proofreading book?

I have written a manuscript for my first novel and need a proofreader/critique to work with me, however, I am concerned about sending my 'baby' to someone I don't know. Any thoughts?

For screenplays the screenwriters guild has an online registration that allows you to protect your IP by registering the idea... not sure if there is something similar for novels...


Alternatively I'd suggest you contact a lawyer and make sure you are covered.


I think you are right to be concerned... recall how Mark Zuckerberg was hired to create the code for Face Book... he took the idea as his own and the original founders were cut out (although they did get 65M...)

I recommend the incomparable Tara Jenkins and Karen Pittar of "The Word". I have used them myself for this kind of thing.

Tara - 9090 3045

Karen - 9812 1580


Ensure you have dated backups of your manuscript but don't worry too much. Once you send out to agents and publishers your manuscript will be in dozens of copies in the mail. This happens all the time and yet foul play is quite rare. Be more worried about scruple-free vanity publishers once your manuscript has actually been accepted.


I highly recommend at least skimming through the excellent "Writer Beware" section of the Science Fiction Writers of America website. http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/ . It discusses the things you should watch out for at length.


As for Zuckerberg, surely there was foul play somewhere but software development is a weird and complex thing which cannot be easily distilled into a two hour movie. Even by Aaron Sorkin. ;)