Question 1

What is Proofcraft?

Accepted Answer

Proofcraft is a proofreading service for indie authors and publishers. One focused pass, every error that matters — at a rate that works for every book.

Question 2

Who is behind Proofcraft?

Accepted Answer

My name is David. Ten years of editing experience, now focused exclusively on fiction and memoir. Every manuscript is read by me personally, start to finish.

Question 3

What genres do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Primarily fiction of all genres — literary, thriller, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, horror, historical, and everything in between. I also work with memoir and narrative nonfiction. If you are unsure whether your project is a fit, ask. I will give you an honest answer.

Question 4

Do you work with publishers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The service works for indie authors and publishers alike. If your manuscript is heading to professional production, let me know and I can adjust the deliverables to fit your workflow.

Question 5

Do you use AI tools?

Accepted Answer

No. Your manuscript is read word by word by a human proofreader. I do not use AI proofreading tools, automated grammar checkers, or any form of machine-assisted editing. Every correction comes from trained human judgment.

Question 6

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Request a free sample edit — I will proofread the first 1,000 words of your manuscript so you can see the quality before committing. Or fill out the quote form with your word count, genre, and any relevant details for a full quote. Either way, I will respond within two business days.

Question 7

What file format do you need?

Accepted Answer

A Word document (.docx) with all previous Track Changes accepted and comments deleted. If your manuscript is in another format, let me know before booking — a file preparation fee may apply.

Question 8

Do I need to schedule a call?

Accepted Answer

No. The entire process is async — email and the quote form. No calls, no video meetings, no scheduling overhead. You send your manuscript, I send it back proofread.

Question 9

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Standard turnaround ranges from five to fourteen business days depending on word count. You will know your exact delivery date before you pay. Rush turnaround may be available for an additional fee.

Question 10

What do I receive when the proofread is done?

Accepted Answer

A marked manuscript in Word with all corrections in Track Changes. Review each change, accept or reject, and publish with confidence. Questions included for seven days; missed-error fixes for fourteen.

Question 11

Can I see a sample before booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and I encourage it. Send the first 1,000 words of your manuscript through the quote form and I will proofread them for free. No obligation, no payment info required. You will see exactly what the finished product looks like before you commit to anything.

Question 12

How is this so affordable?

Accepted Answer

Focused scope, not cut corners. Most of what makes a traditional copyedit expensive is not the proofreading itself — it is the editorial infrastructure around it: custom style sheets, multiple passes, detailed queries, line-by-line style guide enforcement. Proofcraft strips away that overhead and focuses on catching every error your readers would notice. The savings come from efficiency, not from doing less careful work.

Question 13

Will you change my voice?

Accepted Answer

No. I catch errors using The Chicago Manual of Style as my baseline standard — I do not touch your style. If something looks like it might be intentional, I leave it alone. Fragments for pacing, dialect in dialogue, unconventional punctuation for effect — those are your choices, not errors.

Question 14

Is this the same as copyediting?

Accepted Answer

No. A copyedit includes sentence-level rewrites, a custom style sheet, systematic style consistency enforcement, editorial queries, and often multiple passes. Proofcraft is a single focused pass that catches errors — spelling, grammar, punctuation, dialogue mechanics, tense, capitalization, and formatting — but does not rephrase your sentences or build a style guide. If your manuscript needs copyediting, I will tell you honestly.

Question 15

What if my manuscript needs more than a proofread?

Accepted Answer

I will tell you. If the error density or the state of the prose suggests your manuscript needs deeper work, I will flag it within the first ten percent and give you options. I would rather be upfront than deliver a service that does not actually solve your problem.

Question 16

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

$0.009 per word. An 80,000-word novel costs $720. Minimum project fee is $180. For projects under $750, full payment is due upfront. For larger projects, a 50% deposit reserves your slot and the balance is due on delivery.

Question 17

Is there a rush fee?

Accepted Answer

Rush turnaround is available when my schedule permits and carries an additional fee, specified in your quote. If you need a faster timeline, mention it in your inquiry and I will let you know what is possible.

Question 18

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Your deposit is refundable before proofing begins. Once work starts, the deposit is non-refundable. The balance is due only on delivery — you do not pay the second half until you receive your files.

Question 19

What is your satisfaction guarantee?

Accepted Answer

If you find an objective error I missed — a misspelling, missing punctuation, or obvious grammar mistake — report it within fourteen days of delivery and I will correct it at no charge. This applies to the delivered text only, not to text you have modified after delivery. I stand behind my work.

Frequently asked questions.

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