Write Now Editing

Self-Publisher Beware! by Susan K. Stewart

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Publishing scams have been around as long as publishing. Before the advent of print-on-demand (POD) publishing and electronic publishing, vanity publishers abounded. The term comes from the idea that these companies play on the vanity of the writer who is willing to do anything to “publish” a book. Most vanity presses don’t consider quality and rarely do more than print a large number of books to sell to the author.

Unlike hybrid publishers, which offer services such as design and editing, vanity publishers require a large investment up front but no quality control. In the end, the author has boxes of books in the garage and no place to sell them.

Vanity presses aren’t the only scam self-publishers need to be on the watch for.

The Editor Scam

Editors, and I use this term loosely here, advertise a new method to get your book on Amazon or bookstores quickly. No upfront fee is charged. A couple days after you send you manuscript, your book is published on Amazon under the scammers name. It’s up to you to prove it’s your manuscript.

Agents

Fake agents prey on the desire to have our books on the front shelves of a bookstore. If you’ve self-published and an agent contacts you, proceed with caution—if you proceed at all. Beware of upfront fees: reading fees, editing fees, paper clip fees. These agents are getting paid without providing representation for you. Reputable agents will rarely contact you. They work on commission and get paid when you get paid.

Fees for Services

In addition to editor and agent scams, novice self-publishers fall victim to a provider who claims to handle some of the pesky details for hefty fees. Sometimes these fees can be in the thousands of dollars. ISBN, copyright registration, Library of Congress catalog number, upload to specific platforms can all be easily handled by the author. One ISBN is $125, copyright registration is $35, Library of Congress catalog number is free, upload to most platforms is free. If you are asked to pay a large fee, shove your wallet in your pocket, and move on.

The Everyone Wins Writing Contest

All writers want to be recognized for our effort. Writing awards not only give us a boost we need to continue, but also lets the public know our book is worth buying. With this in mind, some organizations offer awards for a price.

The unscrupulous contests are often monthly awards in which all entries get a trophy, in some cases a literal trophy. These contests require large entry fees and, when the winners are announced, the chosen are asked to pay for the certificate, plaque, or trophy, in addition to the initial contest fee. In other words, the unsuspecting author is buying a writing award.

Many reputable award programs require a small fee, often less than $50 to cover expenses. Most recognized awards are given annually, not monthly. Many are connected with an award ceremony at a conference or other event. For more information about dubious contest http://bit.ly/2wrejnL

How to Avoid A Scam

Can it be said too often, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”? A little research and thought will help you avoid losing money and possibly your book.

  • Internet Search. This may be the first line of defense. Look for the company or individual’s website. Is it well-maintained and up-to-date? Are the details of services and cost listed clearly?
  • Bookstore Search. Look for books published by the company in question. A vanity press will rarely have anything on the market, even Amazon.
  • Unsolicited Offer. You’re scanning your email and in bold letters it opens with “We love your writing and want to publish your book.” Delete, delete as fast as you can. If you haven’t queried a publishing company, agent, or editor, this is probably a scheme to sell you thousands of your own book.
  • Track Record. What is the track record of the company? If you’re working with a hybrid company, buy a couple of the books they have published. Look at the details as mentioned in in part two of this series.
  • Ask the Authors. Contact authors who have worked with the service provider you are considering. If none are listed on the company’s website, ask for referrals.
  • Check with Fellow Writers. Through Facebook and other forums ask about the company you are considering. Writers Beware, sponsored by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SWFA), is one of the oldest websites with information about publishing scams. https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/.

Buyer Beware

It’s a trite but true saying. We all love to hear from someone in the publishing business tell us our manuscript is wonderful, what great writers we are. It’s all too easy, even for a more experienced writer to succumb to the praise. Most scams can be avoided by taking time to consider the offer (remember, “If it’s too good to be true …) and do even a little research. Don’t let someone take your dream or your money.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Telltale Signs of a Novice Self-Publisher by Susan K. Stewart

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One reason some writers won’t consider self-publication is the number of poor-quality books produced. It can be seen in everything from no editing to unprofessional formatting. Knowing what makes a book look amateurish will help avoid this obstacle.

Formatting
It is possible to format a book or e-book without the help of a professional. Simple e-books without a lot of images can be formatted in Word. Print books can also be formatted with Word, but it’s trickier with page numbers, headers and footers, blank pages, and so on. A professional designer will have tools to make your book look great. Like professional editing, a professional designer goes a long way to ensuring a quality book readers will want and recommend.

The use of unusual fonts goes on the formatting list. Generally, one serif style for content (Georgia, Century Book, Times New Roman) and one sans serif for headings (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica). Some designers think Times New Roman and Arial are over-used.

It’s the Details
The little details mean the difference between a professional-looking book and a D-I-Y-look.

Print books

  • Take a look at books in your genre to get an idea of the correct interior design. Here are some of the elements missed by self-publishers.
  • Numbers on blank pages. Blank pages should be just that—blank.
  • Headers on blank pages. Ditto above.
  • All chapters start on the left-hand page. Some self-publishers try to cut cost by removing all blank pages. This screams amateur.
  • Not enough white space. A page with a lot of print is hard to read even with the best of eyesight. A little larger space between lines and wider margins help the reader enjoy your book.

E-books

  • Large sections of blank space. Incorrectly formatted files for an e-book can cause large empty spaces in the middle of a chapter. I’ve even seen it happen in the middle of paragraph.
  • No clickable links. E-book readers have come to expect clickable links to move around the book and access websites. Many programs that convert documents to e-book files automatically convert URLs to links to the internet. Word and other programs automatically create clickable table of contents, when formatted correctly. Links within the manuscript may need to be inserted manually.
  • Attempting to make the e-book like the print book. This certainly can be done. For most general audiences, though, a standard e-book format is desirable. One of the drawbacks of a duplicate of the print design is the lack of ability to change the font size.

And What Else

  • Front Matter Errors

Far too many self-published books have no copyright page and table of contents. Some of these also have warning labels about duplication in the footer of every page. Speaking of warning labels, often new writer/publisher insert a page with huge warnings about not violating copyright.

In the print editions, a half title page is often missing. A half title page isn’t used in an e-book, so a novice self-publisher may not know to add one to the print edition.

Other little details in the front matter are the use of “by” before the author’s name, “forward” instead of “foreword,” no publisher information, no ISBN. (I know Amazon doesn’t require it, but it screams “self-published by a newbie.”)

  • Poor Images

It’s important for images to be the correct size and resolution. Small images can’t always be seen. If an attempt is made to enlarge it, the image will be blurry or pixelated (look like it’s straight out of Minecraft or Legoland). Poor resolution sometimes has the same effect. What works on a website may not work in a print or e-book. (For a discussion of image resolution, read this article https://snapshop.cam/dpi/.)

While we’re speaking of images, an author photo that is not a professional headshot also screams amateur. I’ve seen author photos cropped out of a family reunion picture or with a kid sticking out a tongue in the background.

  • No or Poor Editing

Many of us have cringed at editing errors, even in traditionally published books. Like design, editing should be left to the professionals. It may not be necessary for a new writer to pay cash for editing (I know; I can hear the gasping). I have traded editing services for other professional services. It is possible. Mark Wayne Adams has a good editing list. https://mwa.company/2016/08/17/30-telltale-signs-of-a-self-published-book/

  • Bad Cover

This is usually the number one item on a list of self-publishers’ mistakes. Whether an e-book or print book, if the cover doesn’t immediately attract the browsers attention the book will not sell. Cover design is another area best left to professionals.

Here are some cover design mistakes https://www.rockingbookcovers.com/book-cover-design/book-cover-design-mistakes/

The Book Designer has a list of articles about good cover design. https://www.thebookdesigner.com/book-design/

  • Review. Review. Review.

Be sure to thoroughly review a proof of your book, whether print or electronic. Give it to someone else to look for the little details that mark it as self-published.

Self-publishing shouldn’t mean poor-publishing. Well crafted, both in design and content, self-published books can win major awards, such as the Christy Award. With the attention to detail, the reader may never know the difference between self-published and traditionally published.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Why Consider Self-Publishing by Susan K. Stewart

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It’s not been long ago self-publishing was equated with loser writers. When someone said, “My book has been accepted by {add subsidy publisher of your choice},” and a traditionally-published writers nods condescendingly. Maybe mumbles, “Congratulations,” while thinking “You’re not a real writer.” Self-publishing meant “loser-publishing.”

Although the self-publishing image has changed in recent years, some writers and editors still look at it as less than professional. If that’s the case, why would a writer opt for self-publishing? Each writer has a personal reason, but a few rise to the top.

Market size

Have you heard memoirs don’t sell? When you read editorial needs of many publishers, memoirs are just one example of manuscripts dismissed immediately. Hmm, then one must ask, “Why are there so many memoirs in bookstores?”

Memoir writers aren’t the only ones who have viable products, but the market is perceived as too small or over-crowded for traditional publishers. Poetry and essays are among other genres not considered by most traditional publishers.

Niche markets can be quite profitable. Good books within a specialize niche are candidates for self-publishing.

Time

Let’s face it, the publishing industry is slow. It can take up to two years for a book to go from contract to bookstores. Most writers want their book published sooner rather than later. Especially for timely manuscripts, the potential market may be gone before publication. While the writing and editing process may not be faster, the time from finished manuscript to publication through self-publishing is.

Never Out-Of-Print

The self-published author decides when to remove their book from publication. It’s possible for a book to never go out of print. The book can be in publication as long as the writer desires.

Lower Prices to Consumer

Without the overhead of a large publishing company, it’s possible for a self-published book to be sold at a lower price. As long as quality is maintained, many buyers will buy the lower price product.

Author Earns More

Often in today’s publishing world, advances are low. Jane Friedman says 70% of authors don’t earn out their advance. Meaning after the initial check, there will be no more paychecks from the book. Once an author has paid for the expenses of self-publishing, all the profit is theirs.

Control

Once a traditional publishing contract is signed, the author has little say about the book. The publisher decided everything from title to the number of copies printed. Self-publishing allows the writer the opportunity to these decisions.

Locality

A book geared to a specific location also won’t attract the attention of the traditional houses. Some regional publishers will pick up these books. Often, though, it requires self-publishing to get it in the market. Here’s a list of regional publishers to consider https://spawn.org/resources/research-resources-regional-publishing-organizations/

Legacy

Some of our books aren’t really meant for wide-distribution. These may be family histories, an organization cookbook, memories or wisdom we want to leave for future generations. While some of them may be sold as fund-raisers, others only need to cover costs. Self-publishing is the only option for these books.

Traditional publication may be seen as giving legitimacy to our efforts. Self-publishing may be seen as way to get a message to the readers. The reasons for choosing one publishing option over another vary. Individual writers must look at their own situation to choose what is best for them and their book.

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Preschool: At What Cost?, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. She brings her inspiring and encouraging messages to online and in-person conferences about families, writing, and editing. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Editor Interview: Susan Stewart

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Susan Headshot 1024Good morning (or afternoon, depending on when you’re stopping by). This month we’re welcoming back Susan K. Stewart from Practical Inspirations. She provided a guest post in January, but this month she’s giving us a little more insight into her life as a professional editor.

 

Welcome back, and thanks to agreeing to be here. To get started, when did you start writing/editing professionally?

I started writing professionally while in high school (more years ago than one wants to admit). I worked for a local daily and wrote one-paragraph fillers. Eventually I worked my way up to attending city council meetings so I could take notes, and a “real” reporter would write the article. The most fun I had with that job were my regular duties in the sports department Friday and Saturday. That was during the time when a woman in sports reporting was unheard of (sacrilegious in some minds). Phones calls would go like this:

ME: Sports department.
CALLER: Uhhhh … can you connect me with the sports department?
ME: This is the sports department.
CALLER: Uhhh … can you ask someone the scores for the games?
ME: GHS 21, LHS 15 – SHS 12, BHS 6 …

It was always tempting to say “No, I can’t ask anyone.”

I began editing about twenty years ago as a favor for a friend. The editor for her publication was ill and she need to get the magazine out. Less than a year later, I had the position.

Why did you want to be a freelance writer/editor?

I know it sounds trite, but I can’t not write. It is my first calling. I was one of the students that others hated because I enjoyed writing reports and term papers. English composition was a favorite class. It is the method God uses my gift of teaching.

I often quip that I edit to support my hobby of writing. God actually led me to editing, not just for income, but also for learning. I have become a better writer because of my experience editing. I enjoy the process and the learning, but it isn’t my first gift.

I began freelancing because I homeschooled. It was perfect to stay home, use my gifts, and earn some income we needed at the time. It still works for me.

What’s your specialty/focus? Why/how did you pick this?

I edit and write non-fiction. I write in three specific areas: homeschooling, mental illness in the family, and being prepared. All of these fall under the general term of family. I also write about e-publishing, but it’s not my main focus.

Homeschooling publications have been the focus of my editing. I edit books, stories, magazines, and so on.

About three years ago, after going through the process of publishing an e-book, I found that many writers are afraid of formatting an e-book because it seems so technical. I developed two classes, “Introduction to e-Publishing” and “Creating and Formatting an e-Book.” I teach both of these classes for the Christian PEN. From this experience, I’ve started e-editing. That is going through a manuscript to see that it is ready for uploading and converting to an  e-book.

What’s your favorite part of this kind of work?

Research. I can research a subject to death. I also enjoy helping people with practical everyday solutions.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome during your career?

Me. I procrastinate. I’m a perfectionist. I lacked confidence in my gifts. Cecil Murphey helped me have confidence in the gift God has given me and procrastination and perfectionism were excuses. He taught me to be kind to myself.

What’s surprised you the most during your career?

I was surprised to learn that best-selling authors have the same insecurities as I do. They go through the same blocks and make similar mistakes that I make.

If you could give a new freelance writer/editor one piece of advice, what would it be?

This was given to me years ago (and I wish I could remember who said it): quit reading about writing, quit going to conferences about writing, quit taking classes on writing – write.

If you could do one thing differently in your career, what would it be?

This is a tough question. I believe every hurdle I’ve had have brought me to where I’m at now. Each step has been good for me and my career.

What’s your favorite kind of work? Why?

I like writing and speaking about how-to. This doesn’t always mean step-by-step. How-to can be encouraging when someone is stuck and needs to know someone else has traveled the path and lived to tell about it.

What does your work space/office look like?

Piles. I love my piles. I have piles of books, piles of files, and piles of paperclips. I amaze my husband that I can find anything. There are shelves and file cabinets for the piles I don’t need at the moment.

What is your go-to snack when working?

Oh dear, do I have to confess? Although I want to head straight for the chocolate sometimes, I try to stick to protein snacks – cheese sticks, boiled eggs, protein bars. I also love to grab a few baby carrots now and then.

Excluding the CMOS (that’s a given) what one editing resource would you recommend? Why?

No writer or editor should be without Strunk and White’s Elements of Style.  I still go through it once a year to remind myself of simple and concise writing practices.

If you could only recommend one writing resource, what would it be? Why?

Pen and paper. I don’t write in longhand any longer, but I do keep pen and paper handy for ideas. It’s always there; it always works. I also edit with paper and pen.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

You can find me online at www.practicalinspirations.com.

Thank you so much for appearing on my blog. Have a blessed day!

E-book Editing by Susan Stewart

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Desctop composition with annual report & glasses

“I tried to upload my file for an e-book, but it isn’t working.” “I’d like to offer a Kindle book, but it’s too complicated.” “I thought I followed all of the instructions, but my e-book looks terrible.”

These are a few of the comments that prompted me to start offering e-editing as part of my services. During the process of formatting my own e-books, I learned there are details that can easily be missed. Even if you’ve never formatted or published an e-book, you can e-edit by looking for common problems.

What To Look For During Editing

Charts, graphs, tables, photos

Images require special handling. Each publisher has specific size, placement, and even file type requirements. Encourage your client to know what is required before adding images. Another problem you can look for is landscape layout of images, charts, or tables. E-readers allow screen rotation from portrait to landscape, but the image won’t change orientation. It will still be “sideways” when the reader turns the device. While image files aren’t hard to include, your client needs to know the requirements and pitfalls.

Footnotes and page numbers

Footnotes need to be endnotes. E-readers give users options for size of fonts. And e-books are one long page, rather than individual pages as in a print version. These characteristics mean there is no way to know exactly where a header or footer will land in the e-reader, which also means page numbers can’t be used.

Symbols

Mark Coker of Smashwords says, “If it isn’t on the keyboard, it probably won’t work.” Not even simple symbols like the copyright symbol will convert correctly. Other options are needed, such as using the word “copyright.”

Sidebars and pull quotes

Pull quotes and sidebars don’t format well. As an editor you may not see pull quotes, but you’ll see the sidebars. If your client plans to have the additional material in a sidebar, it will need to be handled differently than with print. If the material is integral to the manuscript, then include it in the text. If it’s supplemental, put it in an appendix.

Paragraphs and line spacing

There is a general rules for paragraphs indentation and line spacing.

  • Fiction:  Indent the paragraphs with no line spacing between paragraphs.
  • Non-fiction: No indentation, with the possible exception of the first paragraph of a chapter, and has a line space between paragraphs.

Other little details

  • Encourage your client to use standard fonts. E-readers offer choices in font size and style. Standard serif for body text and san serif for chapter heads and sub-heads are recommended.
  • Use simple chapter titles. Simple chapter titles make the table of contents easier to create and easier for the reader to get a glimpse of the content.
  • Don’t add an index. With the search function of e-readers, an index isn’t necessary.

For more an editor’s e-editing checklist http://practicalinspirations.com/1137-2/

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

You may be asked about using digital rights management. This is a method of protecting a document from being duplicated, and in some cases, from being printed. It also prevents moving from one device to another. This is an issue the writer must decide. For more information on digital rights management http://practicalinspirations.com/1133-2/

If you know that your client is publishing an e-book, you can offer advice that will make it easier to format the book. Your client may only need answers to basic questions, or you may offer these details as part of your comprehensive editing. Whatever the situation, by knowing these few details, you can guide your client to a good product.

Susan Stewart—

Known for practical solutions to real-world situations, Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker. Susan teaches Steps to Your Homeschool Philosophy, Writing for the Homeschool Market, Creating and Formatting e-Books http://thechristianpen.com/learning-center/2016-e-mail-courses/, and other classes online and at conferences. Susan is the author of three books, including Preschool: At What Cost? Her newest book, Practical Guide: Formatting e-Books for Writers, is due to be released in February. Susan lives in Texas with her husband, Bob, three dogs, three cats, five chickens, and a peacock. The Stewarts have three children and five grandchildren. www.practicalinspirations.com. http://www.practicalinspirations.com

 

ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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