Manuscript
Services
Will your manuscript meet the requirements
of today's publishers? Is it marketable? Do the technical aspects
of publishing confuse you or scare you? You write, we can handle
the rest. You don't even have to know how to use a computer.
Our editors, typists, proofreaders and graphic artists are professionally
trained to get your book ready for publishing.
Every
Writer Needs an Editor
Every writer needs an editor -- even bestselling authors.
Editing makes the best writing even better.
People are accustomed to reading good books that have been polished
by the book editing process. Most books in print have been examined
by an editor. The book editor's job is to make good writing even
better. When writing has not undergone the book editing process,
a reader can tell -- it seems amateurish or unrefined, the writer
stumbles over the sentences and will often abandon the book.
A book reviewer can tell if a book has been edited or not,
so don't take a chance! A good book editor will not strip your
writing of its personality. A good book editor will make the
true nature of your writing shine forth by removing the superfluous
and letting your voice come through to the reader. Editing is
not an option, it is a necessity, if you want your book to sell
commercially.
If you are not sure what level of editing your book needs
you can submit a manuscript to us for a brief review and estimate
free of charge -- an often expensive service for self
publishing writers.
What
is Editing?
There are many levels
of editing, from copy editing to complete revisions
There are many other things to look for when editing a book.
All of them cannot be listed here.
Book
Design, Typesetting and Layout
Don't compromise your writing! Hire an experienced book designer
to present your ideas in an attractive, commercial manner
Readers are accustomed to buying and reading books that employ
professional book design to emotionally communicate and support
the writer's message. The process of book design -- selecting
type and ornaments, stylizing headings and paragraphs, front
matter and back matter design, and page layout -- is a learned
skill that requires a thorough knowledge of book design principals
and the printing process.
Designers know the idiosyncrasies of book design -- standard
sizes; acceptable gutters and margins; ink tolerance; treatment
for elements such as footnotes, endnotes, sidebars, pull quotes,
titling, bulleting, and features page counts and signatures;
folios; and front and back matter. Book production is a craft
requiring great skill.
An improperly designed book may be difficult to read or look
homemade. Either way, its message might not be taken seriously
by readers, and the book may be passed over by buyers, stores,
distributors, and reviewers.
Design
Design involves conceptualizing the theme based on your ideas
for your book, subject matter, industry trends, market trends,
audience expectation, and competitor approaches. It includes
format suggestions, image concepts, type suggestions, color suggestions,
proofing processes, and template preparation.
Design is a 3-step process
Many designers charge clients a large fee for several concepts.
We feel one concept is enough -- as long as it is the right one.
That is why we spend extra time on steps 1 and 2 of the design
process. Establishing a mutual understanding of "the idea"
is key. You save money and we save time.
Typesetting
and Layout
Professional design lends credibility to the subject matter
and presents it in a way that is not only appealing and enjoyable
but easily interpreted. Just as good typography and design enhance
content, poor typography and design destroy it. Distracting type,
ugly or cheap clip art, and typesetting inconsistencies detract
from the message of the writing.
Levels of information (heads, subheads, bullets, numbers,
etc.) can be confusing if not formatted with consistency of style.
A professional designer / typographer understands the process
of translating information into appropriate type styles. A poorly
designed or homemade-looking book does your book an injustice.
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