The Publishing Process

1 Manuscript assessment?

Before you start with an editor to help you to polish your manuscript before it is printed and published, it is important that your publisher provides you with a manuscript assessment. Manuscript assessment is an important first step as it gives you the opportunity to have a pair of expert eyes look over your writing.

1 (a) What to expect from a manuscript assessment

The assessor who is tasked with this role will provide broad, insightful feedback on major strengths and weaknesses in the plot, characters or structure and could recommend developmental editing if you want to go ahead and become published and marketed, if it is considered necessary. Some may even cover aspects of grammar, syntax and punctuation, although these are the types of things you can expect from a copy edit, which is the next stage.

When you finish reading the manuscript assessment report on the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript, you should feel confident and ready to tackle your next draft, or you may even take up the opportunity of having an editor develop the next draft for you. This is called developmental editing.

If you think your manuscript needs a developmental editing, get in touch via the enquiry form now.

1 (b) Developmental editing or structural editing

provides detailed feedback on the ‘big picture’ issues, refines ideas, shapes the narrative and fixes up any major plot or character inconsistencies that doesn’t make the story work.

This additional step is identified in the manuscript assessment as being necessary to refine the manuscript and is an extra service you can arrange with your editor. Fees for this extra service can be negotiated with the editor.

2 Editing & Proofreading

There are many types of editing. Our editing includes a full *copy edit on hard copy (if provided and desired) and online. This also includes a basic developmental / structural edit.

*Copy-editing

focuses on the spelling, grammar and punctuation, consistency of characters, settings, details, arguments in fiction, and style, and the technical accuracy of the text (fact checking**) for non-fiction.
My editing service provides editing the manuscript line by line, checking grammar, spelling, consistency of style, clarity and expression.

**Fact checking

is the responsibility of the author and should be picked up at the author review stage, but should also be expected to be picked up as part of developmental/structural editing as well as during the copy-editing stage.

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Line editing

Used interchangeably with copy editing. It focuses on style, flow and clarity of writing at sentence and paragraph level, which should have also be captured and identified at the manuscript assessment stage, developmental stage or copy-editing stage. Your manuscript will be edited line by line as part the cop-editing service.

Academic editing

Involves all of the above

Mentoring

Mentoring is available for manuscripts in progress to shape plot, structure, style, character development, genre and the manuscript’s marketability. Please advise if you wish this service to be included in the developmental editing stage.

If your manuscript needs editing and proofreading, get in touch via the enquiry form now.

3 Proofreading

This is the process whereby the manuscript is reviewed by a fresh pair of eyes, once the editor and author have reviewed it. Proofing a manuscript once it has been copy-edited is to confirm that the edited manuscript is of a standard that is ready for publication. At this stage the author would have had input to the edited copy and advised the editor if he/she agrees or disagrees with the editor’s comments, suggestions or amendments, or have been requested or amended by the author

This is usually the last stage of manuscript review before the book goes into print and should pick up any errors that may have slipped through the cracks or have been missed due to human error by the editor.

4 Typesetting and Book Cover

(including ISBN and genre)

When your manuscript has been edited, reviewed by you, and proofread, the final edited copy is sent by the editor, together with a design brief, to the book designer for typesetting and cover design. An ISBN and genre classification will be provided to you. Book production specifications will be discussed at this time. Once you have had a final read of the typeset document provided to you, it is ready for printing. Any text amendments identified by you at this time will be included before the manuscript is sent for printing.

5 Publishing and Printing

A minimum print run of 50 copies is recommended and would include an unbound hard-copy proof of the cover and text. The proof will be sent to you by secure post. Books can be printed in the standard size of 216 x 140mm. Alternative sizes are 229 x 150mm or occasionally 248 x 210mm. Once your specifications are discussed with your editor or book designer, quotes will be obtained for a standard or customised printing package.

You may also want to manage your own online print-on-demand and royalties or it can be arranged through the typesetter at the publishing stage.

6 Promotion and Marketing

A standard package includes a detailed telephone discussion, templates and advice on how to launch your book. Arranging book launches and book placements with distributors form part of a customised service and can be discussed with the PR consultant who will cater to your requirements.