| Working with experts in publishing companies can | | | | novice book editing job, can rob your book of |
| save you money in the long run, and certainly | | | | serious value. |
| minimize headaches. | | | | In the case of book editing, hiring your copyeditor |
| Many years ago, I acquired a German-made car. | | | | individually by freelance can be a huge mistake. It |
| For its upkeep, I would visit a car mechanic that | | | | seems that 3 out of every 4 clients I speak to |
| worked on all types of cars, regardless of their | | | | already have a copyeditor in mind for their |
| make. With this mechanic I ended up at his shop | | | | project. "Oh yeah, I've already taken care of the |
| a couple times of year, which grew tiresome. My | | | | book editing." Who is being hired to ensure the |
| car still had problems and bugs pretty frequently. | | | | quality of your book? Is it someone who works |
| I eventually switched to a mechanic who only | | | | inside the book editing and book printing regularly? |
| worked with German cars, which ended up | | | | Are they up-to-date on the most recent publishing |
| costing me more than the generic mechanic. But | | | | standards? Often I ask a freelance book editor |
| now, I found the service to be better since the | | | | what standards they are using to proofread, and |
| shop's expertise was with German cars. After the | | | | they had no idea themselves. Publishing standards |
| switch I was only visiting the mechanic about | | | | are ambiguous at best, and can change from |
| once a year. Even though I was spending more, I | | | | month-to-month depending on literary trends. |
| ended up saving money because I wasn't going to | | | | Even though many authors are talented writers |
| the mechanic three times a year, and I was | | | | and even spectacular at grammar, they should |
| getting better tune-ups for my car. | | | | never be the book editor of their own project. I |
| This may seem far from the topic of publishing | | | | repeat, do notbe the primary book editor of your |
| books, but please read on: | | | | own book! An excellent, well-presented book is |
| As we all know, book publishing is a cooperative | | | | only possible with professional and quality book |
| effort. As someone who will be publishing a book, | | | | editing. An unqualified freelance editor will demean |
| you have two primary options: work with the help | | | | other areas of your hard work. |
| of a book publishing company, or independently | | | | How does one find the right type of book editor |
| hire individual freelancers. | | | | and publishing services for their unique project? |
| A book publishing company comes with a | | | | A benefit of working with book publishing |
| consulting manager and the team's publishing | | | | companies is the connection to other industry |
| services, but for a higher price. Independent | | | | professionals. A book packager should have a |
| freelancers who will take a job in book publishing | | | | rolodex of publishing contacts from inside the |
| will usually cost less. | | | | publishing network who are experienced. When |
| Enlisting the help of a publishing company or hiring | | | | packaging and printing books, you'll want to know |
| freelance is one of the first basic decision towards | | | | the best book editors and book printers to |
| determining the quality, cost and overall spirit of a | | | | employ, and a book project manager will resolve |
| book project. Please remember that to publish | | | | this quickly. On top of their skills, experienced |
| books which are successful, how much money | | | | contacts bring cooperation and cohesiveness to a |
| you have left after book printing will not be your | | | | project, especially when they are used to working |
| biggest factor. Instead, how that money was | | | | together. In an effective book publishing company, |
| spent, and if it was spent well, will be the biggest | | | | the illustrator has already worked with the layout |
| indicator of your book publishing success. | | | | designer for several previous projects, the |
| When shopping around for publishing services, you | | | | copyeditor is used to working with the project |
| want to make sure you are getting the best | | | | manager, and each person knows their role in the |
| possible book for your buck. The number one | | | | book's journey. Cooperation and easy |
| reason people use freelancers in publishing is to | | | | communication between a familiar team is both |
| save money. At face value, you may find | | | | time- and cost-efficient. By hiring freelancers |
| cheaper prices with individual freelance book | | | | individually, you run the risk of employing people |
| editor-however costs can crop up in other areas. | | | | who have never worked with one another, who |
| When you work with a book publishing company | | | | have unbeknownst levels of different skills and |
| and its team, they know the industry. Some of | | | | expertise. This often leads to difficult |
| the costly pitfalls in the book publishing process, | | | | communication and disjointed work. |
| such as errors in layout recognized too late, or a | | | | |