Copyediting for Indie Authors

LAUNCH DAY 20 MARCH

I occasionally write book reviews for my blog over at Feed the Monkey and elsewhere. Over the past six months or so, I have had to refuse a great many requests for reviews for one reason or another.

The main reason I’ve found myself saying no to reviews is because the published book is not in good shape and contains lots of glaring errors. This is sad, as a great deal of good work is disappearing forever simply because of bad copyediting. From the title on the cover of a book to the last sentence on the final page, good copyediting establishes

• Authority
• Credibility
• Professionalism
• Trust

These are things we need to provide readers right from the start, otherwise they will give up on our book. Look at it from their perspective: at the very least, they need to invest their time and probably their money to find what they’re looking for. If they don’t find it in our book, they’ll look elsewhere.

I’ve written a short guide to some basic tips for improving the editorial presentation of books. It’s called Copyediting for Indie Authors and it addresses some of the simple problems that put off potential readers and reviewers.

I’ve spent a lifetime in the publishing industry as a writer, copyeditor and editorial project manager, submissions readers and reviewer. I’ve worked for major trade and academic publishers such as Berlitz, Routledge and Wiley-Blackwell, plus major international organizations in the not-for-profit sector. I’ve helped literally thousands of authors on many thousands of books – books of all kinds, from travel guides to children’s picture books to cutting-edge academic scholarship.

The ten top tips in Copyediting for Indie Authors are among those I have used in my professional career to make thousands of books the best they can be. The difference is that instead of spending a lot of money on copyeditors who may not be right for your book, you can do these things yourself, right now, for free.

Copyediting for Indie Authors will be published on 20 March as an ebook only on Amazon. By way of a thank you for reading it, readers can link for free to two more essential top tips, plus a useful copyediting checklist.

What the reviewers are saying:

‘Indispensable! Oh how I wish I had these ten tips when I was copyediting and formatting my novel. Trust me, I’m going to keep this slender document with my dictionary and thesaurus right next to my computer.’ Ginger Bensman, author of To Swim Beneath the Earth

‘I wholeheartedly recommend Jack and Brigitte Messenger’s how-to guide, Copyediting for Indie Authors. Just follow their excellent tips for a more professional-looking book.’ Mark Gordon, author of The Snail’s Castle

‘I have no hesitation in recommending this accessible and engaging guide to all independent writers. Laying out their advice in forthright, unambiguous yet never hectoring or patronising terms, and supporting each of their ten top tips with clear examples, the authors admirably synthesize lessons learned from their years of experience as publishers, freelances providing expert services to publishers, and authors themselves. This guide is just what writers will have been waiting for!’ Ally Dunnett, formerly Production Director for Social Sciences and Humanities Books, John Wiley & Sons

‘This is an excellent guide for authors striving to eliminate copyediting errors that can sink a book from the start. Clear and concise, it provides many concrete examples of how to do it right.’ Ulla Jordan, author of Lost Ground

‘Professional copyediting is vital for any indie author who wishes to compete with traditionally published books. In this quick-reference guide, Jack Messenger provides a valuable resource that will enable authors to correct issues from punctuation and paragraph breaks to common spelling errors. Highly recommended!’ Ken Doyle, author of Bombay Bhel and Gateway of India

‘As a professional reviewer, I often come across books (and queries) that are poorly copyedited. This not only indicates that the author hasn’t valued their work enough to take care, but poor copyediting can impinge dramatically on a book’s clarity and readability. As an author, I know what it’s like to be professionally copyedited, and I also know how hard it is to DIY. Jack Messenger’s easy to read and succinct set of top ten tips is not a substitute for a pro, but it’s an excellent way to avoid the most common errors and lift your work above the vast majority of books being published today. Use this guide consistently and your work will most certainly benefit.’ Magdalena Ball, Compulsivereader.com