Done!

The task is basically done. The book has now been laid out. The only thing left to do is finalize any last-minute corrections. Some I picked up as I was glancing through the text as I moved it around to fit within the borders of the page.

Whilst I have been working on this book for quite a number of years, I’ll announce the title very soon. Those who work with me at the job that pays my bills may already be aware of the title, but that’s okay.

As I was going over the text of the story, I reminded myself of the accuracy and professionalism that editing a manuscript requires. yes, it is very easy for anyone to write a book, plan how it’s going to look, prepare the final draft and then list the book. However, there are people out there who don’t seem to understand the value of editing.

Although I have not seen it myself, in the past I have been informed of some of the shambles of productions that people have seen. spelling and grammar mistakes; the most fundamental of editing. then there were the layout mistakes; pages that weren’t set right; messy layouts; odd-sized fonts. whenever I was told of these horrors, not only did the person telling me cringe, but I cringed as well.

For those of us who are happy to be self-publishing with manuscripts that are editorially, technically, scenically (as in where the story takes place), and characteristically correct, such stories only do us harm. I believe it does.

As both a writer and a publisher, I have a high standard to which I apply to my work. It can sometimes be confused with perfectionism, but I don’t think I’m that much of a perfectionist. Certainly not a pedantic one.

A manuscript needs to be as close to 100% technically and creatively edited as possible. I say close to, as there will always be the odd small thing that gets easily missed. A comma; the capitalisation of a name that is also a regular word, a missing word, a correctly spelled word that is still the wrong word.

When I work on a manuscript, whether it be my own or someone else’s, the final product is a reflection on my work as a writer and a publisher. In essence, my own reputation is on display for the critical eye to peruse. I want people to see that I produce a high-quality product that is well and truly fit for market.

The hardest thing for a boutique publisher and/or a self-publisher is to get the distribution that we crave. We’d love to see our books in major bookstores. It’s a battle, as so many people write, and big names produce. But I might leave that topic for another day.

If there is a topic you’d like me to contemplate, let me know. It might be something I know a lot about, or it might be something I know a little about and will research. I’m happy to address technical queries; like ISBNs, barcodes, POD (Print On Demand), editing, writing itself, what to write about, how to write, where to write, what to write with. If there’s something that’s beyond me, I will let you know.