Comments on: DIY Publishing: What’s Worth Paying for?

By: Angela Henry

Angela Henry — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:57:38 +0000

Thank you, Joel!

By: Joel Friedlander

Joel Friedlander — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:54:18 +0000

@Angela, your website is really nice, and I think you got a great deal on the cover, it looks awesome. Good luck with your new venture!

By: Angela Henry

Angela Henry — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:14:19 +0000

I also went the DIY route when my publisher dropped all their mystery writers. I formed my own publishing imprint and signed up w/Lightning Source. I spent the lion share of my small budget on editing and cover design because I felt they were the most important things. Even so, my cover wasn’t as expensive as it could have been. I bought a $5 royalty free image and had a designer turn it into a cover for about $200.

By: Robert Collings

Robert Collings — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:59:37 +0000

I’d add proofreading to the list of tasks/services an author should obtain when self-publishing. I have always found that some errors or omissions in the edit are picked up in proofing. This is not a criticism of editors at all, but it’s one of the ’stages’ a good publishing house applies to the production of a book.

Another expense for authors intending to self-publish to consider….

By: Joel Friedlander

Joel Friedlander — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:39:28 +0000

Maggie, thanks for the link back to your article. Most interesting and very well written. I'm sure all typographic designers appreciate your compelling way of describing how important design is. I recently addressed this (not as artfully) here.

By: Diane O'Connell

Diane O'Connell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:18 +0000

I couldn’t agree with Maggie more. Too many authors think that just because they know how to “type” and make something look good, that’s all they need to do. A talented and skilled typesetter or — as some publishers call them — interior designer can make the difference between a book looking amateurish and one that looks fully professional. The cover is what makes a reader interested enough to open the book; the interior design is what gives them an optimal reading experience. (Of course, that’s not to devalue the work of the author). All these elements should work together to create a polished, professional and aesthetically pleasing product.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:28:32 +0000

Lots of talk here about the importance of editing (hugely important) and cover design (equally as important, but in a different way) but not much talk about text typesetting, which is just as important as the other two. Given readers spend 99% of their time interacting with a book’s interior, editing and interior design are mega-important.

I’m a book designer and typesetter (and author) and here’s what I mean:

http://bit.ly/2Yj6HH

By: Melanie Jongsma

Melanie Jongsma — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:39:02 +0000

That’s excellent clarification, Diane. Thank you for sharing that. I’ve been writing and editing for 20 years, and I’m still not always sure of what people have in mind when they say “editing”! Thanks for these definitions.

By: Diane O'Connell

Diane O'Connell — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:25:55 +0000

Great advice on self publishing! I agree that paying for professional editing is where authors should put their money. (Of course, I’m biased as well since that’s what I do). It helps, though, to know what kind of editing you’re paying for:

A developmental editor helps with the “big picture” editing. This generally costs the most because it takes a tremendous amount of expertise and experience in working directly with writers to help them bring out their best. The developmental editor also has to truly understand what the author wants to accomplish with his or her book.

A line editor will go over the manuscript line by line, making sure it reads well.

A copy editor cleans everything up: grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

Line editors and copy editors typically charge less for their services than developmental editors.

It’s important for authors to understand that having a “clean” manuscript with no errors does not necessarily mean their work is good. All of these forms of editing are necessary to end up with a polished, professional book.

By: The Daily Square – Gypsy Woman Edition | Booksquare

The Daily Square – Gypsy Woman Edition | Booksquare — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:30:33 +0000

[...] DIY Publishing: What’s Worth Paying for?Excellent post from Maria Schneider. [...]