My proofreading service is a final once-over to identify any issues with a manuscript's spelling, grammar, or syntax.
I can't tell you how many authors believe they have proofed their book to perfection, only to find, upon publication, that a series of small issues have 'slipped through the cracks'.
Yes, you can have your friends proof your book (and, indeed, this is a good way of gaining advance insights on what works and what doesn't); but for expert polish, you really need a thorough, professional proof of your writing before it goes to press.
I've been editing manuscripts for over thirty years, so have honed these skills to a fine art.
I only accept a few books for editing services at a time, so please email first for availability and a price quote:
donovan@sonic.net
Please include your book's page count, subject, and turnaround requirements in your request.
Feedback for My Editing Work:
Ramakrishna Michaels, author, Growing Old With Grace: "You did such a great job! I feel very confident about putting Growing Old With Grace out there now. (I wish I had had you do this before the book was submitted to reviewers. I feel as though I may have gotten a starred review from Kirkus had the book read this well.) "
John Turnbull, author, The Historical Jesus: "Dear Diane, You have taught me why an author should not evaluate his or her own work. Your review of my 155,000 word transcript dealing with a very complex subject was so accurate it brought tears to my eyes; your critique in which you accurately pointed out its strengths and weaknesses, together with proposals that would correct the deficiency, was invaluable; as was your editing which greatly improved its sentence structure and made it so much easier for laypersons to understand. You were a guiding light in a sea of darkness and I cannot thank you enough for what you did."
Vivek Sardana (author of Straight From the Gut): "I had a wonderful experience working with Diane Donovan on my maiden book project related to my personal memoirs. With years of experience, her honest feedback and proposed suggestions were both exceptionally helpful and extremely insightful. From grammar and writing style to overall plot and story progression, she helped convert an amateur piece into a professional product. I will certainly seek her help in my future writing projects and would highly recommend her services to other aspiring writers. A thorough professional with the highest standards for timeliness and quality, it was a real pleasure to work with Diane."
Andrew Armacost (author of Poor Man's Guide): "Diane proved a highly value-added component of my overall writing process, helping to question my assumptions, smooth over bumps in my story arc, and identify imperfections in my prose on a line-by-line basis. Taking this external objective step in the process was the difference between presenting a project that I was passionate about, and presenting a PROFESSIONAL project that I felt passionate about."