Off the Cliff: From Manuscript to Printed Book

Writing a book is like jumping off a cliff. But fear not. As Ray Bradbury says, grow wings on the way down. For authors, a safe landing transforms a manuscript into a printed book. If you’re adventurous, I’m here to tell you that you can land your book by self-publishing. If you have the time, instead of paying an online “full-service book publisher,” hire several freelancers. Through networking with other authors, you can find an experienced editor, a book designer, a photographer, and a copy editor. If you can manage this arrangement, you may save a load of time, money, and aggravation. I did. My guidebook was The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing by Marilyn Ross & Sue Collier — it’s well tested, with more than 100,000 copies sold. I also referenced The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook by Lloyd J. Jassin and Steven C. Schechter, and The Writer’s Legal Companion by Brad Bunnin and Peter Beren. With these, I learned that self-publishing, although not easy, is possible.

Consider these steps

(1) Be sure you are ready to publish. When you are, edit again anyway. For guidance, I studied Getting the Words Right by Theodore A. Rees Cheney, How to Write a Sentence and How to Read One by Stanley Fish, The Scene Book: A Primer for the Fiction Writer by Sandra Scofield, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne & King, Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art by Judith Barrington, and The Art of Subtext by Charles Baxter.

(2) Set a publication date and plan your tasks backwards from that. My guide for this was The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller with Jay Papsan.

(3) Hire a professional editor. Every manuscript should be checked by a second set of eyes. When you interview editors, ask them for a free sample edit of a few pages from your manuscript. An experienced editor can be especially helpful with the story’s structure.

(4) Review your editor’s recommendations. As the author, you make the final decisions.

(5) Solicit feedback from a few readers.

(6)  When you are “finished” revising, on the last page type “END.” That is good psychologically.

(7) Hire a copy editor. This is a specialization. Many editors do not do copy editing. When interviewing, ask, “How many passes do you do?”Meaning: How many times do they read it looking for corrections to make? If they don’t understand the question, find someone else. Your copy editor should follow the style for your genre. For memoirs and fiction, it’s usually The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). For journalism and business writing, it’s usually AP Style.

(8)     Collect promotional blurbs from authors and experts. Provide complimentary copies of your manuscript and ask them to meet a deadline.

(9)     Hire a professional book designer. These artists make book interiors look like REAL books, not fancied-up Word documents. Designers can make or break your book with the cover. Before hiring, evaluate samples.

(10)  Pay a professional photographer for an author photograph. Put it on the back cover. Resist the temptation to use selfies.

(11)  Optional: form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) as your press. Mine is New Wings Press, LLC. There may be tax advantages.

(12)  Get your book printed and distributed. Check out print-on-demand companies. I chose IngramSpark. Why? Their free sample copy was high-quality, they have numerous distribution channels, and their production process easily guides you through the steps to transform your manuscript into a beautiful book. You can call with questions, too. I love that.

Ready, set, jump.

This post originally appear in The Florida Writer.