Publication - more Manuscript

5 November 2011, Publication - 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/. 

You get the prepared manuscript from your publisher.  It usually comes to you as a pdf.  Your publisher will usually not give you an editable file.  This is purposeful.  Once the manuscript is prepared in this fashion, your publisher wants to reduce the changes.  The way they reduce changes is by making those changes difficult for you.  By this time, the manuscript should be near publication ready--so you shouldn't need to make too many changes.  You need to have a method of communicating any changes to the manuscript with your publisher. 

I suggest that you use a word processor to cut and paste from the pdf.  Use bold to indicate changes and <> for notes and comments.  You can make extensive changes and comments this way.  You will definitely need to make notes and comments--your publisher will have many changes and questions for you in the manuscript.  Until you answer your publisher's questions your manuscript won't get published.
 
Tomorrow, more editing.

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/.