When you hire a professional writer, whether a ghostwriter, rewriter, or editor to bring your children’s book manuscript to life, you want the finished work to be as polished as possible. You expect professional writing, correct grammar, clear sentences, and a story that flows smoothly.
But there’s one final step you shouldn’t overlook: independent proofreading to ensure your manuscript is error-free.
Wondering why the professional writer you hired doesn’t do a final proofread?
Well, it’s because of a cognitive phenomenon that causes even experienced writers and editors to miss errors in a manuscript they’ve worked on extensively. It’s called writer blindness.
This isn’t to say all professional writers skip final proofreading, but most would rather pass it along for quality assurance.
Here are 4 reasons why having a professional proofread your manuscript matters.
1. WE READ WHAT WE INTENDED TO WRITE
Have you ever reread something you’ve written and discovered that you’d overlooked a missing word or a simple typo? You may have read a sentence 20 or 30 times before noticing that missing word.
Or maybe you don’t notice it until someone points it out.
This happens because our brains don’t always process every word or dialogue tag exactly as it appears on the page. Instead, we often read what we expect to see.
When a ghostwriter creates a story, a rewriter revises an existing manuscript, or an editor works through multiple rounds of changes, that familiarity becomes strong. The professional knows what the sentence is supposed to say and may unconsciously read the intended wording rather than notice a small error.
In a Wired.com article, Tom Stafford, Lecturer in Psychology and Cognitive Science in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield, UK, explains why this happens. “When we’re proofreading our own work, we know the meaning we want to convey. Because we expect that meaning to be there, it’s easier for us to miss when parts (or all) of it are absent. The reason we don’t see our own typos is because what we see on the screen is competing with the version that exists in our heads.” (1)
Even reading the manuscript aloud or reviewing it 50 times doesn’t guarantee you’ll catch every mistake.
And it can happen to anyone, even publishing companies.
Years ago, I reviewed children’s books from Sylvan Dell Publishing (now Arbordale Publishing) that were already published. One picture book about math had a page in the back with an illustration showing simple addition equations, like 3+2=5. I found one equation with the wrong answer.
I contacted the person I dealt with and let her know. I’m sure there was an uproar at the publishing house.
2. WRITING, EDITING, AND PROOFREADING ARE DIFFERENT TASKS AND SKILLS
According to writer, trainer, Lorraine Forrest-Turner “There’s a big difference between drafting and editing, and between editing and proofreading. But too many writers try to do all three at the same time. Proofreading is purely objective. It’s either right or it isn’t. Any subjective changes should be made at the drafting or editing stage.” (2)
Ghostwriting involves creating a manuscript based on a client’s ideas, goals, or story concept.
Rewriting focuses on improving an existing manuscript, which may involve strengthening the plot, refining characters, improving sentence structure, or correcting grammatical and stylistic problems.
Editing can involve anything from developmental work on story structure and character development to line editing and copyediting for clarity, consistency, grammar, and usage.
Proofreading is purely objective. It’s right or wrong; there’s no in-between. It should be the final quality-control stage. It focuses on catching remaining typographical errors, missing or repeated words, punctuation mistakes, spelling errors, and inconsistencies that may have slipped through earlier revisions.
When a manuscript has undergone extensive writing or editing, another professional can approach it without the same level of familiarity.
3. CHILDREN’S BOOKS NEED ATTENTION TO DETAIL
When writing for children, a small error can interrupt the reading experience. A missing word can cause confusion. An incorrect character name can cause a pause and distract readers.
In a picture book, even a small inconsistency between the text and illustrations can raise questions for young readers.
Children’s authors work hard to create stories that engage their audiences. A final proofreading pass helps ensure that avoidable errors don’t distract from the story.
This is particularly important when preparing a manuscript for publication, whether you’re self-publishing or submitting your work to a publisher.
You want your manuscript to be polished before publishing.
4. MAKE INDEPENDENT PROOFREADING YOUR FINAL STEP
Once the writing and editing are complete, hire a professional proofreader who hasn’t been involved in earlier stages of your manuscript.
This doesn’t mean your ghostwriter, rewriter, or editor hasn’t done a thorough job. It simply means that familiarity with a manuscript can make certain errors difficult to spot.
I proofread my clients’ work at least four times, but I can still miss things. I also use editing tools, but they can miss things, too.
Think of independent proofreading as an additional layer of quality control. It gives your manuscript another careful review before it reaches readers.
SUMMING IT UP
Creating a strong children’s book takes time, skill, and attention to detail. Independent proofreading is an important final step.
Before you publish your book or submit it for consideration, have a qualified proofreader review the finished manuscript. That extra step can help you catch lingering errors and present your story as professionally as possible.
Your story deserves to shine. Make sure the final details receive the attention they deserve.
References:
(1) Why It’s So Hard to Catch Your Own Typos
(2) Proofreading and Editing
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, book doctor, editor, and self-publishing consultant. I help turn your idea, outline, or manuscript into a book you’ll be proud to call your own—and provide hands-on guidance through every step of the self-publishing process.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK
A 200+ page book that will help you write your own children’s book.
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AND CHAPTER BOOK COACHING
4- to 12-week programs
WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDANCE & SERVICES
Guidance and more for children’s authors (specializing in picture books and chapter books)
You can contact me at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com.
