| Where do you find a good editor? Many | | | | fit. Remember, it's your book, not the editor's, so |
| self-published authors have made the mistake of | | | | be sure you get the final say on changes made. |
| hiring a subsidy or print-on-demand publishing | | | | That said, be careful with any changes you make |
| company to edit their books, or even a freelance | | | | yourself-too often authors make last minute |
| editor, only to find out after the book was | | | | changes which are grammatically incorrect or |
| published that professional editing was not done | | | | contain typos and punctuation errors. |
| and even that changes requested were not made. | | | | 3. Retain the right to make changes. You, not the |
| While many good editors are out there, and POD | | | | editor, should submit the final manuscript to the |
| companies may have good editors working for | | | | printer to ensure that the edited version you |
| them, just because a company claims it has good | | | | approve is used. Once the book is then laid out, |
| editing services does not mean a quality editor will | | | | you will be sent the proofs. Most subsidy and POD |
| be assigned to your book. | | | | companies, as well as most independent book |
| Trust me. I learned this the hard way. When my | | | | design and printing companies, will charge you for |
| book "The Sitting Swing" was first published, I paid | | | | excessive changes at this point-primarily so you |
| a subsidy press to do the editing, and then after I | | | | don't rewrite sentences, but fixing typographical |
| was told the editing was done, the book was | | | | errors are perfectly permissible at this stage. |
| published. Not long after, as my book started to | | | | Read over your proofs and request any changes |
| gain attention, I was contacted by a major | | | | be made. Even if you are only allowed something |
| newspaper reviewer who told me she would have | | | | like fifty corrections, do not let this deter you |
| written a story about my book for her | | | | from correcting errors. Often errors found are |
| newspaper but she couldn't because she found | | | | not your fault but the book layout people's error, |
| major editing issues. Consequently, I halted sales | | | | such as not italicizing something, a title omitted, a |
| of my book. Later after I found a traditional | | | | paragraph accidentally cut, a special quote not |
| publisher and an editor I could trust to do a | | | | indented or centered. Make sure these errors are |
| professional job, I released a revised edition of | | | | corrected and you are not charged for any that |
| "The Sitting Swing." | | | | were caused during the book design and layout |
| I don't base this article simply on one example. | | | | process. |
| Recently another author contacted me who told | | | | 4. Double-check all changes. Once you send in the |
| me: | | | | corrections for the proofs, make sure you are |
| I have had two unhappy experiences with the | | | | sent back another proof so you can see the |
| same publisher (POD). I realize that there is no | | | | corrections were made. Double-check each |
| recourse according to my contract, and obviously, | | | | correction closely. The author I quoted above had |
| the first was less distressing than the second....In | | | | problems because these changes were not made. |
| my case, not only were two sets of galleys not | | | | Perhaps it was an honest mistake and the wrong |
| properly corrected (I wasn't given a final approval, | | | | file was sent to the printer, but in any case, the |
| but I had to have faith that the second set would | | | | author should have had the right to make sure |
| have the corrections made before printing), but | | | | the changes were corrected. |
| the printer left out whole blocks of type. The | | | | 5. Double-check the first printed copy. A good |
| result..[my book] offered for sale at $17.95 isn't | | | | printer will send you a single printed book to |
| worth $5! It's humiliating. | | | | ensure you are happy with it before a larger print |
| I could provide many more examples, but it's | | | | run is made. Most POD companies, however, do |
| sufficient to say if you do decide to hire a subsidy | | | | not send a sample copy. Insist they do so or go |
| or POD publisher, be sure you have a contract | | | | elsewhere. A pdf of a book cover is well and |
| that will cover all your bases. Because most of | | | | good but when you see the printed cover, the |
| these publishers work within a "cookie cutter" | | | | colors may be lighter or darker than you want. |
| one-size fits all mindset, they probably will not | | | | The book itself must also be put together |
| agree to special stipulations within their contracts, | | | | properly. Make sure you go through the book to |
| but be sure to ask anyway and move on if they | | | | ensure every page is there and all the pages are |
| will not. | | | | inserted properly-not upside down. The last thing |
| Here are a few stipulations to make sure are | | | | you want is people to come back to you later |
| included in your contract: | | | | complaining that their book is missing or has |
| | | | defective pages. Believe me-many an author has |
| 1. Have a sample edit done. Before you agree to | | | | gone through a nightmare situation when books |
| let the company, or any editor for that matter, | | | | have been shipped that contain flaws. |
| edit your book, ask to have an editing sample | | | | These simple steps can save you from a lot of |
| done. Submit a few pages and ask to have them | | | | trouble, frustration, and heartache down the road |
| edited and a quote provided for the editing. This | | | | because a publisher, editor, or printer failed to live |
| way you will know up front what the editing will | | | | up to his or her promises. Always get a contract |
| cost, and you will be able to see what kind of | | | | and make sure any foreseeable problems are |
| editing will be done. If you're not happy with the | | | | covered in it. If a publisher, editor, or printer does |
| editing, request a different editor and another | | | | not want to work with a contract, find another. |
| sample done, or look elsewhere. And don't be | | | | Similarly, if the person or company is unwilling to |
| afraid to ask other people's opinions about the | | | | alter the contract to allow you to have final say |
| editor. It doesn't even hurt to have two or three | | | | over all steps of the editing, layout, and printing |
| different editors do sample edits for you. | | | | process, look elsewhere. |
| Interviewing your prospective editors will not hurt | | | | Remember, this book is your book. It has your |
| at all. | | | | name on it for the rest of its life. If it's your first |
| 2. Review the editor's work. I don't mean | | | | book, the process of publishing can be |
| spot-checking. After the editing is done, sit down | | | | overwhelming, but don't let that stop you from |
| and read through your entire book slowly. If the | | | | being assertive and making absolutely certain your |
| editor returns the manuscript with the track | | | | book will be the best product possible. Once you |
| changes on it, it may take you a while to go | | | | find a publisher, editor, and printer you can trust, |
| through it, but you will also see what was done | | | | you'll be ready to publish your future books. |
| and be able to change or approve it as you see | | | | |