by Amy Collins
Top Ten Reasons Why Your English Teacher-Mother-Neighbor-Friend-Church Secretary Cannot Edit or Proof Your Book
An avid reader with a red pen is not a good substitute for an editor who knows how to
The amateur editor or proof reader does not know all the elements to look for.
They have not developed the years of training it takes to catch almost every mistake.
They do not know the proper arc and format of each type of book.
They do not know The Chicago Manual of Style standards for book publishing.
They do not know how to code a manuscript for the designers.
Yes, they catch every spelling mistake in their daily lives, but they do not catch every spacing, line setting, page number, and margin error.
They are not practiced in working in the publishing industry. They cannot offer the advice and guidance that a professional can.
They do not have the software and computer skills to work as efficiently as a professional.
Hire an amateur, and you will might lose your chance to publish a good book and end up publishing a could-have-been-good book.
Looking for a professional to evaluate your manuscript? At Infinity Publishing, our team of editorial experts will provide you with a complete manuscript evaluation for less than $200. It's worth every penny.
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Amy Collins MacGregor started her career in the book industry as the book buyer for Village Green Books in Upstate, New York. In 1996, she “hopped the desk” and thoroughly enjoyed working as a National Account Rep for Prima Publishing. In 2001, Amy was named Director of Sales at Adams Media in Boston and quickly rose to the Special Sales Director for parent company, F+W Media. Over the years, Amy has sold to Borders, Barnes and Noble, Target, Costco, Wal-mart, and all the major chains as well as help launch several private label publishing programs for chains such as PetSmart and CVS. In February 2006, Amy started The Cadence Group and now runs the fastest-growing book distribution company in North America, New Shelves Distribution, where she offers her sales experience to small publishers and self-published authors.