Transforming a manuscript into a published book.
The Process
You don’t have to read all of this if you’re interested in independent publishing and don’t want too much information right now. If we work together to get your book published, I will guide you through each step. However, if you’re curious about how it works—here’s the process!
- An author and I discuss the type of book and the components: genre; number of pages; number of chapters; graphics or photos; dedication and acknowledgment; use of bullets, lists, or graphics; footnotes/endnotes, index, appendix, and anything else in the manuscript that needs special formatting.
- I advise the author to choose a publishing company name and procure an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), which can be purchased at myidentifiers.com. Note: one ISBN= $125.00. Ten ISBNs = $295.00.
- It’s essential that a manuscript has been thoroughly and professionally edited before I begin work.
- The author emails a manuscript to me.
- I convert the 8/5 x 11 document into a formatted book—from the title page . . .
. . . through the interior
. . . to The End.
- The layout must be attractive, consistent, and easy on the eyes.
- I create a cover incorporating the book’s theme and content with the author’s vision and my design aesthetic.
- The author emails text for the back cover.
- The author sets a price for the print book and eBook.
- I oversee the procurement of an LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number) and barcode, both of which are free.
- The LCCN is placed on the copyright page under the ISBN, and the barcode is placed in the bottom right corner of the back cover.
- Once I have the components for the cover and interior, I finalize the designs.
- I email the formatted interior and cover design to the author for input and approval.
- When reviewing updated files, authors typically see errors in their manuscript that need to be corrected.
- The author sends a list of corrections and suggestions to me. I edit and revise the files as needed and email the updated files back to the author.
- Usually, the edits are typos, grammar, and spelling or punctuation errors.
- Sometimes an author wishes small revisions in content and structure.
- It’s not unusual for a series of back-and-forth communication about edits and revisions before the book is ready for publication.
- I don’t charge extra for a reasonable number of edits. I do charge an hourly rate for major revisions.
- At some point during the process, I help my client open and manage an on-line printing and/or ebook publishing service account. Currently I use IngramSpark and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
- I upload finalized interior and full cover to on-line publishing service.
- The author purchases a printed proof from KDP for review or views a digital proof at IngramSpark.
- If there are minor errors in the print book or digital proof or digital I revise/edit book as needed. If the errors are major, I charge my hourly rate.
- Once the final editing is complete, I reload the files at the on-line publishing service(s) and enable the book for publication.
- It takes a few days for the book to go live at Amazon and other online retailers.
- After the print book has been approved for publication, I format the book for an e-reader and upload the files to IngramSpark or KDP.
