Monday, May 7, 2018

Formatting or Typesetting: Obtain Your Book Ready for Publishing


I was recently asked if copy editing services include typesetting. Of course, the answer is no. Typesetting and formatting are not normally done by a copy editor. Some developmental editors may assist authors with some type of formatting just to get the document into a more readable Typesetting and Publishing condition, but the interior layout of a book is either the publisher's or the author's responsibility, not the editor's.

First of all, formatting and typesetting is not the same thing.
Formatting has to do with setting the fonts, margins, headers, footers, page numbers, bullet points, etc. to make the manuscript look like a book and not an email, Web page, or essay. Some POD (publish-on-demand) companies will accept a formatted manuscript and use it to print your book. But, beware! They print exactly what you send them as long as it fits within the print parameters they require. So, if you have awkward line breaks, orphaned or widowed headings, mismatched fonts, inconsistent margins, or other formatting evils, the book will look amateurish.

Typesetting has to do with making a book camera ready for a printer, usually needed for off-set runs (bulk quantities). This requires InDesign or some other interior layout program that most editors do not own or know how to use. This is a job for a graphic designer. Typesetting is typically handled by the publishing house if you go the conventional route to bring your book to market. So, if you self-publish your book, you will have to provide files your printer can use. This means you may have to hire someone to layout the book's interior. Some POD companies provide this service; others do not. This is one of the reasons I chose CreateSpace.com (CS) for publishing my last four books. Unlike Lightning Source-the most popular book printer in the US-that has difficult technical requirements, you can send CS your manuscript, which was probably formatted in MS Word and converted to a PDF. It doesn't have to be typeset, so this saves money.


Neither typesetting nor formatting is part of the editing process. However, Writers in the Sky does offer formatting services; and we can refer you to a graphic designer if you need typesetting.

Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services is an alliance of highly-qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters


Conatct Us
Company Name:  Typesetting and Cover Design Services
 Address: 1924 Frederick Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Postal code - 95814
Phone: 916-237-7539
Website URL:  http://fasttypesetting.com/


0 comments:

Post a Comment