My Proofreading Process: From Manuscript to Polished Perfection

Proofreading is more than just catching typos. It’s about refining your story without dulling its shine—correcting technical errors while letting your voice and style stay front and centre.

If you’re wondering what happens after you hit “send” on your manuscript, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I take your book from rough to refined.

📨  Step 1: Manuscript Submission & Style Preferences

Once you’ve contacted me and we’ve agreed on a timeframe and rate, I’ll ask you to send through your full manuscript (usually in Word .docx format).

At this stage, I’ll also check in on:

• Your preferred English variant (Australian, British, or American)

• Any specific stylistic quirks or preferences you want me to preserve

• The tone or voice you’re aiming for (especially if it’s experimental or non-traditional)

This helps me tailor my approach to suit your story and writing style.

🔍  Step 2: The Proofread Begins

Now the magic happens. I read through your manuscript carefully—usually more than once—while checking for:

• Spelling errors

• Punctuation mistakes

• Incorrect word usage

• Basic grammar issues

• Formatting inconsistencies

• Awkward or unclear phrasing (when it disrupts flow or comprehension)

• Consistency in character names, place names, capitalisation, etc.

If you’ve mixed up your mums and moms, or accidentally switched from colour to color halfway through—I’ll catch that.

If a sentence fragment adds drama? I’ll leave it. If it muddies the meaning? I’ll flag it.

💬  Step 3: Comments Where Needed (But Never Overdone)

I’ll only leave comments where something is:

• Unclear or potentially confusing to the reader

• A style choice that breaks from standard convention (so you can confirm if it’s intentional)

• Inconsistent with the rest of the manuscript (e.g. a character’s name suddenly changes)

You’re always in control. My notes are gentle suggestions, not hard rules.

🧼  Step 4: Final Tidy + Quality Check

After the initial pass, I go through again with fresh eyes to check:

• That everything is consistent

• That I haven’t missed anything subtle

• That your voice still rings true

This is where your manuscript goes from “almost there” to polished perfection.

🗂️  Step 5: Delivery + Your Turn

You’ll receive your manuscript with:

• Tracked changes so you can review every edit

• Comments for anything I’d like you to double-check

• A version with all changes accepted (if requested), so you can see the clean result

After that, you’re free to ask questions or request clarification. I want you to feel confident in the final product.

🤓  A Final Word

I read a lot of fiction—usually a book a day—so I see a wide range of writing styles, voices, and creative choices. That makes me incredibly mindful of preserving what makes your story unique.

My goal? To make your writing the best version of itself—not to make it sound like someone else wrote it.

📬 Ready to get your manuscript polished, proofed, and ready for readers?

Contact me or request a quote and let’s bring your words to life—flawlessly.