Before I became a copy editor, the term proofreading to me meant a final review of written work to make sure it made sense and had no errors. “Hey, would you mind proofreading my (fill in the blank—term paper, resume, email to the teacher, etc.)?” But proofreading means something much more literal in the world of book publishing. It means reading the proof, or the galley: reviewing a manuscript after it’s been formatted and is otherwise ready for print or online production. Proofreaders … [Read more...]
Rights Reversion and What to Do After Reversion
Today's guest post is by Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the forthcoming Edit to Death (A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery Book 14). It’s easy to put off obtaining a rights reversion from your publisher. Perhaps you’re not sure who to contact at the publisher because your former editor is no longer working there. Maybe you’re not sure exactly what to ask for or what to do with your rights once they’re reverted to you. Asking for your rights and starting down the road of self-publishing a … [Read more...]
How I Start a Book Edit
One of the most essential steps in publishing any book is editing. What does this mean to the average self-publishing author? If you are a writer, you know that editing is a collective term referring to developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading. The following is a depiction of a typical day in the life of one book copy editor—on the day I begin a new manuscript. The changes noted here are not exact descriptions of those I’ve made, but give you the general idea of the types of … [Read more...]
Copyright, Fair Use, and the Publishing of The Lost Chapters by Leslie Schwartz
Three years ago, I attended a music copyright panel discussion with my son, a music technology major. In a discussion about what constitutes “fair use,” a copyright lawyer sang 5 notes. All 40 people there knew that song immediately—the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Are 5 notes from a song with a few thousand notes fair use? No way, said the music attorney. Just before publishing my first book, Successful eBook Publishing, I had a nagging feeling I should get … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Editing within a Budget (Before Design and Layout Begins)
The word editing can mean different things to different people. Recently we’ve had several projects where the authors used terms like proofing, copyediting and “light edit” to describe that final manuscript review necessary before a book moves into the design and layout phase. These are things like spelling, word usage and punctuation, but also consistent application of terms, formatting, etc. This article addresses what an author can do to minimize this type of editing expense, and reach … [Read more...]
Book Editing and Self-Publishers—Fewer Than 50% Hire a Professional Editor
If quality sells books why do fewer than 50% of self-published authors hire a professional editor? As you can see in this slide from our 2013 eBook Self-Publisher Survey most authors edit their own book or ask a friend. No doubt cost is one consideration but most authors I know have a production budget. I think another reason is that they don’t understand the different editorial steps in book production and frankly, don’t appreciate the value a good editor can bring to the task. 3 key … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to Consult an Attorney About Publishing Law Before You Publish Your eBook
In a presentation last week to the San Diego Entertainment and Sports Lawyers I was asked the question: "Do eBook authors that self-publish submit their books for some kind of legal review?" (You can see the presentation here on Slideshare.) I had to admit that I've rarely heard this topic discussed in any detail in the forums or meetings I've frequented much less been asked my opinion by one of my clients. On the other hand is it possible that most self-publishers engage a lawyer? I'm not … [Read more...]
Turning Blog Posts into eBooks—5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Begin
Who doesn't look at all their blog posts and wonder if there is a book in there someplace? Like any good marketer we are always on the lookout for ways to repurpose existing content, content we probably spent hours researching and writing. If you are one of those companies or individuals who think you have a treasure trove of editorial material here are five questions to ask yourself before you get too serious. Question 1: Do you have enough quality? Begin by creating an outline of the book … [Read more...]
