Should you have proofreaders for your work? Absolutely!
Despite running my manuscript through tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid, and having it scrutinized by beta readers and a paid copy editor, some errors still managed to slip through. It’s like mopping up bugs in the kitchen—just when you think you've got them all, another line marches in. Seriously, how come nobody (except two proofreaders) noticed that a character in my novel was titling her head? (And not once but twice!)
Proofreaders are important. But when to get them depends on the author's publishing route. Traditional authors need their manuscripts polished before publication since they can't make updates post-release. Self-published authors, however, have more flexibility. They can update their eBooks and hardcovers anytime, allowing for some strategic advantages:
- Get a Faster Release: Being able to publish a book without having to finish the proofreading stage can significantly speed things up. I know this quite well. After working on a book for four years, you just want to see it out there in people's hands without having to wait another two months for proofreaders to finish their job. The delay can be excruciating.
- Turning Early Readers into Proofreaders: Early buyers of a self-published book can provide invaluable feedback. In their author’s note, a writer can ask readers to report any issues they find. If the book is any good, some readers will be glad to help make it perfect. The most honest feedback often comes from readers who'd never heard of the author.
- Creating an Exclusive Edition: The initial version of the book, pre-proofreading, may become a unique collector's item. For instance, those who buy the hardcover version of Glitches of Gods before August 1 will still be in the possession of the exclusive May 2024 version. After August 1, only the updated July 2024 version will be available, which has the embarrassing errors fixed (I hope). If I ever become famous, that May 2024 edition could fetch a nice price on eBay.
Granted, I strongly suggest only publishing a book when it's already great. Glitches of Gods (with the embarrassing mistakes) has collected solid five-star reviews both on Amazon and Goodreads. Clearly, my current readers didn't notice the few errors (or they forgave me for them). And those who get their hardcover copy now might enjoy trying to find the painful errors I am happy to get rid of in the upcoming release. Good luck with the bug hunting!
So yes, as an author, you should enlist proofreaders. And, if possible, use your self-publishing flexibility to your advantage.
Jurgen
P.S. A big thanks to my proofreaders Biunca Hooper, Hadya Eisfeld, Jens Woinowski, Marco Heimeshoff, Stephan Carstens, Vivek Ganesan, and Wouter Lagerweij. You are awesome.
