| New self-publishers are often confused about the | | | | guidelines that will be useful to other people |
| editorial process. This schematic is intended to be | | | | reviewing the book farther down the production |
| a simple "map" to the journey from manuscript to | | | | line. |
| printed books. | | | | When the copy editor has finished her work, the |
| Manuscript: Developmental Editing | | | | manuscript goes back to the author for |
| The first kind of editing an author will encounter is | | | | clarification of any remaining questions, and the |
| developmental editing. | | | | changes are made to the manuscript. |
| Developmental editing helps develop the concept, | | | | Manuscript to Book Page Proofs: Production Editor |
| the scope of the book, the intended audience, | | | | The manuscript is next routed to a production |
| even the way elements of the book are | | | | editor who will be responsible for the production |
| arranged. | | | | process. The tasks of the production editor |
| Developmental editing can be assigned to specific | | | | include: |
| editors, or some of these functions may be done | | | | - Scheduling the project and tracking its progress |
| by either the author's agent or an acquisitions | | | | - Hiring and coordinating the work of the book |
| editor at a publisher. Self-publishers who make use | | | | designers, illustrators, indexers, proofreaders and |
| of this type of editing will hire freelance editors to | | | | other professionals needed to complete the book |
| help with the development of their project. | | | | - Getting estimates from printers or print brokers |
| Manuscript: Copy editing | | | | for the physical production of the book |
| When the author and developmental editor have | | | | - Making sure the books are properly printed and |
| finished organizing the manuscript, and the editor | | | | delivered on time. Book Page Proofs: Proofreading |
| considers it complete, it will go to a copy editor. | | | | The last stage in the editorial process is |
| Copy editing is accomplished by editors who | | | | proofreading the book. The proofreader is the last |
| examine the manuscript line by line, word by | | | | guardian of the publisher's reputation for accuracy |
| word. It takes people who are meticulous and | | | | and care, and the protector of the author's |
| excellent at spotting errors. | | | | reputation for diligence. |
| Copy editors have vast knowledge of English | | | | Proofreaders examine the book's complete and |
| vocabulary and usage, command over style | | | | final pages for more than typographical errors, |
| resources such as the Chicago Manual of Style. In | | | | although that's a big part of the proofreading job. |
| reviewing the manuscript, they will be paying | | | | They will be on the lookout for: |
| attention to and correcting: | | | | - Inconsistent line, word, or page spacing |
| - Punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar | | | | - Misnumbered list items and mislabeled captions |
| - Errors in word usage | | | | - Improper word breaks |
| - Subject-verb agreement | | | | - Page break problems like widows and orphans |
| - Consistency in treatment of material | | | | - Irregularities in the use of the books type fonts |
| - Adherence to established standards of style and | | | | - Accurate and consistent page headers, footers |
| formatting | | | | and page numbers |
| - Accuracy and completeness of citations, | | | | - Accuracy and completeness of tables, figures, |
| references, notes, tables, figures and charts | | | | charts, and graphs |
| - Ambiguity, incorrect statements, lapses in logic, | | | | - Consistent use of abbreviations and acronyms. |
| libelous comments, and so on. | | | | The End of the Line |
| In the course of editing the manuscript, most | | | | When the proofreader is finished with their work, |
| copy editors will also produce a style sheet for | | | | the self-published book is corrected for the last |
| the book listing the correct spellings of any | | | | time. Once the pages are set, the final page |
| unusual names, the proper format for each | | | | proofs can be sent to an indexer, if one is being |
| element in the manuscript, and any other | | | | used, and the book will be ready to go to press. |