Proofreading

My final task as publication day nears is to proofread a copy to ensure that I'm happy with the content and spot, if I can, any stray typos. Thankfully, professional proofreaders are also given the task so I know there's a safety net approach.

This stage is one of my favourites, along with the initial draft one writing, as I get to sit back and enjoy the book as a complete work. I start at page one and read aloud to the dog, despite him being deaf, making my way to page ... in this case page 344!

I had the idea for this book 1st December 2022. I started to write draft one as an experimental idea from 23rd February 2023 and it'll be published 15th August 2024. As you can see this particular book has been with me for a fair while now. Admittedly, the plot points and actual content have been with me for much longer, with some scenes being squirrelled away in my head for years! So it goes without saying, to actually sit with a proof copy and read the story to myself feels like a treat. More so when I reflect on the health issues I encountered during those dates, so this book contains a wealth of memories for me relating to those times.

The process of writing, editing, structural edits, copy edits - round after round of additions and tweaks, and this book had an additional set of edits compared to my other novels, over time I always lose a liking for the actual story. Each time I read a manuscript the jokes seem less funny, the characters lose their lustre, the scenes become too familiar to the point that during structural edits I usually dislike my own work immensely. The copy edits help revive a little of my enthusiasm. But it's the final proofread that reignites my spark for a book.

I'm half way through proofreading my copy and the magic has kicked in. I'm falling back in love with my chapter of five authors, smiling at their quirky manners, their in-jokes, their shared knowledge and realising just how much detail I've gathered about the publishing industry and writing process. I'm sure I've written the nearest thing I ever will to a 'how-to-write-a-book' book given the various stages posed by each author. I may have given an insight into the world of author life too as I have touched on various niggles and areas of issue that occur on a daily basis which readers might never have thought about.

All in all, I'm loving my latest book. I remember sitting at home, wrapped in blankets, in my grandmother's armchair recovering from poor health and a major operation while writing this book. There wasn't much I could do during that time other than write, so I did. They say books provide you with a safe space when there is nowhere else to go. Sometimes writing does exactly the same thing! In my case, in the company of five imaginary authors.

UPDATE: My proofreading was completed on Thursday, 29th May. This is the final stage for this book - I kissed it goodbye and sent her into the world!

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