Proofreading - Tumblr Posts

But she @mllekurtz loves me still...

Editing  & Proofreading Cheat Sheet

– A lot of questions I receive revolve around editing and proofreading, so I decided to make an extensive guide to editing your own writing. I collaborated with some amazing friends on this post so this is dedicated to them as well as all of you. I hope you find it useful. Enjoy!

Know The Difference: Editing vs. Proofreading

Editing is about the content, proofreading is about the technical detail and accuracy. Once you know the difference and you separate the two into different tasks, going through and actually doing it will seem less daunting. Deciding which to tacking first depends on what you’re like when you edit, but if you struggling with focusing on actually improving the content because you get distracted by grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, then proofreading first may be a good idea. 

Be Intentional With Your Vocabulary

Avoid adverbs

Be frugal with unique adjectives

Only use dialogue tags when absolutely necessary

Be mindful of overused words

Take the time to find the right words

The words you choose can make all the difference so pay special attention to them.

Just Keep Snipping

A basic rule to editing that people often forget it, if it doesn’t serve a purpose, you should cut it out. A short book that is amazing all the way through is better than a long book that is redundant. Don’t worry about leaving your readers in the dark or not having enough content. As you edit, you’ll find ways and places in which to input more information.

Flow & Rhythm

This is the part where you make sure the writing itself sounds how you want it to. It’s important to read your writing aloud during this stage. Some things to pay attention to regarding flow and rhythm:

sentence length/variation

sentence structure

syllables and how they fit together

how your writing sounds out loud

Eloquence

Say it once and say it clearly. Redundancy bores readers so quickly, so when putting information forward, be clear, concise, and don’t add fluff. You don’t need to write a whole paragraph about how a character feels in a situation. It’s important to give the reader just enough to read between the lines.

Grammar

Common Grammar Mistakes To Look For

Subject-verb agreement errors

Sentence Fragments

Missing Comma After Introductory Element

Misusing The Apostrophe With “Its”

No Comma In A Compound Sentence

Misplaced Or Dangling Modifier

Vague Pronoun Reference

Wrong Word Usage

Run-On Sentence

Superfluous Commas

Lack Of Parallel Structure

Sentence Sprawl

Comma Splice

Colon Mistakes

Split Infinitives

List from here x {Explains these further and more in depth}

Improper Use of Phrases

“could have” not “could of”

“My friends and I” not “me and my friends” {If you take away “my friends” or “I”, or one of the nouns in a sentence in general, the sentence should still make sense}

“I couldn’t care less” not “I could care less”. This should be a no-brainer.

etc.. I could go on.

Familiarize yourself with these common mistakes and avoid making them at all costs. It’s also helpful to have someone read over it and let you know when they find issues with phrases you used. Please be attentive to these mistakes because making them can destroy your credibility as a writer.

Utilize The Senses

If you’re describing something in your writing, you should be slipping in words and little details that appeal to the reader’s senses, When editing, look for opportunities to slip in how a place smells, how a food tastes, how something feels to the touch, etc. It’s unbelievable how much this enhances your story.

Punctuation & Format

Punctuation Rules In English

the period (or full stop in British English)

the comma

the exclamation mark

the question mark

the colon

the semicolon

the quotation mark

the apostrophe

the hyphen and the dash

parentheses and brackets

Source x

When proofreading and marking up your manuscript, it can save a lot of time and energy if you use marks instead of actually write out everything, so here is a little chart I found that may be useful to you:

Other Things To Look Out For

Make sure you know who is talking

Keep tense consistent

Vary the tone from scene to scene

Run-on sentences

Inconsistencies in story details

Plot holes

Causes and effects of events are explained

Facts and technical details {Make sure you’ve researched them well}

Deviations from established background (know your story really really well and make sure your reader does too)

General Tips

Go in assuming that your work is full of errors. Maybe it’s not, but it’s better to be prepared for the worst and solve the issues now rather than when it’s too late

DO NOT BE SENTIMENTAL. Yes, easier said than done, but it’s possible. 

Make the text less recognizable to yourself in order to catch details you may not otherwise.

Print out your manuscript and physically write out the changes.

Read your writing out loud. Sometimes writing looks like it makes sense, but in reality sounds wrong. 

Do it in short periods over time so that you don’t inevitably get lazy with paying attention to little details

Keep in mind that editing usually takes longer than actually writing the draft because it is less fluid and requires more thought and problem solving.

Don’t rely on spelling and/or grammar checking software; they’re not always correct and can easily misinterpret what you’re trying to get across. 

Check for a single error at a time. It may be time consuming and tedious but it’s more effective than the alternative.

Give yourself time and read slowly through it multiple times

Split up large chunks of text to make it easier to handle. Don’t go through your whole manuscript page by page as if you were just reading it as a book. Go chapter by chapter or scene by scene or even sentence by sentence.

If something seems off, investigate it. Don’t take a chance and leave it be. If you’re stumped, highlight it and have someone else look over it.

Have a strategy. Maybe not at first, especially if you don’t extensively edit your work regularly, but with time you’ll find what works for you and what doesn’t. Create your own system and use it to save yourself some time and confusion.

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Every time I make a post, before I hit the "post" button I'll proofread it 7 times and see nothing wrong. Then immediately after posting I'll notice at least 3 mistakes. I'll edit to fix those, but noooo that's not enough. Instead, each time someone reblogs it I'll be forced to notice a NEW minor error. I have been cursed by the blogging gods. I've edited errors out of my last long post on FOUR separate occasions after getting a notification for a like or a reblog. My eyes are simply unable to notice the mistakes of their own creation until I am forced to face the fact that other people actually read the words I type. thank god there's no edit history

(Free Palestine anon)

Ok so...Idk if you're jewish and/or have much knowledge about this kind of prejudice, but do you have advice for how to avoid (or at least to pay attention) in case a certain post has some antisemetic misinformation?

(If you didn't understand, I could try to make it clear)

If you're asking how to avoid misinformation in posts, the answer is the same as with any validity verification of information:

Check who is posting it. Do they post a lot of contradictory information? Do they claim to be a certain ethnicity, religion, race, ect? Do they speak in certain ways? Do they post or reblog a lot of the same content or information? Are they politically bias? (E.g; they might claim to be British but is the way they speak distinctly Irish or American?)

Research the information given in the post for yourself. Make sure to look at a variety of sources, not just one. Is there a lot of people referencing this information? Has anyone called this information false on other platforms? Can you find any evidence to support the information given? Are there news articles, broadcasts, ect?

If you like to have breaks from subjects of an upsetting nature but still want to remain informed, consider creating a second account where you can follow a multitude of people who's primary focus is what you want to be informed about. This way you can use that blog to fact check, investigate, follow people, source and so forth while not having the entirety of your dashboard on your "main" account flooded constantly with content you may not be in the mindset to see.

Reading Fic Pre-Posting: No typos whatsoever. Reads well. Flows beautifully. I have definitely found all possible spelling and grammar errors.

Reading Fic After Posting: A typo every three lines. Ten grammatical errors. Switches tense twice. POV changes for no discernible reason. Uses the word “look” five times in one sentence.

proofreading my own writing like wow.  u sure do love those commas, buddy.  what if u tried to cool it with all those commas, pal.  all those run-ons, friend.  why don’t you tone it down, my guy

Looking for a beta reader?

Hey Guys! If any of you are looking for a beta reader for proofreading your fics and correcting some grammar here there, I'll be happy to do so! I have done this before (not online tho) and there will be no commissions or payment. Just message me if you're interested and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

Also it doesn't have to for only BTS fanfics or only for Tumblr :)

Getting to the point that you're too lazy to proofread and edit is both a depressing but rewarding experience.

Editing/Writing Commissions are OPEN! (Art trades, too!)

So, this is something that I've been meaning to try for a while now, but honestly I've been a little self-conscious about my own qualifications and to be frank I'm not sure there's a market for the sorts of services I could offer. However, I have some truly stupendous friends who have offered a lot of encouragement, so I decided I would at least try my hand! As hundreds of doomed movie and video game characters have said, "What's the worst that could happen?" So what I'm proposing here is opening commissions! I have several types of work I would be willing to undertake. The details can be found below. These will all be on a name your price / negotiable price basis! That's right, you tell me what you think is fair for the project your considering! Keep in mind, though, that this does not necessarily mean I will accept the price you quote me. $5 or $10 to edit a 20 page manuscript is not really a fair price. I am a college student with multiple campus jobs, so I have to put a value on my own time. However, if you are, like me, really strapped for cash, I'm sure we can work something out! We can always set up a payment plan, or substitute payments for art trades, etc! I really do want to help you out! Editing Commissions I've always had a special passion for proofreading and editing, and I would love to help some aspiring authors, self-conscious fanfiction writers, or struggling college students work on their own writing,

My editing can focus on:

Grammar, spelling, mechanics, etc.

Diction, sentence structure, flow

Overall coherence, plot line, dialogue, formatting, and much much more!

Feel free to let me know if there is one of these that you are particularly interested in, or if you need help in all of them. How comprehensive I get may depend on the price of the commission (if I get bogged down, which I doubt I will). Especially when it comes to grammar, I can work with any level of depth. In the past some people have only wanted me to fix errors (though I will always highlight where something has been changes) while others have wanted a detailed explanation of what I think should be changed and why. I can work with just about anything! For these commissions I will take on any type of work! Essays? Novel-in-the-making? Short fics? Anything! I will also take on long-term assignments, if you're looking for someone who will stick with you through the process of writing a longer piece. Credentials

I have accepted editing commissions before on other websites, and past clients have seemed happy with my services. (I even got tipped!)

I worked as an English writing tutor for a year while I was abroad in Japan, helping Japanese students with widely varying levels of fluency with school- and work- related assignments. (If you happen to be a non-native English speaker, please don't be afraid to contact me! I love working with language-learners!)

I tutor through my university.

I have often done work for family and friends on both schoolwork, work-related papers, and personal stories. I have also helped my dyslexic younger brother to hone his writing abilities.

I should be clear that I do NOT have an English degree, just a passion for writing and grammar. I HAVE taken plenty of Advanced Placement English courses in high school and college. If you have a question I can't answer, I have resources readily available to me, just in case!

Don't use the stories I have posted on this website for indication of my editing ability! I have a really terrible habit of not editing my own work or, if I do, half-assing it. Your commission will receive MUCH more time and care than my own works, rest assured!

Writing Commissions I have a feeling that these will be in lower demand, but I thought I would include them anyway! I will, however, impose a caveat that will alienate a lot of potential buyers. I will not write explicit sexual scenes except maybe for extremely persuasive amounts of money and a confidentiality agreement. I am truly sorry, but it's not something that I feel comfortable doing at this time. As one of my life goals is to teach English in a foreign country for several years, nsfw writing is not something that I need turning up during a job interview. Besides, you probably don't want to read that from me anyways. Other things I will not do include works that endorse discrimination, hatred, etc. Also please note that, if your request does not fall under the above but really give me the heebie-jeebies, I reserve the right to refuse your commission. What I will do?

Stories of any length!

Stories featuring your original characters! (If you're one of the weirdos who actually follows this blog you can even request cameos, etc. from some of my characters).

Romance! Action! Crime! Any genre, really!

Insert anything else you can think of here!

If you contact me about a fic commission please be sure to specify what it is you would like me to do and how long you would like the fic to be. Length may depend on compensation! Your fic may end up slightly longer or slightly shorter than you request, because stories have a nasty habit of not fitting well into page boundaries. You may request revisions within reason.

I may ask to display the work I have done from you on my tumblr account! If this makes you uncomfortable you can certainly refuse. However, please do not try to pass my work off as your own. If you would like to share it on your own site or tumblr please credit/link to me! Other? Something else writer-ly or creative you would like done? Just ask! I'm very flexible! I am more than happy to produce other forms of writing (poems or songs, for example). I am also happy to work as a consultant, co-writer, or idea-generator on any projects! I am also happy to create characters for your use, as long as you credit me! If you have any questions or prospective job offers please ask!

All commissions will be payed through paypal!

Trades Wanting a commission, but short on monetary funds? No problem! I happily endorse the barter system! I will happily trade my services for art, crafts, etc. I might consider fic trades, but as I don't have any ideas in mind for a fic I would want written, we may have to talk it out. Please feel free to ask, though! A great deal of the money that I make through these commissions goes back into the artistic community! When I have the extra money I love to commission artists and craftspeople! So if you'd like to cut out the middle man we can most definitely work out an arrangement. I can even provide a list of pieces I might be looking for, if anyone is interested.

Contact

You can always contact me through this tumblr account! A more convenient way of contact might be my recreational email:  [email protected]  Don't judge me, okay. I made that account in middle school. So, if anyone is still with me all the way down here, thank you for reading! You are a shining beacon of light in my dull, dull life! I hope to hear from some of you lovely folks soon!

looking at babbel... and not making it to the 2nd question because there's already a misspelling

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that one of my IRL friends has a Tumblr account where she does free proofreading! She hasn’t gotten any requests yet, so I thought I’d advertise her here. If you aren’t interested in having a proofreader, feel free to keep scrolling.

If you’re still here, awesome! Like I said, my friend is doing free proofreading, on pretty much everything: fanfics, hcs, drabbles, oneshots, vents…you name it, she’ll (probably, provided it follows their rules) do it. She’s a native English speaker, and she’s really good at what she does. I’ve had her proofread my writings (not for Tumblr, for other things) for a while now, and she’s great at it. Just DM her and she’ll have you send your work to her email (or to her Tumblr inbox, I’m not exactly sure how she plans on doing it lol), she’ll proofread it and then send it right back. She’s 100% legit, I can promise you that. So, whether you aren’t a native Enlish speaker, don’t have the time to do it yourself, or just don’t really want to proofread your own stuff, you can message her and she’ll do it for you!

Her Tumblr is @cricketproofreads; she has her rules posted in her blog!

(Also, if she proofreads your work, please mention her and/or use her tag “#[cricket certified]” to let more people know about her!)

:'( Proofreading the shit out of it, but missing, like, a third of everything wrong: because I've read it over and over so many times, that I can't understand words anymore

No proofreading we die like men

it’s funny because I’m the proofreader

a snippet from issue 9 of the blugg newspaper

Proof reading smut is either the worst or best experience a writer can have.