Hello readers,
I am excited and I have been waiting for a long time to write this post. This post is about my new book “Some Another Day.”
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It’s a poetry book that collects romantic poems. All the poems are about relationships, love, and romance. Every phase comes in love……..penned rhythmically. Maybe you all relate to your own situations and enjoy the poems and recite these for your soulmates and partners. See you all with the new book soon.
Love,
Mohit Manraaj
Hello readers,
I am excited and I have been waiting for a long time to write this post. This post is about my new book “Some Another Day.”
It’s a poetry book that collects romantic poems. All the poems are about relationships, love, and romance. Every phase comes in love……..penned rhythmically. Maybe you all relate to your own situations and enjoy the poems and recite these for your soulmates and partners. See you all with the new book soon.
Love,
Mohit Manraaj
I have been asked many times about the publishing process. Here, I wrote the publishing process in detail to help newbie writers. There are two ways to be published. First published traditionally and second self-published (independently). Achieving success either traditionally or independently requires dedication and hard work. I shared my experience here, which will help you along your publishing journey.
Click on the links given below:
If you are an aspiring author and are writing your first book, then be familiar with the publishing process. Here I explained a few processes usually followed in a standard publishing house. It includes
Editing
Proofreading
Illustrations
Book Formatting
Cover Design
Editing
No one writes well in the first attempt. To create a good manuscript, it needs to be edited many times. First by the author him/herself. Then, edited by a professional editor at the publishing house.
Sometimes authors collaborate with freelance editors. And the editor will be credited for his/her work in detail.
The editing process can be classified as:
Developmental editing (conceptual editing)
Substantive editing (structural editing)
Line editing
Copy editing
Proofreading
Here I am explaining the four editing process
Structural editing
Line editing
Copy editing
Proofreading
1. Substantive editing (structural editing) - The editor organizes the whole manuscript and its entire text presentation from the book title to the end of the book. In the substantive editing process, basically, the editor focuses on the
Content tone and its writing style
Structural arrangement
Language choice
Flow of the Content
Character development (for a fictional piece)
Consistent voice throughout the piece
2. Line editing - the editor will focus on each line including the word selection of writers. It is the examination of the writer’s imagination. If the editor catches a good word which expresses thought better than your one. It will be replaced by your one. The process is not limited to a few words. Sometimes a complete sentence may be replaced and sometimes a complete paragraph.
Line editing will be done many times until it matches the emotional flow of the story. It is about details in the story.
3. Copy editing - Copy editors improve the readability of authored content by removing grammatical and punctuation errors. Copy editors follow all the essential steps to make a manuscript error-free.
In the publishing houses, line editing and copy editing are budget-based processes. And essential to the manuscript of a novice writer.
4. Proofreading - It is the final process of a standard publishing process to apply a publishing-ready tick on a manuscript. The one who does proofreading is called a proofreader.
Proofreaders have a good command of the language. Skilled to correct the grammatical error, spelling mistakes, and misplaced punctuation. They have basic fact checker knowledge. Proofreaders mainly deal with the
Manuscript formatting issues
Grammatical errors
Word choice
Misplaced punctuation
Typos - typographical error
Hiring a proofreader and an editor for every book might be expensive for a new author. So, to become a successful author you should have the knowledge of proofreading and editing. Here I recommend a few free software to quickly proofread your content.
For error checking - Use Grammarly
To check plagiarism - Use a Plagiarism detector
To check and improve readability - the Hemingway editor app
A powerful proofread tool - writer.com
Illustrations-figures
To make the book more entertaining and interesting for the readers, the authors use illustrations.
If you are thinking to express the characters in your story more significantly, I suggest drawing. If you are not good at drawing, then hire an illustrator. And depict the story scene and characters according to your imagination and as per demand in the story.
In an academic book, illustrations are very useful for students and teachers to understand the concepts.
However, in children’s books, illustration and figures are assumed to be essential and remarkably noted to provide a glimpse of an imaginative world. Illustrations make the story process easy to understand and made the content enjoyable. And it is also noted to play a vital role in setting the book sale remarkable.
I recommend publishing your book with illustrations and fulfilling your dream. If you have no idea about it, relax. The editor, illustrator, and publishing expert will guide you in the creation of a perfect book for your readers.
Book Formatting
Book Formatting is a time-consuming process and expensive too. To avoid time consumption, I recommend preparing your book format in the initial stage while writing. And it will improve during the editing process.
Here are a few steps to make your book printable.
During writing process
Pre-prepared a rough format for each page that you are writing or editing.
Leave space for the Title
Leave space for figures or mark that place
Insert table if needed
During writing provide space between paragraphs (roughly)
Avoid getting perfect in the first move. Leave it for the editing process. It will come with time and repetition.
During editing process
Follow all the editing processes mentioned above
Remove all the errors in the written text
Check its readability, and emotional flow. If not satisfied, improve it
Check the table content and its representation
Paste the good quality figures in the selected space.
Maintain the space between the paragraphs, lines and words.
Be ensure to highlight the headings, titles, and important content.
If you want to decorate any specific space, then leave it for interior design
Thus a rough format of your book will be ready during the writing and editing process. As you completed your manuscript. Now make it print-ready by applying the book formatting process.
It Includes
Size of the book
Page Margin size
Font size & style
Paragraphs/prose adjusting
1. Size of the book - The book size varies from book to book novel, poetry, storybooks, children's book or academic book, etc. Here are a few sizes, usually used for the mentioned category.
4.25″ x 6.75″
5″ x 8″
5.5″ x 8.5″
6″ x 9″
To select your book size, pick a relative genre book from your bookshelf. And measure its size by a scale. When selecting a book size aware of the production cost of the book. As size directly affects the production cost of the book and affects its MRP.
2. Page Margin Size - Look at any page of the selected book. And note the space between the edge of the page and the text on that page. This space is called page margin. Page margin includes the header size (top margin), footer size (bottom margin), right margin and left margin. Measure the selected book margin size by scale.
Apply the noted size to the header and footer of your book. You may change it according to the book's needs.
3. Font size & style - Choose a perfect font for your creations i.e. Poems, Shayari, Nazms, Gazals and Stories. As these creations are sensitive and touch the heart with just a glimpse of them.
The font style is also played a vital role in the respective genres of romantic, thriller, sad, and erotic stories etc.
For writing In Hindi cum English you can use font - Nirmala UI ( font size 10/11 or 12)
4. Paragraphing - Starting and Finishing a paragraph is very important. However, It is a part of writing skills and very very important. It totally depends on the writer’s wisdom, imagination and way of depicting the creation.
Paragraph breaks - Remember to break your long and lengthy written text into small paragraphs. It will be easy to mark for keep reading after the breaks. And to restart in their leisure, these breaks show their importance.
Thus following all the steps given above will result in a formatted manuscript saving your precious time and fund.
Cover Design
This is an important part of a book. And it should be done very professionally. Take time to finalize your book cover design.
If you have basic graphic design skills. Do not hesitate. Go for it and save your fund.
Here are a few criteria mentioned required to produce a book cover design.
Design your cover with 300 DPI (Printable)
Use Photoshop, and Coral Draw.
Canva for free cover design samples.
An eye-catching creative cover design will be able to grab the readers' attention but this is your writing skill and story emotions which will make the readers put your book in their cart.
Generally, we count the benefits of one product by comparing it with another. So, here are the advantages and disadvantages of Self-Publishing by comparing its services with traditional publishing. Based on my experience as a self-published author under guided publishing and DIY publishing. I share some pros and cons of self-publishing.
Pros
Longer Shelf Life
Less Time Consumption to Publish
Complete Control Over Rights | Non-Exclusive Agreement
Longer Shelf Life
A traditional publisher is always looking for a new writer with a unique writing style. If the publisher found the new one, then the new book will easily replace your one. Because the traditional publisher is working for the company. While a self-publisher cannot. If you are aware of the marketing of your book, you can easily be capable of maintaining the perfect space for your book on the shelf for a long time, as you desire.
Less Time Consumption to Publish
Self-Publishing takes a few weeks to publish the book. If the author submits a final print-ready manuscript. Then the book will be published within a month. Despite a self-publisher, a traditional publisher takes a long time to review the manuscript and reply to the author regarding the selection of their manuscript for publishing. And then the publishing process takes months or may be turned into a year.
Complete Control Over Rights | Non-Exclusive Agreement
One of the major benefits of Self-Publishing is the author has all rights and control over distribution. Self-publishing is done with a Non-Exclusive Agreement. This grants the authors to publish their book anywhere at any time.
Cons
Publishers' Low Distribution Scale
Publishing Fee | No Forefront Payout.
High MSP | Minimum Selling Price
Less Acclaim |
Publishers' Low Distribution Scale
It takes years to establish as well as to be recognized. So every self-publisher works within a budget limit. Since the reputed book stores mostly deal with recognized publishers. So, it is a difficult task to coax a well-reputed store manager for every book. In such a case, the publisher deals with a few offline stores with a low budget, and mostly self-publishers give licenses to the printing press vendors for a particular book within a particular period. The selection of books is a mutual understanding of the Publishers and Vendors. The reach of these vendors is limited to certain book stores, so they also work within the budget limits and print the books on demand.
High Publishing Fee | No Forefront Payout
Unlike a traditional publisher, the self-publisher does not pay any forefront amount to the author. Instead of it, a high amount of publishing fee is charged to bear all expenses incurred in the publishing process, marketing, printing and distribution.
MSP | Minimum Selling Price
Self-publishers give indirect freedom to the authors to allow them to choose the MRP of their book. But to run the company, the self-publisher set the minimum selling price of the book. Now, If you notice the publisher has chosen your book price already.
Less Acclaim
Self-publishing gives rapid exposure to the author but less acclaim. Alert reader trust in the recognised publishers and give priority to a Big Publisher. If you want the widest readership, then a traditional publisher will be a good option for you.
I have been asked for a lot of times about the selection of a good, self-publishing house. So, here I share.
Whenever you go to publish your debut book, whether it belongs to any genre? Remember the following things:
Publishing plan
Editing Service
Proofreading Service
Graphic design | Illustration
Marketing, SEO and Distribution
Royalty Pay-out Time | Author Copy Cost
Publishing plan
Every self-publishing house has its publishing plans, ranging from a couple of thousands to lakhs with a wide range of services. I share a bit about the variation in services that leads to the price difference. Most of the debut authors choose the basic plan, which includes all of the services mentioned above.
Editing | Proofreading services
As per the need of the publishing process, regular editing services are provided for the basic plans. Sometimes it includes the copyediting service which is for a few words. No line editing is provided until it is opted by the author.
If you are planning to opt for an editing service for your book. Be well aware of the editing services and the importance of each editing service in detail. Because it directly affects your manuscript content.
Why is it expensive?
Since the editor and proofreader charge per word. Due to this, hiring a full-time editor for each specific genre would be costly for publishers. So, in this case, freelance editors are being hired on a project basis and are paid for each word edited.
It is time-consuming work. And that is the main reason for being highly charged for the SILVER, GOLD and PLATINUM PLANS of the Publishing Houses.
Graphic Design | Illustrations
Usually, in the Basic Plan, the normal cover design is offered in comparison to the other cover design offered in plans like Silver, Gold etc. However, the author has a choice to customise the plan. Either opt for the premium cover design or basic cover design even in the basic plan. While the silver, Gold and platinum plan comes with a premium cover design.
Marketing, SEO and Distribution
One of the most important factors that must be observed by a debut author is the marketing services offered by Publisher.
The author should ask about the media promotion, news in a local newspaper, digital marketing, book launch, and listing on e-commerce stores.
In the Basic plan,
the book is listed nationally on e-commerce websites.
The best SEO facility for books is provided with one month of ads run campaigns.
And the limited distribution to the offline stores.
While in the other highly paid plans
The book is listed globally in almost all e-commerce stores
An exclusive interview of the Author in digital and print media.
Publisher invites celebrities and influencers to launch the book.
And makes the availability of the book in the offline book stores
Royalty Pay-out Time | Author Copy Cost
I noticed the debut authors ignore the earnings in terms of royalty which is very wrong. Here, I suggest If you are aspiring to become a full-time author. Then be sure about the following
Royalty payout time.
The author copy cost including the shipping cost.
the detailed delivery time
the minimum acceptable order of the books by the publisher.
And asks if the delivery location is flexible or fixed. (author home address only).
Publishers pay when the royalty reaches the threshold amount. Be aware of the threshold amount and the royalty payout date after applying for release. Because the royalty transfer process is very slow.