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This week: Ready to Print, Not to Change Edited by: Vivian  
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Your manuscript is accepted. You have a contract. You've gone through an intense editing process. The time has arrived for your book to go to the printer, and ...
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Ready to Print -- Not time for changes
Most writers and illustrators know that a manuscript is edited, formatted, proofread, designed, copy-edited, and approved by the author and, if illustrated, by the illustrator. They know that they need to have all errors corrected and all revisions made before a final approval is given.
Then why do so many want to add something or change something after the final approval? A message stating, "Since this hasn't been sent to the printer yet, please change my name to XYZ," or "I want to add a dedication. I realize I should have done this earlier, but ..." is not a message any designer or editor or publisher wants to receive. Each person seems to think his or her manuscript/book is the only one the designer or publisher has on the schedule, that anything else can wait until this person's additions or changes are made. Never mind that the staff has moved the files to the printer and begun working on the next item.
So, what is the process leading to a book being printed? Let's look at what happens.
1. The manuscript is accepted and a contract offered.
2. An editor is assigned, and editor and author work as a team to make the manuscript the best it can be. If an illustrated book, illustrations are finished.
3. The manuscript is proofed by the head of the editorial department or other editorial staff.
4. The designer formats the manuscript, including cover, illustrations if any, dedications, acknowledgements, author bio (and illustrator bio, if illustrated), and all other components.
5. A PDF proof is sent to the author and illustrator, if there is one.
6. Author and designer copy edit the PDF/proof.
7. After all corrections and revisions, a final PDF proof is sent to the author for a final approval (major houses don't usually give this option to authors).
8. Designer then prepares a distilled PDF of the interior and of the cover, which is sent to the person who uploads files to the printer. In the case of 4RV Publishing, that is the publisher.
9. After the approval by the author (who should have examined the proof PDFs very carefully before approving), changing anything is too late and is costly.
10. IF an author decides changes are needed after she/he approves the proof and/or the files go to the printer, the author must pay for time involved and fees to the printer (at least when a small press is used, if a major company, nothing is changed).
After files are sent by the designer to the person who uploads them to printer, the designer begins working on the next item or items on his/her schedule. Any changes to a project passed on results in the designer having to neglect someone else's project, disrupting a schedule already full.
Therefore, a note to writers: Be sure you send any wanted dedications, acknowledgments, short bio, and photo to the head of the art department and publisher at the beginning of the editing process. Illustrators need to send their short bio and photo in early in the process, also.
Let's all work together without creating problems along the way, problems that can be avoided with a bit of forethought. |
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For Authors: August 31, 2011 Issue [#4555]
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