What’s hiding in your Microsoft Word manuscript file? It may look fine — but then, when you submit it to the publisher, the results are poor. If you’re used to using Word to create finished-looking documents, you need to adjust your perspective. You’re now using Word to tell the publisher’s page designers and page layout … Continued
There are two ways you can hand off your manuscript to the publisher: in a tidy and well-organized way, or in a screaming, error-filled rush. Not surprisingly, you should try for the former. What it means to hand in a clean manuscript When I handed over my latest book to the publisher, he called it … Continued
Even when your manuscript is done, the book is not. After you hand in the manuscript, your publisher (or if you’re self-published, whoever you hired to lay out the pages and put it into online bookstores) still has to copy edit the book, lay out the pages, and get it printed and available for distribution. … Continued
Deadlines are a key feature of book production. At each deadline, making changes becomes more difficult. Let’s talk about why you should do everything possible to avoid making late changes. A typical book production timeline might look like this: Author’s manuscript to publisher: Jan 1Copy editor’s comments to author: Jan 20Author’s response to copy edits … Continued