Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe: How to Hire the Best Editor, Designer, or Book Guide

By Mary E. Neighbour and TBD

This is the first book of its kind.

Written for authors and self-publishers, this pocket guide takes the worry out of hiring editors, book designers, and book-production freelancers who are true industry professionals—not wannabes. 

Author Mary E. Neighbour draws upon thirty years of experience to inviting

• Language: English
• Publisher: UpRiver, DownRiver Books
• Release date: Mar 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780996254168

Mary E. Neighbour

Lynne M. Jackson is the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, and she is the founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

Book preview

PRAISE for SELF-PUBLISHING WIZARD OR WANNABE

Kirkus Reviews:

Authors who self-publish should hire freelance editors, designers, and consultants to spruce up their books, according to this primer. Neighbour, a book editor and ghost writer, warns readers that every manuscript requires much specialized effort to turn it into a readable, marketable work, and offers expert advice on finding reliable professionals who can do it. . . . Neighbour packs her slender, no-nonsense manual with lots of useful lore . . . and provides a trove of practical tips for vetting prospective freelancers. . . . The author’s brisk, lucid prose is lit by tart humor (a professional cover designer is not a family member who has never taken a design or composition course). . . . Authors who are serious about making a mark with their books will find a wealth of information and insights here.

A helpful, reassuring guide to putting together a publishing team.

Robin Cutler, Director of IngramSpark:

This book should be required reading for authors entering the world of self-publishing. Neighbour succinctly lays out the landscape of what new authors will face to help them make good choices in publishing their books in a professional way.

Carla King, author of Self-Publishing Boot Camp:

Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe will help you hire qualified editors, designers, producers, and book coaches. You’ll learn enough about each process to have an intelligent conversation and make good decisions with your time and money. I especially liked the ask and listen for scripts at the end of each segment. Spend your money on the book and hire with confidence!

Brian Jud, Executive Director of the Association of Publishers for Special Sales (APSS) and President, Book Marketing Works:

The most expensive part of self-publishing is making a mistake, and the biggest mistake you can make is to work with an unprofessional freelancer. If you are planning to publish, read Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe and learn how to avoid expensive, time-wasting relationships with freelance editors and designers. Mary Neighbour provides concrete tips and interview questions that ensure those you hire will be true publishing professionals.

Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound:

If you don’t want to join the huge army of authors who have wasted millions of dollars on publishing predators, buy this book long before you start looking for cover designers, editors, book shepherds, and other professionals. Mary Neighbour’s smart, sophisticated how-to guide shows you the booby traps to avoid, and the specific questions to ask people before hiring them. You’ll understand the industry terminology and best practices, so you can speak the language of the publishing world with confidence. The book will save you time because chapters are broken out according to the type of person you want to hire. This valuable guide will help you avoid problems and keep you from going broke.

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, The Midwest Book Review:

Synopsis: Mary E. Neighbour is a member of the Independent Book Publishers and Editorial Freelancers associations, as well as a partner member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and co-founder and former president of the Association of Publishers for Special Sales-New Mexico. With a successful career over some 30 years in editing and design, and of helping authors become independent self-publishers, in Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe she draws upon her considerable and impressive expertise and experience to create an impressively informative, expertly organized, and thoroughly user friendly instructional reference, guide, and manual that effectively lives up to the promise of its subtitle, How to Hire the Best Editor, Designer, or Book Guide.

Ideal for those who are new and unfamiliar with the publishing industry, Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe will instruct the aspiring self-published author with respect to choosing an appropriate editor, cover designer, interior designer, and book shepherd. Of special note is the explanation of publishing industry terminology, standards, and interview questions.

Critique: This cannot be over-emphasized: Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe should be considered mandatory reading for any author considering self-publication—it will save time, money, and [help readers] avoid the frustrations of trial and error in the process of turning a manuscript into a book. Thoroughly user friendly in tone, commentary, and format, [this book] is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library writing/publishing instructional reference collections.

Self-Publishing

Wizard or Wannabe:

How to Hire the Best

Editor, Designer, or Book Guide

Mary E. Neighbour

Upriver, Downriver Books

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Self-Publishing Wizard or Wannabe: How to Hire the Best Editor, Designer, or Book Guide

by Mary E. Neighbour

Publisher: Upriver, Downriver Books, Santa Fe, NM, [e-mail]

© 2020 by Mary E. Neighbour. All rights reserved.

ISBN

978-0-9962541-4-4 (paperback)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020903116

Other formats:

978-0-9962541-5-1 (hard cover)

978-0-9962541-6-8 (epub)

978-0-9962541-7-5 (mobi)

978-0-9962541-8-2 (library edition; no notes pages)

Cover art and author photo: Andrew Neighbour

The Oz images used in this book are from the 1900 publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by W. W. Denslow. I am grateful to the Library of Congress for making the edition digitally available, now that this book is in the public domain.

Note: As an author concerned about diversity in society and within publishing, I endorse gender diversity in writing. In this book I have deliberately and variously used female, male, and neutral pronouns. In general, and to avoid confusion, I predominantly use feminine pronouns to refer to editors; male pronouns to refer to designers; and neutral pronouns in other chapters.

This book is dedicated to Andrew,

who makes all my efforts shine,

&

to the writers, authors, and publishers

who allowed me to help their efforts shine.

Contents

Introduction: Your Journey from Writer to Self-Publisher

Obstacles

Solutions

Chapter 1: Relationships with Wizards and Wannabes

The Author’s Due Diligence

A Word about Wannabes

Indications of an Impostor

Resolving a Problem Relationship

Chapter 2: How to Spot a True Editor

Editing Terms You’ll Want to Know

Industry Standards for Editing

Signs Your Editor Is a Professional

What a Professional Editor Is Not

Questions to Ask Your Editor before Hiring

Chapter 3: How to Spot a True Cover Designer

Cover Design Terms You’ll Want to Know

Industry Standards for Cover Design

What Else Belongs on a Cover?

Signs Your Cover Designer Is a Professional

What a Professional Cover Designer Is Not

Questions to Ask Your Designer before Hiring

The Interview

Chapter 4: How to Spot a True Interior Book Designer

Terminology

Broad concepts

Technical jargon