Printing and Proofing Services
Ask yourself this question:
Is my story worthy of being left in a bottom drawer or showcased on a top shelf?
'Everyone has a story;
every story deserves to be told...'
Whether it is a collection of memories hidden in a box, or that long forgotten manuscript that never quite got finished, there is a story within all of us. Tap in to that potential and see just how far you can take it.
Whether you require a final proof read and help with the publishing stage, or you are at the beginning stages and don't know what steps to take next, drop us an email.
' The only limit to your Legacy, lives within yourself...'
Contact us today for a free quote and see how easy it can be to take your project from 'drawer-worthy' to 'shelf-worthy,' just like our Author in the Spotlight below...
Editing
Process
The editing process takes place in several steps and every step involves reading the same text repeatedly; with a different focus on every re-read.
Step 1 - Read
First and foremost, the text is to be read from start to finish without any editing. This is to get a feel for what the text is actually about.
Step 2 - Get OCD
Re-read the text with a red pen and a critical eye. Look for inconsistencies in fonts, formatting, grammar, punctuation and of course, spelling.
Step 3 - Step back
This is where the structure of the information and the order of the information is to be checked. Does it flow correctly? Does it make sense?
Step 4 - Check facts and copyrights
This is where all named sources are to be checked. All dates, locations and situations are to be verified.
Step 5 - Final revision
The final stage in any editing process is really just the start of any proof-reading process. A final readthrough with fresh eyes after completion of the previous steps. Any glaring errors should now be a thing of the past, just be wary of errors that may occur due to some of the previous editing.
With your own body of work it is easy to miss a lot of things, especially if the work has been re-read by yourself countless times. A different perspective can easily produce awesome results and great satisfaction.
Proof-reading
Process
The proof-reading process takes place after all of the editing components have been completed.
Step 1 - Print it
This first step is crucial to those intending to have their work physically published as opposed to digitally. Get the feel for your work in another medium, print it out and get red pen on it! Screw it up and get a coffee stain on it; trust us, it is good for the soul...
Step 2 - Mark changes
Remove all distractions!
Your undivided attention to detail is required from hereon in. Force yourself to slow down and concentrate. On every character. With red pen in hand. Be that English teacher you loved to hate and go to town on that page!
Keep all annotations and comments to margins where possible and only mark up actual spelling and punctuation errors on the page, to save the information from becoming an illegible sea of red ink with no hope of correction in sight...
Step 3 - Read aloud
Reading the information aloud helps in a couple of ways. Firstly, your ears will help you pick up on mistakes that your eyes may miss. Reading aloud forces you to concentrate at a higher level than what you do when you read silently.
Secondly, reading aloud helps you to write conversationally. If your written dialogue sounds too 'clunky' when you say it aloud, then you need to revise until it sounds and flows more like actual conversation.
Step 4 - The Double Check
Double check the easily missed things like the spelling of names and places. Check all links are live, if any, and also check pagination, margins and sizes before converting anything to PDF.
Step 5 - Final Corrections
One of the best strategies at this stage is to read the information from backpage to front. It can be a laborious process, but it will snap things into focus that have been missed prior due to our unconscious mind’s ability to constantly seek complete contextual meaning.
Reading the information in reverse helps you to read without any regard to context.
Step 6 - Ready to publish!
With your body of work ready to go, this is where we would collaborate to get the perfect print ready product for you. Just like every story is different, so is everyone's idea for the final product. From a paperback novel with antique paper, to a high quality glossy photo album, to a hardbound masterpiece with gold leaf edging, the choice is entirely yours.
Contact us today for a free quote.
Author in the Spotlight
Every now and then, a special story crosses our path. In this case, our life was made that much richer for helping this new author fulfill one of their dreams.
Our current 'Author in the Spotlight' is :
S. Cooper and her debut novel,
'Sit with me a while...'
Coming soon...
Author interview with S. Cooper
Let’s make something amazing together...
Location
Queensland, AUSTRALIA
BIO
bio.site/mrdsbooks
mrdsbooks@outlook.com