Publication - even more Manuscript

6 November 2011, Publication - even more Manuscript

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/. 

The prepared manuscript is in front of you.  It looks beautiful, just like a published book.  Embedded in it are all kinds of questions and corrections.  Now, you have to edit it for publication.

The first thing I do (after looking through the manuscript to see generally the publisher's questions), is I fire it off to my prepublication readers.  I have about four readers I can trust.  I give them two weeks to get back to me with comments.  While my readers and going over the manuscript, I begin the first edit. 

On the first edit, I usually make a run through of the work to see exactly what the publisher wants to have fixed.  I don't worry about their edits.  On this run through, I'll make corrections that I note.  The second run through is more in depth.  I send it back to the publisher at this point. 

By the time my publisher gets back with the manuscript, my prepub readers have finished their reviews.  This is when I insert their corrections and I make an edit where I read the manuscript out loud.  This is my final run through.  When I am done.  I send these corrections to the publisher.

When I get the last (hopefully) manuscript, I make one last spelling check of the entire novel.  You cut the entire pdf into word or you can also try to open it in word (some versions might do it).  If I don't find any spelling errors or grammar errors, I give the publisher the go ahead to publish.
 
Tomorrow, editing in depth.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.