the list, though I clearly don't know everyone on the list.
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