So you have your book written and now it’s ready to be published. But before you hit print, there are a few steps that need to happen – and if you’ve used the right publisher/production company – then these steps should include the following;
Editing;
This is a super important step in book production and yet so many people skip it, thinking their writing is ‘good enough’. Well I’m here to tell you that even the most seasoned of writers use an editor. It’s where your book gets looked at by a professional, and then tweaked and re-written so that everything makes sense, and it’s all in the same tense. You may know what you mean, but the way you write it could be long winded or simply make no sense. This is what the editor fixes and I don’t like to publish books that have missed this step.
Proof reading:
Once your book has been edited, it then needs a new set of eyes to look at punctuation and spelling. This is done at a different time to the editing process, as doing both is virtually impossible. It’s amazing what the brain ‘wants to see’ rather than what is actually there. Sometimes a book can go through this process 3 times before everything is cleared up. I always insist that my authors check their work AFTER the editing and proof reading stage as it’s common that little mistakes slip through the net.
Jacket design;
When the book is being edited it’s smart to use this time to get the book jacket sorted. Designing a book jacket may look simple enough, but there are specific elements that must be included, such as the correct spine width, enough bleed for the printers, ISBN bar code and compelling title and strap line. Font selection is important as well, as you want the cover and the insides of the book to be cohesive, and it’s why I like to include the design of the cover as part of my service.
Layout;
This is probably one of the most important parts of the project to get right. There is no point in going to all the trouble to get your book edited and proof read, to then lay the book out in word and make fundamental mistakes that only come with using software that is not up for the job. Margins, font choice, header and footer placement are all critical when designing and printing a book. I’ve seen some heinous mistakes being made, resulting in the book being difficult to read, as well as damaging the posture of the author.
Also, a word of warning – if you are in the design business (web design for instance) please don’t think that book design is something you can ‘figure out’. It takes years of training, and working with different projects to get right. I’ve seen web designers try and layout their book, only to notice fundamental mistakes with margins and font choice, and it’s cost them hundreds of pounds to fix.
I leave my web design to my web designer, so should book design be left to professional typesetters!
Printing;
Be careful of print on demand services. They may seem like the best price… but they are cheap for a reason. Their quality is usually substandard, and I only use trusted print providers who give me quality paper choices and cover options. I’ve seen too many business owners make the wrong choice with the print option, and it simply spoils the whole project. Why spend money on editing and layout, only to fall at the last hurdle? Be very careful who you choose to print your book. Get samples and proofs BEFORE you commit.
If you’re doing this all yourself, I highly recommend getting a seasoned professional to check everything over. Does your book have all of the above? No? Well get in touch, we can fix, tweak or start from scratch. Or, if you’re thinking of writing a book, but don’t know where to start, then get in touch. Writing a book can seem daunting – but it’s one of the most effective ways to boost your ‘expertise ranking’ within your niche.
Drop me an email at alexa@thebookrefinery.com and I can help you on your journey.
Let’s get you published in 2016!
Books journey from word to print
