Who can I get to proof read my book without it been stolen?

Answer 1

First of all, do NOT get your book copyrighted if you intend to try to publish it !! Publishers and agents consider it unprofessional and amateur to copyright. If you get a contract, the publisher will take care of that in the contract.

Secondly the only true answer to that question is a professional editor. Your book needs to be more than just proofread. It needs to be edited. Editing is so much more than just spell checking. An editor knows how to craft a book to make it marketable. They will correct your spelling and punctuation, your verb tenses and sentence structure and so on. In addition, they will make margin notes for you - telling you where to consider cutting, where you need to add more detail, character study suggestions etc.

As a first time author, that editor can make the difference between your book selling and ending up in an endless series of slush piles. They are quite literally "book doctors" and are invaluable to an author. Unfortunately, most of the novices here underestimate the need for editing and believe they have written the next great American novel all by themselves. Professional authors depend on their authors like a third hand. NO author would tell you to get by without one. Your and your best friend are not editors - they are also not unbiased concerning your work. Your editor is. Pax - C

Answer 2

A decent professional editor/proofreader won't steal your book; there are laws against plagiarism that protect you; and you can if you wish write a contract for them with a clause that clarifies that it is your material. To copyright it, you need to send a letter to yourself asserting your right to be identified as the author with sole rights.

I've proofed and edited plenty of wonderful books and never has an author expressed any concern about this. How is there a profession of proofreading/editing if this were a significant danger? I have my own ideas, and am happy to support others in realising theirs as effectively as possible.

I would not recommend doing your own. It's a special skill and if you missed an error or stylistic gaffe while writing you are reasonably likely to miss it again. Anyone you ask needs to be 100% on spelling, grammar, and consistency of style. Damn good general knowledge does no harm either. For US English, 'The Chicago Manual of Style' is 'the bible of the publishing and research community'. See http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
For Brits, it's 'The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors' and 'Copy-editing' by Judith Butcher.
If you are serious, get it done properly for your own sake!

Answer 3

Why not just get a friend to read it.. You're getting it proof read and there's no risk of it being stolen..

Answer 4

If you trust family members you might try them.

If they are not up to your standards for trustworthiness you can do it yourself. If you are concerned about spelling and obvious errors like that you can read one line at a time starting from the bottom of each page. That technique keeps you from just slipping through without concentrating.

Answer 5

u may have to do it urself. some of the best books on proofreading are strunk and white's "the elements of style", and terrance denman's "how not to write".

Answer 6

Either get it copyrighted first to prevent that, or use a trusted family member or friend.

Answer 7

ur mama lol no offence