Do not want to publish an author's book with many typos
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52219)
Staten Island, New York
May 13, 2019 1:16pm CST
I am publishing a book for someone and it clearly needs proofing as I've spotted typos and other errors. I offered to do it (at $2/page, which seems to be below average) but the person doesn't wanna spend the amount of money I charge for it. This leaves me a bit torn.
I could offer to do it at a lower rate, however, proofing takes a lot of time and I don't feel that I should do it for less. I can just tell her I will publish the book as is but I do not want to publish a book if it has a lot of mistakes because it's not good for the author or for me for that matter.
Also, if I tell her I will not publish the book as is I lose out on money that I need. I did ask her if there is someone she knows that would be willing to proof the manuscript for her for free. But if she does find someone that would be willing to do this, how do I know they will be able to spot and correct all the errors. I don't expect proofing perfection as even popular books mistakes here and there but mistakes should be few.
4 people like this
5 responses
@LindaOHio (222898)
• United States
13 May 19
I couldn't in good faith publish it with that many errors.
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
13 May 19
If I wouldn't want to publish my own book if it had a lot of mistakes, I surely do not want to publish someone else's book, even if they pay me to publish it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222898)
• United States
13 May 19
@lovebuglena I agree totally. I would rather pass on it even if I did need the money.
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
13 May 19
@LindaOHio Maybe the author will find someone to proof the book for her as her proofing proved unsuccessful. But the only person to probably do it would be a family member. No one else will do it for free because it takes a lot of time to do.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112933)
• United States
16 May 19
At the end of the day this author is taking a SERIOUS risk NOT paying your fee. You get what you pay for and if this author publishes a book with umpteen typos, even if the underlying work is good, they will never sell another book again. I do question, however, if the author has made so many errors, is the book even technically publishable? This is one of the problems I have with self publishing. A LOT of stuff is going out there that does not deserve to see publication. Most successful writers have at least a basic grasp of spelling and grammar.
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
16 May 19
I've published a novel for her before and it was good. But if memory serves me right I proofed it for her and free of charge because she is a friend. I will not do that anymore. Not even for a friend as it's very time consuming. Errors are not necessarily grammar related. I've noticed spacing errors for example that need to be fixed but there were grammar related ones too. And I noticed them without actually proofing. Just things I spotted while formatting the manuscript. Unless you do not realize you have a lot of errors (regardless of what they are) you should not publish a book with many of them. That goes against you.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112933)
• United States
17 May 19
@lovebuglena Yeah. Agreed. And yes, there is a fine line between doing a favor and making a living. Worst case scenario I would say, "If you want me to do this, I want a portion of your proceeds in lieu of a direct payment."
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
13 May 19
The going rate seems to be $15 - $20 per 1000 words. $2 a page would be very much under that . Explain that, as a publisher, you have to have certain standards and that her manuscript doesn't meet them as it stands and, if she wants her book published by you, you will have to charge her for proofreading and correction.
I hope that you are publishing because you like the books you publish (and think either that they should be published and that they have, at least, a reasonable chance of selling because people have (or will) come to respect your image. Of course, if you're only in it for the money (and are aware that it's the title, the blurb and the reviews which sell a book), then it doesn't matter, does it, because all of those can be easily done!
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
16 May 19
@lovebuglena I suspected that she was a friend and therefore the situation was 'delicate', shall we say. Good luck with deciding how to proceed!
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
16 May 19
The author is a friend. I've published a book for her before and she asked me to publish this one. I found online that the average proofing rate is $3/page. That is the rate I have up on my website for novels. I realize now that I quoted her incorrectly when I said $2/page. It doesn't matter though because she would have to pay me about $200 for proofing, which she is not willing to spend.
One of the reasons for wanting to publish the book for her is of course earning some money. But I also want to help her out because she cannot do it herself. And if she were to use someone else it would cost her much more than what I am charging her.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
14 May 19
Some time ago I read a novel. There were so many errors and typos. This affects the impression of the book. If it had been a few mistakes it wouldn't have been a big problem, but there were so many. If I were the author I would hate to publish a book that looks that way.
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
16 May 19
I read many books that had mistakes in them. A few here and there is okay but many is definitely not. Lessens the quality of the book I think.
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
14 May 19
if their work has that many errors they need to at least put it through a basic spelling / grammer check and if they are not willing to pay what you need to take on their editing and support you should reject them as a client
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
16 May 19
@lovebuglena nice that you were able to help for free in her early days but as such proofing is work expecting payment for it is not unreasonable for you at all
@lovebuglena (52219)
• Staten Island, New York
16 May 19
She proofed her book on her own more than once. I asked her if she knows anyone that would be willing to do it free of charge. I doubt anyone would do that as it's very time consuming. The first book I did for this author I think I didn't charge her for proofing at all. Not doing that anymore, not even if I am publishing for a friend and this person is a friend.
