I received my book proof from the publisher the other day. It was exciting and disappointing at the same time. For those of you who don't know, before the final product is sent out to the masses, the author receives a proof of the printed book. Think of it as a the final dress rehearsal before the opening performance.
At this point, it has been edited by multiple people and picked apart.
It should be flawless right? Wrong.
You find mistakes like two periods at the end of a sentence or a line is not indented. These are little things, but they begin to add up. This is what the proof is for, to pick up those mistakes. Please don't get me wrong, I'm grateful I get one last look at the printed product before it is fully published. In my mind, even though you know there will be mistakes, you really wish it was perfect.