When do you know you need someone to proofread; before or after drafting?

[Guest]

PS: I already finished the draft.

[Katie]

Proofreading is the last step of editing. So if you’ve finished your first draft, you’d self edit it first, then find an editor (developmental/copy/line) and then you’d hire a proofreader for the last step.

[Gabriel]

Always. Edit in waves. Edit from the back to the front. Edit out loud. Only when drafting should you avoid thinking "how can I make this better?" Because when drafting you are just trying to make it exist.

[Daniel]

There are more than one type of editor. In either case, get as much of it finished as possible in your draft then you can get an editor to do development for the plot first if needed because they will be recommending the most fundamental changes.

Don't get a professional edit of the grammar/spelling until basically the final step so you don't waste your money when you end up needing to rewrite parts of your story.

Don't miss: I need a second opinion on "Show, don't tell." When writing a fiction book

[Adam]

After. Whilst writing I just want to write, get it out of my brain. Editing is best left separate and can be left for later.

[Ryan]

My editor said to get through your large effort second draft, maybe a quick third for other little cleanups, but to send it off after that point, as artists tend to get too attached to their work after 5 or 6 drafts and find it more difficult to make suggested alterations.

[Will]

After. There's no point asking somebody to find typos and such if there's still a chance you could add, change, or delete entire passages.

[Rick]

You need an editor or proofreader no matter what. You can't do it as well yourself.

The biggest problem is you know what it's supposed to whether it typed the passage or not. You need independent eyes.