Glenn Johnson, Diligence Consulting

If you decide to self publish, you will probably need some help with the steps needed to get your book made. As someone who works in the publishing industry I can help you with most of these steps.

Copy Editing: Most people don’t seem to know that there is a difference between editing and proofreading. All new manuscripts, whether self published or not, need to be copy edited by someone other than the author. A fresh set of eyes can see the mistakes that can be missed by someone who is too close to the work. A copy editor also knows what to look out for that might get you into legal trouble if your book is controversial, and can advise you on changes you can make, and can advise on the overall structure of the work.

Typesetting: Typesetting is mainly about formatting the edited manuscript ready for printing — getting the layout done and selecting how it will look on the printed page. For purely text based work, such as a novel, sometimes proficiency with a word processing program such as Microsoft Word is sufficient, but if you have pictures or diagrams to include, or if a higher quality layout is desired, then the use of professional page design software may be necessary. I can perform all these tasks for you, or engage the services of a professional typesetter if your needs are complex.

Proofreading: Proofreading is the necessary task of re-reading the book when it has been typeset. Although the text has been corrected for its textual flaws by the copy editing process, the process of laying out the book can introduce errors, and this is particularly the case where pictures and diagrams are concerned.

Printing and Binding: This is where it will be necessary to negotiate the choices of printing and binding and the associated costs. These days self publishing can be done online, and I recommend BookPal, a local Australian publisher who will take your prepared book and cover art, and send back to you a shipment of finished books. The cost is determined by the size and quantity and the type of binding you would prefer. If you like I can provide advice in these matters.