In my last post I explained why I chose to have my new book traditionally printed as opposed to using Print On Demand.
But how did I get a printable manuscript in the first place?
Obviously, I wrote the book. Actually, in this case I had already written the book in English and for this publication translated it into Dutch.
After that was done, I hired an editor. She polished up the text and gave me tips on how to make it flow a bit better. She even proofread the manuscript.
After the text turned out as I wanted it, I needed to decide what size the paperback should be. I went with 5.5′ by 8.5′ as I personally find that a comfortable size to handle and easy to read.
Now that I had the size of the book, I set up a template in Word and added the text to it, chapter by chapter. I used Garamond 11pt as a font, which resulted in 330 pages of text.
I wanted my new book to be registered with an ISBN number, and as the book is published in the Netherlands, I had to buy one from a Dutch ISBN agency. Via their website this was easily done.
An ISBN bar code on the back cover is a must if you want to sell a book in a bookshops, so once I had the ISBN, I ordered a barcode from another website. They send me one as an EPS, a format I had never heard of before, but which turned out to be a mini PDF.
I then found a printer, and learned from them that for the printing they liked to have the manuscript in PDF-form. I produced three PDF’s for them, one for the text on the inside, one for the glossy picture insert, and one for the cover. These I handed to the printers last week and they are now busy printing the book.
It took me about eight months to go from the first translated word, to handing in the PDF’s at the printers. I am very curious to see the end result of all this hard work and am very excited that it will be ready for all to see very soon!
Related post: Going for traditional printing
(Picture via subscription to iCliArt)
4 Responses to “Getting A Printable Manuscript”
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wow maria, seems like work! ;) thought it started as a hobby, which became more and more seriously. I’m curious for the result! Now I understand why books are so expensive! Take care.
You’re right, Eliza. It did start out as a hobby, but I would definitely call it work now. :)
Books are indeed very expensive. Especially the ‘paper’ books. Unfortunately ebooks are often expensive too, even though they should be much cheaper. But I do think that ebooks will become cheaper, once people are getting more used to them.
I’m still a bit confused about You and your digital reading switch…..never imaged this could happen.. fortunately you’re now producing paperwork again! :D
Progress is unstoppable, so why not move with it. ;)
But just to let you know, all my books have come out as paperback now. Including ‘More Stories’, although that one is only for sale on Amazon.com.