That\u2019s a strange question coming from an editor, isn\u2019t it? But I do have a point.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been creating the index for the revised and expanded edition of my original 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book<\/em>. Allworth Press will come out with the new edition in July of this year. The new title is Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author<\/em>. <\/p>\n The index is completed. Now I am proofing the edited galley. Even after I did my best self-edit before sending this manuscript to the publisher, and even after the publisher\u2019s editors went through it, I am finding mistakes. I\u2019ve discovered 22 so far and I\u2019m less than \u00bc of the way through.<\/p>\n What am I finding? I discovered that we had used \u201coff\u201d rather than \u201cof\u201d in one spot. The editors misunderstood where the section break should be in one instance. I caught some inconsistencies where we capitalized Chamber of Commerce, for example, in some cases and not others. I am asking them to put this term in lower case. Italics are missing in a couple of spots. A word is in italics that shouldn\u2019t be. There are some closed quotes missing. A question mark was missing. I even found an instance where we had \u201cyar,\u201d instead of \u201cyour.\u201d <\/p>\n These are all small things that make a big difference and they\u2019re all things that are easy to miss when you have the enormous task of editing your own or someone else\u2019s book. <\/p>\n While editing is going on whenever you spend time with your book\u2014while you\u2019re fleshing out a scene, searching for a comment, looking it over for style, creating an index, etc.\u2014you must also edit with intention. By this, I mean plan to spend several days or a week in complete editing mode\u2014scrutinizing each and every word and sentence. Pull your copy of the Chicago Manual of Style<\/em> out of mothballs (better yet, spring for the latest edition\u201414th) and use it to determine those questions that come up. Should numbers be written out or not? When is \u201ccaptain\u201d capitalized? How is dialogue handled? Is it heartwarming, heart-warming or heart warming?<\/p>\n And once you have done your best job of self-editing, it is time to hand your book over to someone with fresh eyes and some editorial knowledge. Yes, pay an editor to fine-tune your manuscript. <\/p>\n Now you are ready to present your wonderful manuscript to the publisher of your choice. Once it is accepted and their editors work with it, you will get it back for your final review. This is another important opportunity for the author. The time you spend in this phase is also highly important. You WILL discover at least a few mistakes. There will be things that everyone missed. The company editors may have made changes in error. <\/p>\n As an example, I mention my book, The Mainland Luau<\/em>, in the book I am currently proofing. I wrote that I use handouts during book signings for this book featuring a recipe for a pork roast that you cook in the oven, and that it tastes like kalua pork. The editors changed this to kalhua-flavored pork. Sounds good. But that isn\u2019t what I meant. \u201cKalua\u201d is the Hawaiian term for cooking underground and that\u2019s the word I meant to use here.<\/p>\n Can you trust your editors? In most cases, yes. But you still want to cover all of your bases by hiring a good book editor who is knowledgeable about the publishing industry. You want to pay close attention to her suggestions. Never accept them all blindly\u2014she may have misunderstood your meaning. And always give your book a good proofing before it goes to the publisher and before it goes it print. You\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/p>\n This blog site will go dark for the next two days while I am working hard (and having fun) at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. This is a good opportunity for you to spend time in the archives. You\u2019ll notice to the lower right, a list of topics. Click on those that interest you and start enjoying some past posts. I\u2019m sure that you will learn something new.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a><\/p>\n Did you know that I have a huge resource list at this website? Check it out here:
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/forwriters\/resources.html<\/a> <\/p>\n