Names and authors needing proofreaders

[Morrighan]

That's a great idea, Teamster. (I mean the name switching thing.) You would not believe how much time I waste just trying to name my character.

Morrighan

[janie]

Please, i would love to!

I am an instinctive proofreader and the main problem I have reading nearly anything is that I can't turn it off! No matter how engrossed I am in the content of what I am reading, be it job ads or fiction, the spelling/grammar/punctuation errors just leap at me distractingly. I would love to find legitimate employment for my talent/curse but I can't.

I have been coming to this site for a little while now and yes, having now visited the forums and seen some of the input here, I will try to review some of what I have read. In the meantime, many thanks to all of you who have put yourselves out here. However, I have to say that for me the #1 reason for failing to continue to read any story past the first page is the obvious lack of proofing. It pains me too much to think that the author had no sympathetic and literate friends to run it by before posting.

If I can help anyone here I would feel a little useful and I have nothing better to do.

janie

[Aurelius]

Welcome to the website, Janie.

I would love to find legitimate employment for my talent/curse but I can't...If I can help anyone here I would feel a little useful and I have nothing better to do.
janie

You mean as opposed to illegitimate employment? Have you considered the proofreading underworld? (Ok, so it's not really funny, it just tickled me.)

I have a similar talent/curse, the problem is it only manifests itself AFTER my story is posted on the site, not while I'm sweating over it on my computer!

It's true that many of us authors here could use a proofreader. It is such a chore. I expect your generous offer could net you a bulging postbag. If not, you could send an email to any author whose stories you like and who needs more proofing. I can't imagine anyone being offended by such a gesture.

[janie]

Thank you Aurelius, pleased to meet you.

I meant 'legitimate' in that being currently unemployed I must apply for a minimum number of jobs each fortnight in order to claim dole payments, which means applying for an awful lot of jobs that I really don't want. I hate that. I should feel bad about not getting any of those, but the only jobs I really want are for proofreading and are few and far between. For me that just wouldn't be work, you see. It is not in the least a chore for me. It just happens anyway which is why I would be delighted to be able to offer that service here where I am reading anyway.

I have thought to ask a few whose stories I particularly liked but who really needed more proofing and wasn't sure how they might take it, the main reason I haven't reviewed any either. It felt somehow petty and pedantic. I really am not like that, except for written language, apparently.

By all means ask me. I read very fast.

janie

[Aurelius]

Hi Janie honey. I knew what you meant, I was just joking with ya. You have my sympathies re the dole situation. I was in the same situation myself until recently. It sure is a rigmarole these days! I'm scraping a living self-employed now.

If you did proofreading here we could provide you with references for your job hunting