Birds, binoculars and bumpy roads

I’ve recently had the pleasure of proofreading a wonderful book written by an independent author who has been documenting his decades of birdwatching adventures around the world. As a proofreader I work on a wide variety of texts, but every so often a project comes along that feels like a real treat. This book was one of these. The author’s descriptive writing style, amusing anecdotes and thoughtful reflections made it an absolute joy to read.

My job was to ensure clarity, consistency and flow without altering the author’s unique voice or natural storytelling rhythm. Some of the things I focused on included:

• Checking for consistency in place names and bird species (you’d be surprised how often spellings or capitalisations change mid-text)

• Refining sentence structure for better flow and readability, whilst always preserving the author’s tone and style

• Catching those sneaky typos and grammatical hiccups that always seem to hide in plain sight.

This book will take readers on a fascinating and often hilarious journey told through the eyes of someone passionate about birds, travel and adventure. I can’t wait to see the final publication, illustrated with a collection of specially commissioned watercolour paintings. I’ve had a sneak preview, and they’re going to be beautiful!

If you’re an independent author working on your new book – whether it’s nature, travel, memoirs or anything in between – I’d love to hear from you. Proofreading might be one of the last steps in your publishing process, but it can be the final polish that makes a good book really shine.