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Melbourne Rare Book Week 2024

Melbourne Rare Book Week 2024

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Melbourne Rare Book Week is on and we are all invited to immerse ourselves in a wide range of events from Thursday 18th July 2024 through Saturday 27th July 2024.

Learn about various elements of books: content, publishing, book selling and the impact of books from the past on contemporary Australia.

Melbourne Rare Book week is ‘books meet history’.

 

E. W. Coles book arcade

E. W. Coles book arcade

It’s on again! It’s the 10th year of this highly successful event. There are a whole lot of lectures and events for every book loving author and non-author to indulge. How does this relate to self-publishing? As a self-published author your book can be instantly rare. Short run printing means that your book might quickly enter the state of ‘rare’. Webster’s dictionary defines rare as seldom occurring or found.

Here’s a recent  book done by Green Hill Publishing that has all the hallmarks of rarity; a limited edition of only 200 print copies and a format one-half a metre square: Between The Wars. The content itself is extremely rare. The printed book is  instantly rare and will be come rarer over time.

What’s on at Melbourne Rare Book week?

There’s something for everyone – over 40 events in total. And they are all FREE!

Melbourne Rare Book Week program

And don’t forget the Melbourne Rare Book Fair – a great part of Rare Book Week!

Are rare books in demand? Are rare books desirable? Yes they are. And the Melbourne rare Book Fair is where you can add to your rare book collection.

You might like to consider a guided tour of the Fair, it’s well worth the time.

Melbourne Rare Book Fair
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In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

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What is involved in editing a book?

What is involved in editing a book?

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Editing is one of the most important things when it comes to publishing your book. You need to be confident in the work that is being put out into the world, and the work needs to be polished and final before being released. But what is involved in editing a book? There can be some myths and uncertainties around the process, so if you’re unsure about what to expect, this article is for you!

Contents

1. What is editing for self-publishing books in Australia?
2. Different types of editing
3. What is good editing?
4. Should a self-published author self-edit their own book?
5. When should a self-published author start to self-edit their book?

1. What is editing for self-published books in Australia?

Editing is the procedure of revising and/or correcting written content (like your manuscript) to improve the quality, accuracy, and readability of the text. This can include grammar and punctuation, structure of the content, and fact-checking.

Editing a book can take place at various stages in the publishing process, including before submission to a publisher or after the manuscript has been accepted. However, editing needs to be completed before any final amendments have been made to files and before printing is organised. 

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2. Different types of editing

When we talk about editing a book, the common assumption that people make is to jump directly to fixing typos, grammar, and punctuation. But there is a lot more to editing than that. There are actually three distinct types of book editing and an editor can specialise in one or more of these areas.

2.1 Structural/development editing

Structural editing focuses on the overall structure and organisation of the manuscript. It’s an in-depth form of editing as it involves looking at the bigger picture of the story and making recommendations on how to improve the overall flow, pacing, and coherence of the story.

A structural editor will examine whole manuscript and address things like:

  • The overall plot and the development of the manuscript.
  • Character development and how the characters are perceived and portrayed.
  • Pacing and how well the story flows.
  • Themes and how they are explored.
  • Style and the tone of the manuscript.
  • Dialogue and how it is written.

Based on the observations that the editor has made, suggestions such as cutting out unnecessary scenes and dialogue, moving parts of the story around, and adding new scenes, will be made.

2.2 Copyediting

Copyediting focuses on the technical aspects of a manuscript such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency. The editor’s goal of copyediting is to ensure that the manuscript is error free and easy for a reader to follow.

A copyeditor will:

  • Check the manuscript for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
  • Check for consistency in style and formatting.
  • Verify that the manuscript adheres to specific style guidelines or publisher guidelines.
  • Check for inconsistences throughout the story.
  • Check the manuscript for logical fallacies and factual issues.

Copyediting is completed after the manuscript has been developed and structured, and before it has been typeset and printed by the publisher. It helps to ensure that the manuscript is polished before it gets into the hands of readers. The editor will work with the author to make sure the manuscript is clear, concise, and error free.

2.3 Proofreading

Proofreading is typically the final stage of the editing process and focuses on catching any errors that may remain and polishing up the manuscript ready to be published. The goal of proofreading is the ensure the manuscript is as error free as possible and that it presents well for readers.

During the proofreading process, the editor will:

  • Check for remaining spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
  • Check for consistency in style and formatting.
  • Verify that the manuscript adheres to any specific style guide or publisher’s guidelines.
  • Check for typographical errors.
  • Check the manuscript for consistency, such as numbering, headings, and cross-references.

In proofreading, the editor will review the manuscript one final time, looking for any minor errors that may have slipped through into the final manuscript. Proofreading should be done on the final manuscript, which is the version intending to be printed and published.

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3. What is good editing?

Good editing is the process of improving the overall quality and accuracy of a manuscript to ensure it is clear, cohesive, and engaging for the intended audience. It’s a collaborative process between the editor and author, where the editor provides feedback and suggestions to help the author make the manuscript as good as it can be.

Good editing can be categorised by the following aspects:

  • Attention to detail: A good editor will carefully review the manuscript and catch any errors that appear in the manuscript (such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency).
  • Clarity and coherence: A good editor will help the author make sure the manuscript is easy to understand, has a clear and consistent flow of scenes and is well organised.
  • Honesty and objectivity: A good editor will provide honest and objective feedback on the manuscript, point out areas for improvement and offer suggestions on how to make the manuscript stronger.
  • Respect for the authors voice: A good editor will improve the manuscript without changing the authors style, tone, or voice.
  • Meeting the needs of the intended audience: A good editor will meet the needs of the intended audience and make sure it is suitable for them.

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4. Should a self-published author self-edit their own book?

It’s always a good idea to self-edit your book before sending it to an editor. This way, the editor can focus their efforts on the details and issues that you’ve missed instead of trying to help you essentially rewrite your first draft.

Self-editing can be a challenging process, but it can also be rewarding, too. Below are some tips we’ve put together to help you with the editing process and to ensure you have self edited your book effectively:

  • Take a break: Put your manuscript away for a while. This will help you come back to it with fresh eyes and a clear mind.
  • Read your manuscript out loud: This can help to catch errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure that may not be noticed when reading silently.
  • Check for consistency: Make sure your manuscript is consistent with style, tone, and point of view. It is also important to check that the characters are consistent throughout the book and that their actions, thoughts, and words work with their personalities.
  • Check for plot holes: Make sure the plot of your book is logical and that there are no inconsistences or plot holes.
  • Check for pacing issues: Make sure the pacing of your manuscript is appropriate. A book that is too slow can be boring but one that is too fast can leave the reader lost.
  • Cut unnecessary elements: It is okay to be ruthless in cutting unnecessary words, sentences, and scenes that do not enhance the story, plot, and characters.
  • Get feedback: Share your manuscript with friends, family, or beta readers to get some feedback on the manuscript. This can help identify areas which may need improvements that you can’t see as the author.

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5. When should a self-published author self-edit their book?

The best time to edit your book depends on a variety of factors, such as your writing process and personal preferences.

However, there are a few guidelines which can help you decide on when to begin the editing process.

  1. Wait until the first draft is complete: This means a full run- through of the manuscript can be done and allows the author to focus on getting their thoughts and ideas down without worrying about changes or revisions needing to be made.
  2. Set a deadline: Give your self a firm deadline to finish the first draft of your manuscript and schedule a specific date to start the editing.
  3. Take breaks: After you’ve been writing for a certain amount of time, you should take a break. This will give you a chance to step away from the manuscript and come back to it with fresh, clear eyes.
  4. Edit as you go: Some authors prefer to edit the manuscript as they are plodding along, making revisions and changes as they write. This can help keep the manuscript focused and on track.

Ultimately, the best time to start editing your manuscript is when you feel that you are ready. This will vary depending on each writer, but it is important to make sure you take the time to revise and edit your manuscript so it’s the best it can be. It is also important to make sure you are giving your publisher the final manuscript before any design or typesetting takes place.

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The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details

How to submit your manuscript to Green Hill Publishing

How to submit your manuscript to Green Hill Publishing

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Nearly every publisher, no matter how big or small, has guidelines for manuscript submissions. Green Hill Publishing is no different. Read this blog and learn about our submission guidelines and how to use our templates. 

Contents

  1. Why do you have submission guidelines?
  2. What happens if I submit my manuscript with incorrect formatting?
  3. How to use Green Hill’s Word Template and Styles Guide
  4. Where do I find the submission documents?

1. Why do you have submission guidelines?

Green Hill have developed submission guidelines to simplify the process of bringing your manuscript into our design software for typesetting. It ensures that we have the same understanding of your content as you do. Our designers can then focus more on the readability and design of the book. Having a submission guideline makes sure nothing gets lost in translation and can help cut down the need for design revisions, making the process smoother and often faster. 

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2. What happens if I submit my manuscript with incorrect formatting?

If you submit your manuscript without using our template and style guide, or if you have incorrectly used the template and style guide, we will flag this with you and give you a couple of options moving forward. 

The first option is to allow you to reformat the manuscript and submit a new version to Green Hill. This gives you the chance to correct it yourself and ensure that everything is formatted in the way you are happy with. 

The second option is for one of Green Hill’s Microsoft Word specialists to go through your manuscript and format it. This is done at an hourly rate and will be extra on top of your publishing package. It’s also good to note that, in the case of complex manuscripts (i.e. business books, textbooks, etc.), the specialist styling your manuscript may misinterpret headings etc in your book. 

Of course, if you are having any trouble understanding the template, or you can’t work out what the most suitable option is for your book, contact us so we can guide you. 

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3. How to use Green Hill’s Word Template and Styles Guide

3.1 Using the Word Template

When you open the word template from your Green Hill Submission Guideline Documents folder, it will look mostly blank. 

Firstly, what you’re going to do is to click “Enable Editing” in the banner up the top of document. This will allow you to make changes in the document. Then, you must get into the settings to set the document up properly to allow for the formatting. Go to “File” and click on “Options”. 

How to change advanced option settings in word

This will bring up a pop-up. From there, go to “Advanced,” scroll down to “Cut, copy, paste,” and change “Pasting between documents” to “Merge Formatting” and click “OK.” 

How to change advanced option settings in word

Now that the settings have been successfully altered, you need to open your manuscript document up in a separate window and copy and paste all of the text. If you’re comfortable with keyboard short-cuts, use Ctrl+A to highlight all of the text. 

Alternatively, if you’re not comfortable with short-cuts, you can use the “Select All” button. First, go to the Home tab and find the “Select” dropdown. Then click on “Select All”. 

How to select all in word

If you’ve written your manuscript in multiple files, open them one at a time, select and copy all the text, and paste it into our word template in the correct order. It’s important to note the last part of those instructions as the team at Green Hill will assume you’ve ordered your manuscript correctly. 

Next, you’ll need to open your styles pane. To do this, go to “Home,” and click the downwards arrow in the styles section. The Styles Plane will open to the right of the screen.

How to open the styles pane in word

You’ll then need to ensure that you are only seeing the styles that we have recommended as Word has its own inbuilt styles that we don’t need. To do this, go to the style pane and click “Options,” then choose “Recommended” from the first dropdown menu and click “OK.” 

Now it’s time to use the styles to format your manuscript! 

3.2 Using the Styles Guide

For fiction authors, applying styles to your manuscript should be straightforward as you shouldn’t have too much differentiation of text in your manuscript. However, for authors with complex manuscripts like business books, some non-fiction books, textbooks, etc. the process of deciding which style to use can get a little tricky.  

At the end of the day, it is okay if you choose the wrong style so long as you are CONSISTENT. 

Keep a notepad next to you and write down what styles you’re using for particular elements of your text. This way, if you’ve chosen the wrong style, the team at Green Hill will be able to switch it out for a more appropriate one much easier. 

If you’re not familiar with styles in Microsoft Word, don’t be daunted! We will go through how to use them step-by-step and if you still don’t quite understand, there is an instructional video you can watch. 

Firstly, open up the Styles Guide document from your Green Hill Submission Guideline Documents folder. It’s a PDF which has a lot of information about how to set up your document for styling, how to use styles, and a styles A-Z. Right now, we’re interested in the Styles A-Z chapter, so skip down to there. 

your styles guide

The Styles A-Z chapter runs through every style in your template and what it is typically used for. As your final design of your book won’t look like your formatted manuscript, don’t worry too much about the look of the styles. When deciding on a style, it’s always best to choose based on their described use.  

When getting ready to use styles, it’s a good idea to either print out the Styles A-Z chapter or to have your screen split between these two documents. This is so that you can view both at the same time, allowing you to quickly reference the styles A-Z document while you format your manuscript.  

viewing two documents on one screen

Have a scroll through the different styles and make a note of which ones look appropriate for your manuscript. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to finally get formatting! 

To apply a style, highlight the paragraph you want to change and then scroll through the styles pane until you find the appropriate style, then simply click on it. Go through the whole manuscript and do this for every paragraph. 

select the text to change the style
Before and after formatting your document

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4. Where do I find the submission documents?

On our company website, we have a webpage dedicated to submitting your manuscript. It briefly details the steps that need to be undertaken and also features a helpful video tutorial that will walk you through the process.

You can find this webpage here: https://greenhillpublishing.com.au/submit-your-manuscript/

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SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Featured Blog Posts:

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No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details