Preparing your final draft
There are so many things to consider when preparing your final draft for printing. From cover design, to how to include photographs, to technical tips on using word processing programmes. You can find all the information that you need right here!
Covers and spines
We will create a beautiful cover design for your book based on your ideas or sketched layout, or you can leave the entire design up to us. You will always get to see a colour proof of the design before it goes to print. This proof will show the complete cover, spine and back cover exactly as it will appear when printed.
You can supply any photographs, illustrations, drawings, etc. that
you would like to be included in the cover design, along with notes
as to how you would like these to be incorporated. All your original
photographs and documents will be returned to you on completion of printing.
If you send photographs, etc. that are not your own, then you must ensure
that you can supply us with written permission from the owner verifying
permission for their use in your book.
Inside text pages
You should send your absolutely final and fully proofread manuscript
on a disk or a CD. This should preferably be in Microsoft Word, but
we will accept files created by most other well-known word processing
software. We will check your files for suitability, and then if useable
we will run out a proof copy, laid out exactly as it will be printed
for you to check thoroughly. This proof will be returned by post to
you.
DOs and DON'Ts
When typing in your book as a minimum you should ensure that the following rules are adhered to:
- Do not press 'return' at the end of each line, each line must flow automatically to the one below it except at the end of a paragraph.
- Do not insert a blank line between paragraphs, a single "return" is all that is needed,
- Do not double space lines; should be single spaced
- Do not number your pages,
- Do start all new chapters on a new page,
- Do create a table of Contents, but do not include the page numbers,
- Do use the same font throughout all the inside pages, e.g. Times Roman,
- Do use the same point size for all text throughout the book with, the only exception being Chapter headings
- Do use upper and lower case letters as you mean for them to be printed,
- Do punctuate your book correctly, and have this checked,
- Do ensure that you have spell checked your book and paid careful attention to names of people and places, etc.
- Do have your book proof read by at least one other person.
The proof copy
Once we have imported your text and designed a cover, we will make a pre production proof for you to check over. It is important that you understand the purpose of this proof and the responsibilities that we undertake in producing your book. Essentially, at no point do we take any responsibility for the inside text content as we rely on you to submit final copy in the first instance.
Putting it bluntly, we will not read nor proof read your book. We will not check your grammar, punctuation or spelling. We will not edit or amend your text in any way other than 'flowing' it into the new page format and adding the page numbers.
Our prices are based upon receiving final, complete and fully proof read manuscripts, which we lay out in paperback format for printing. We will number your pages and ensure that this matches the table of Contents and we will supply you with ONE pre production proof so that you can see exactly how your book will look when printed. This proof is an accurate mock up of the final paperback and is primarily intended for you to approve the cover design and the content and layout of the inner title page, Acknowledgements page, publishing information, dedications page, and Preface and Contents pages.
Please note that any corrections to your original text made at that is stage will add to your costs. We would normally expect to see few, if any, corrections to our layout being required and any corrections and or alterations to the text as supplied to us will incur extra charges.
How to include your photographs, drawings and maps, etc.
If you wish to have photographs, drawings, or maps included then we prefer if you send these to us for scanning, rather than for you to scan them electronically yourself. We will also require a guide as to the order of these and any notations or captions that are required. Your photographs will be laid out two per page with the captions typeset below each picture. They will be normally be printed in black on white and on to gloss paper for better reproduction. We would expect to group them together and insert them into the book in one or two blocks.
