Why It’s Essential To Get Your Manuscript Copy Edited or Proof Read

Copy Editing And Proofing Are Essential

Getting your book copy edited or proofread is crucial, especially for self-publishers and independent authors, before you start your audiobook production – even if you’ve already published your book’s digital or physical version.

It’s largely because after having lived and breathed your book for so long, it’s really hard to see the wood for the trees when it comes to grammatical errors or phraseology. You also haven’t had the support and nurturing from a publisher to help you along the way. And, in all honesty, if your manuscript isn’t easy to read, it’ll make for a lousy audiobook experience for your fans, and deliver a very disappointing return on investment for you.

So, if you need more convincing of the virtues and value of a copy editor or proofer, here are just a few reasons:

Professionalism and Credibility

• First Impressions: A book full of grammatical errors, typos, and awkward phrasing can give readers a negative impression. Professional editing ensures your book looks and sounds polished and well-crafted.
• Trust: Listeners and readers trust and are more likely to recommend a book that sounds or reads smoothly and correctly. This can enhance your credibility as an author.

Clarity and Readability

• Flow: Editors help improve the flow of your writing, making it easier and more enjoyable to listen to and read.
• Understanding: Clear and concise language helps convey your ideas more effectively to your audience.

Consistency

• Style and Tone: Ensuring that the style and tone remain consistent throughout the book is important for reader engagement and coherence.
• Details: Consistency in character names, places, timelines, and other details prevents confusion.

Catching The Errors

• Grammar and Spelling: My absolute downfall! Eliminating grammatical errors and spelling mistakes is essential for maintaining the quality of your writing and helps your narrator no end when it comes to bringing your book to life in their audio booth.
• Factual Accuracy: Copy editors often check for factual inaccuracies, ensuring your content is reliable.

Voice Preservation

• Author’s Voice: Good editors enhance your voice without overshadowing it, helping you communicate your unique perspective effectively.

Structural Improvements

• Organisation: Editors can help with the overall structure of the book, suggesting reorganisation of chapters or sections for better coherence. This is particularly relevant to self-published and independent authors as they can help streamline your language and even cut chunks of words out. And in the audiobook world, that saves you money – both on the production and the narrator, as audiobook prices are calculated on word count or the eventual length of the book.
• Pacing: They can also provide feedback on pacing, ensuring that the narrative keeps the listener/reader engaged.

Marketability

• Publisher Appeal: A well-edited manuscript is more likely to attract the attention of publishers and agents.
• Self-Publishing Success: For self-published authors, a professionally edited book can compete more effectively in the market.

Time and Expertise

• Focus on Writing: Hiring an editor allows you to focus on writing, while they handle the meticulous details of editing. They can also prepare your manuscript for audiobook narration.
• Expert Eye: Editors bring a fresh perspective and expertise, often catching errors and issues you might have overlooked.

If these reasons are enough to tempt you into engaging a copy editor, I wholeheartedly thank you. You’re making this producer very, very happy! 🙂  But, more importantly, you’ll be showing your future fans the very best of you. 

Like with anything that we’ve poured our heart and soul into, it can be daunting to put the manuscript into somebody else’s hands. Because of that, here are a couple of organisations that I’d like to signpost you to that may be able to help:

• The Chartered Institute Of Editing And Proofing. They have a vetted list of professionals that can help you out.
• Kevin Anderson & Associates. This is a crack-squad of best-selling authors and editors that can help whip your manuscript into shape in no time. And for those of you who have subscribed to our Audiobooks For Self Publishers Free Resources Membership Site (yes it’s a mouthful, but I’d like to think it does what it says on the tin), the good people of  Kevin Anderson & Associates have popped a little members discount in there for you. Log back in here, or subscribe here.