Technical FAQs When Writing Your Book
If this is your first foray into writing a book, you may have all the essentials covered – such as the basis of your story, or a detailed outline from start to finish. But as your book progresses, it’s not unusual for a few technical questions to pop up during the process.
Every first-time author has questions when it comes to the technical details of their finished book, and it’s important to consider these finer points before you go to press.
So before you finish the final chapter, consider these common questions that virtually all new authors face, and get a leg up in creating a book that will be successful, and that you can be proud of for decades to come.
There’s no set rule when it comes to book length, and the exact answer certainly varies by subject, by the content of the story, and by the author’s story.
Generally speaking, most fiction and nonfiction books clock in between 50,000 and 120,000 words, with a rough average of 100,000 words for first-time novelists and nonfiction authors.
Unless you are crediting a source, or relying on an expert’s opinion and insight to help prove a point, it’s generally not a good idea to include real names in your narrative – especially if your topic and story is of a personal nature.
If you have trouble writing about a real person while using a fake name, you can always do a “replace all” at the end of the writing process to substitute a fictional moniker for a real character.
The more you proofread, the better, as there’s a good chance you’ll catch new changes and corrections with every draft.
However, it’s arguably more important to get other experts to copyedit and proofread your book once it’s complete, as an author can easily miss mistakes or problems with their own work.
Look for partner publishers that provide copyediting as part of their suite of services for the best manuscript possible, before you go to press.
When it comes to cover design, an expert eye and opinion is key.
It is fine to sketch out some ideas or concepts, but you’ll want to work with a partner publisher or graphic designer who has intricate knowledge of what type of cover design sells.
Simply put, when it comes to those publishing details – like formatting, interior design, and the book cover – it’s smart to enlist professional guidance and an outside opinion to ensure the best results.
First-time authors who aren’t sure how to transform their manuscript into a physical book that can be purchased around the globe may find their best route is through a partner publisher.
A partner publisher provides a myriad of services beyond the simple printing, such as copyediting, design, including those important technicalities like ISBN and Bar Code registration, and managing distribution.
With services miles beyond a basic printer, a partner publisher is more accessible than a book agent or a connection with a publishing house, and is a solid way to share your story with a limitless audience.
Have you not started yet but are ready to get your story out of your head and on to paper? It can be done in a weekend! Learn how to become an author at the Book Bound Workshop. You can join me at the live event in June in Dallas, TX! Click here for details and registration.