Checking Book Proofs in Three Simple Steps

Putting a book together is a complicated process that's executed by a team of people over a significant period of time. The point of the proof is to prove that everything - editing, copyediting, layout, design - has been done correctly. Errors invisible on-screen or in printouts (misalignments, wrong fonts, weird spacing, and typographical errors) will suddenly leap off the page. What's the difference between the way a self-published author deals with book proofs and the way a professional handles proofs? Nothing. As an indie author, you should check proofs like your job depends on it. Books last a very long time, and so do the errors that sneak into them.