In today’s Life Writers vlog, I talk about the often-overlooked final step in the writing process: proofreading.
Most people think editing/revising and proofreading are the same, but I see them as distinct.
Editing examines the big picture—sentences, paragraphs, context, dialogue, figurative language, sensual detail, showing not telling, and such. Proofreading zooms in on each word.
In this vlog, I share tips from Bite #97 of Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time, such as waiting a day or two after editing before proofreading, reading aloud, printing your text in a large and different font or color, and even reading backward. These tricks help spot errors our brains usually skip over.
Proofreading takes time, but it’s worth it. It can be the difference between a polished piece and one that feels unfinished.
So, how do you proofread your stories? Do you or have you tried any of the practices mentioned earlier? Do you have any tips or tricks for proofreading other than those in Eating an Elephant? If so, please share them with us in the comments section below. What you do may be exactly what we need.
For a laugh, check out the blooper of the week.
But regardless of how you proofread your text, or not, always remember, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
Until next time, happy writing, everybody!
I use the read-aloud feature for the same reasons Dave mentioned: for flow and sound, and to catch repetition. I have not set proofreading aside as the final step, but your argument makes excellent sense. I tend to proofread as I draft, especially when I’m on the computer rather than writing longhand. If I catch a misspelling, I can’t just leave it there, I have to go back and correct it. I hate seeing typos in published works, and it seems these days there are more and more of them. On another subject, I signed up for 750 Words and… Read more »
Patricia, your vlog is the best feature of the Life Writers for me. I look forward to it every week. As for proofreading, I am doing all of the things you recommended in this video with an exception of reading backwards. But this could be easily fixed since right to left reading is in my blood. That is how the Jews read the Hebrew text. Laugh out loud.
I use the read aloud a lot, but not just for proofreading. I also use it for flow, for the sound of the text as if it were a song melody.
I will try reading backwards and think I’ll add their, they’re, and there to my editing checklist along with its, and it’s.