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 $uccessful
with Words
Preparing Your Manuscript for the
Printer or Article for Publication
by Maralyn D. Hill, Co-Author ‘$uccess,
Your Path to a Successful Book’
No matter how often this topic is
covered, all writers need to remind
themselves over and over again of its
vital importance. Yesterday, I held a
lengthy phone conversation with a good
friend who has been working five years
on her book. Unfortunately, her first
proof from the publisher is a disaster.
Even more unfortunately, much of this
could have been avoided. My friend used
a professional editor, but that was not
enough.
Some of the necessary steps in
preparation, frequently forgotten,
include:
-
Read your work out loud.
You may say you hear the words so
you don’t have to say them. This is
totally wrong. Believe me, it is
because you know your own words that
you are likely to miss things. When
you read out loud, you stumble on
errors no matter how good a writer
you are.
-
Use a thesaurus before you submit.
Frequently, when you get a proof,
you will notice you used the same
word over and over, as well as close
together. When you are giving your
manuscript or article a final read
before submitting, look for this
problem. If you can’t think of
another word to replace, rely on a
thesaurus. If you don’t have one,
they are available online.
-
If you are using print-on-demand or a small local
press, be sure your work is formatted to the
publisher’s specifications.
Insist on knowing their exact specifications, as it
will save you time in the proofing process. This is
especially important if you are including charts or
photos. Formatting requirements apply to the
following:
-
Use a font that is easy to read.
I learned this the hard way. Pretty is not always
clear.
-
Keep your layout simple.
When you have more than one or two levels of
indentations, they do not transfer easily to a
different program. Frequently, a great deal of your
copy will not be lined up properly. If you don’t
have a choice, then it will be worth the hours of
proofing to make adjustments due to program
conversion. If you possibly can write so you only
have two levels of indentations (like this article),
you will be happier with the finished result.
-
Be sure your graphs, photos, charts, etc.
are sized to fit the space available.
-
Prepare your chapter headings the way your want
them.
Be consistent, otherwise one will show up with all
words capitalized and the next will have some of the
words capitalized.
If
you are being published by a traditional publisher, you may think the
above doesn’t apply. It does. The more responsibility you take yourself
for the material you submit, the happier you will be with the finished
product. |
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 About
Maralyn D. Hill
-
If you want to learn
about book marketing, you may want to consider
$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book
by Maralyn D. Hill and Brenda C. Hill. Maralyn does marketing consulting
and coaching that provide services which emphasize a return on
investment. She says, “Our ideas make a difference” and “Together we can
make it happen.” Maralyn is part of the ‘Books by Hills’ Team – visit
www.BooksByHills.com
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This site developed by Big Blend Magazine™. copyrighted since 1998. No part of it may be reproduced for any reason, with out written permission from Big Blend Magazine, P.O. Box 867, Green Valley, AZ 85622.Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily that of this publication or any of its staff. We reserve the right to edit submittals. All subject matter is intended for general information only and not to be take as personal advice in any matter. Although every effort is made to be accurate, we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies or plagiarized copy submitted to us by advertisers or contributors.
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