If Only I Could Find An Online Proofreader For My Paper…

How do you find an online proofreader that you can trust? Over the years, I found this process rather difficult. I have talked to many fellow academics and researchers, and it turns out that I am not the only one that is frustrated about not being able to find a creditable person to proofread my paper. Many of my colleagues would like to use online proofreaders, but they are afraid to use them for fears of people ‘taking’ their ideas. They are also afraid about the quality of online proofreaders on the internet.

Rather than being frustrated about not being able about to find online services to proofread for me, I created the proofreading platform r3ciprocity.com to make that process of finding a proofreader much easier. R3ciprocity connects you with editors that can work with your document to get your writing to the next level.

Note that I know that there is a difference between proofreaders, editors, and content editors, but the average audience on the internet is going to understand what they are looking for is an online proofreader, rather than an online editor for their paper, or an online content editor for their manuscript.

Basically, what I wanted to create is system that encourages people to take a deep dive into your paper, manuscript, project, report, or whatever, and give you meaningful suggestions in how to improve your writing. This means that I am trying to build a system where people will ‘tear’ your paper apart to make it better. I want that!  

There are many reasons why I decided to create an online proofreading platform like R3ciprocity. But, a big reason why I created the platform is that I myself have a hard time with writing.

My Difficulties With Writing

Personally, I’ve always struggled as a writer. I had a hard time in English when I was in public school and that lead to me being in special education until about fifth grade. Even later, in ninth grade, I was doing so poorly that I almost failed my English class. My English teacher at the time did all that she could to help me, but it was only enough for me to pass the class by the skin of my teeth.

I believe that a big reason why I struggled is that of a lack of motivation, not ability. If you’re not a solid writer it can be very difficult to find the energy to start a writing project and especially gain enough momentum to finish it. On top of that, paper editing can be a hard and stressful process. There’s a lot of unnecessary tedious work that goes into a writing project. Thankfully you don’t have to go through it alone with the help of an online proofreader.

Yet, there’s all this anxiety that comes from trying to find someone to help you with your writing. I always found the search for an online proofreader very awkward. There are so many questions that come to mind when trying to find an online proofreader like “How should I approach this person?” and “Is this even a good person to ask for proofreading help?” It drove me insane trying to find the perfect proofreader to help me with my writing.

I definitely had a lot of problems with writing over the years. But in spite of that, I ended up going to college for engineering and ultimately getting my Ph.D. in strategy and innovation.

Why You Need An Online Proofreader

Now that I’m a business professor, I still struggle with finding awesome proofreaders. I learned through sending articles to scientific research journals that a quality proofreader is worth their weight in gold, especially in the area of academia. Writers that don’t have good editors often don’t get published even if they have great ideas. Getting a proofreader can only help you and catches problems that you probably wouldn’t see. After editing, your writing showcases your talents in a brighter light. 

Your work’s going to get read if you have a strong editor in your corner. The same can be said for authors that are trying to find an online proofreader for their novels. You might have great characters and an amazing plot. But, if it isn’t written well it’s going to be hard to find a publisher. Editors and proofreaders are essential to any writer, no matter what they write.

As I went through schooling I began to talk to people about the writing process and their struggles with it. What I realized was that this proofreader problem was much bigger than myself. Many people struggle with writing and can’t find a proofreader to help them out. As I kept talking with others, I figured that there must be a better way to connect writers with proofreaders.

I wanted to build an online proofreading software in order to help not just me, but writers all over the world that have the same problems that I’ve had all my life. Wouldn’t it be cool to create a website that proofreads papers, but also encourage people to be nice to others? I also wanted to create a platform that offered free editing or the opportunity to purchase editing services at a low cost. On R3ciprocity you can either edit someone else’s work and get your work edited in return or purchase virtual credits in order to get your work in front of an editor. I wanted to give everyone the chance of getting their work edited no matter how much money they had, from professionals to the everyday writer.

Notice that I don’t want just people who are wanting to proofread papers for money. To be honest, while professional editors would be nice to have on the system, but we already have that. I want to create a system where anyone can join and build their skills in editing.

I study platforms in the sharing economy (eg., Uber, AirBnb, Etsy, etc.), and what these platforms have demonstrated is that there is a tremendous amount of untapped and amazing resources that are available far beyond professionals. I imagine stay-at-home parents, college students, postdoctoral researchers, and weekend warriors joining the system to edit papers on an as-needed basis.  

How Proofreaders Benefit From R3ciprocity

On R3ciprocity, there are a lot of opportunities for the average writer to connect with proofreaders. We need more individuals who are willing to be ‘paper revisers,’ ‘proofreaders,’ ‘editors,’ or whatever you want to call yourself. I personally think that most people can, particularly if you build a system that helps you do a good job. Imagine how Uber has changed the taxicab industry. Everyday people are now doing a wonderful job with the aid of technology, providing wonderful experiences for people around the world.

But also if you’re a stellar editor, there are many opportunities for you to earn some extra cash on R3ciprocity. The system only takes a system fee when you make as an editor on the platform. But, that system fee goes right back into R3ciprocity and keeping it the best place to find an online proofreader on the Internet. The other remainder goes straight into your pocket. Your search costs reduce drastically when you choose to find clients on R3ciprocity. Utilizing R3ciprocity is also a great way to get your name out there as an editor. You can establish a worthwhile portfolio that’ll help you get more clients in the future.

R3ciprocity is the answer to a lot of problems that not only I have, but what people all around the world have. Whether you’re a writer or an editor, R3ciprocity is the best place online to exercise your skills and help other people out in the process.

If you want to learn more about my history with writing and how to find online proofreaders, make sure to check out the YouTube video down below!