Lastly is stage 3 . These are the line edits . This is the time that you make sure your book reads the way you intended for it to read . It also allows you the opportunity to ensure that your purpose is clear . Again , you want your readers to have a clear , lasting takeaway .
The next thing I want to share with you is about negotiating your contract . This is for those who really desire to work with a publisher instead of self-publishing . you should expect during the editing process .
Again , make sure you get a full breakdown of your line items because some of them may be negotiable .
I also encourage you to check into the background of your publisher . Find out what their track record is . How have they advertised former authors ? Do they have any author complaints ? Check out their social media platforms . What ’ s being said about them ?
While there is so much more to share about being an author , I hope that these few nuggets will be a great help to you as you pursue your purpose in writing . I wish you the best in publishing your first or next book ! If there is anything that I can do to assist you , please feel free to contact me !
Also , please check out Bridges & Channels Enterprises , LLC Mentoring page for great writing tools and mentoring opportunities . The mentoring services are not free but they are worth it !
The most important thing that I ’ ve learned is that you don ’ t have to accept just anything . You can negotiate to ensure that you are not being taken advantage of . It ’ s important to get a line by line breakdown because it is possible to negotiate some line items .
Here are a few charges that you can automatically expect to incur :
1 . ISBN numbers and barcodesthis is how your book is identified electronically . You can learn about this at www . bowker . com .
2 . Cover Art – Find out if you are allowed to work with your choice of designers or if they require to work with an approved list of designers .
3 . Editing Services - there are different charges for editing so you should make sure that you are clear of the cost as well as what
You must remember that this is a relationship as well and it ’ s important to know who you ’ re coming into agreement with .
Lastly , I encourage you to use a beta reader . This should be someone who can be trusted to read and not share or steal your material . They need to be able to give you unbiased feedback . It should be someone who doesn ’ t mind you getting mad with them . It may be necessary for them to hurt your feelings to help you produce your best work .
The purpose of your beta reader is to help catch things that you might miss , ask questions for reader clarity , give you storyline feedback and other comments regarding your book . Find someone who will agree with you to successfully help bring your vision to pass !
By LaTrice Williams International Best Selling Author
© LaTrice Williams 2017
Editor In Chief
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LaTrice Williams is an international best selling author . She has penned three books and is currently working to release her fourth book . She is a mom , both naturally and spiritually . She is a leader to and lover of God ’ s people . She endeavors to use every gift that God has given her to advance the Kingdom of God and build up those that He has entrusted to her . You can learn more of her at www . latricewilliams . com .