*Insert extremely catchy and non-clinche introduction here*

So what are the 2 types of proofreaders? Why on earth do we, the writers, need them? Here’s the information you need to know (from my personal experience). If you have any additional information, please feel free to leave a few comments below! 😉

• FIRST TYPE: If they are in the “good with grammar” category of your proofreaders, make sure to emphasize looking out for any grammatical errors. After writing the book, then revising it a hundred times before handing it over to your proofreaders, we as writers tend to miss (sometimes obvious) grammar mistakes. Tell these proofreaders that their eyes are important filters and you’ll buy them a really nice car of their personal choice when you become a multimillionaire out of all the books you sold.
• SECOND TYPE: If any of your proofreaders fall into the “not so grammarly tuned but knows what makes a good story” category, then be sure to tell them what to look out for. Is the story consistent throughout? Does it feel like there is anything missing, like a scene or type of character? Should a scene (or entire sections of the book) be rewritten for better understanding? These proofreaders are focusing on the context of your book and ignoring most of the grammar problems.

Both types of proofreaders should be warned to alert you if there are any questions that the book doesn’t answer. Maybe there’s something in your timeline that you didn’t explain well enough and hadn’t noticed because, I mean, YOU know. But your readers won’t. (That’s why we have our proofreaders). There are times, though, when your proofreaders will alert you to “cliff hangers” or “foreshadowings” that you actually did on purpose because you plan on answering those questions in the next book. It’s okay to tell them you plan on answering that in the next book, but if they insist it isn’t good for the book (and especially if several of your proofreaders agree), then perhaps you should reconsider that foreshadowing.

What else is there to say? Besides, we love our proofreaders, of course! Thank you, dearest proofreaders (you know who you are), for pointing out our mistakes. We couldn’t be more grateful.

Send this to a proofreader you love!