January 25th, 2010
Proofreading is a vital skill for anyone producing a book. Some authors choose to save money by doing their own proofing. But even if they hire a professional proofreader, they may want to proof the galleys before the book goes to the printer.
Although some people seem to have an eye for finding errors, proofreading is a skill that can be learned and developed. The more you proof, the better you will get at it. Regular proofreading is a great way to learn about grammar, punctuation and style. Ideally, the more proofreading you do, the more you will develop the ability to see and correct errors.
Proofreading can also make you a better writer. As you develop your proofing skills, you will learn what mistakes you tend to make in your writing and what you need to pay attention to. When you become confident in your system for finding errors after you have finished writing, you will be able to dedicate your writing time to writing, not editing or proofing.
The following hints and tips will help you become a better proofreader.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Self Publishing Toolbox, Writing | 2 Comments »
January 23rd, 2010
Lately, I have been thinking about how much self publishing reminds me of the days of the American Wild West. New technologies (be they the telegraph, the Transcontinental Railroad, the Internet or Print on Demand) opened up a new frontier. People flocked to that new frontier. Out there, the myth went, you can make it big on nothing but grit and gumption. No rules to hold you back. You can make your own way. So, people packed their steamer trunks and their laptops, loaded up on gun powder, back bacon and skim lattes and headed into this wild, uncharted land.
It didn’t take long for the harsh truth to sink in: This may be a land of opportunity, but opportunity does not come with a guarantee. Only a few strike it rich. A few more make good. A whole lot of more end up wiring home for a ticket back to Boston.
But thank goodness for those trail blazers that tried. For good or bad, they changed the world. They created a new culture. They made it possible for the rest of us to whip along Interstate 80 at 75 mph to get to Reno. They paved the way for grandfathers to give bound copies of their memoirs as Christmas presents and for women to turn a passion for the elderly to a business.
How can we make sure you, brave trail blazing writer that you are, make it? How can we increase the odds you will find that golden nugget? Let’s look at a few lessons from the Wild, Wild West.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Self Publishing Basics | No Comments »
January 15th, 2010
As we enter the new year, I want to take the time to introduce Brian Hong, the president and founder of Legacy Book Solutions. Brian has been in the printing industry for many years and taught me nearly everything I know about print. Brian’s passion for excellent customer service and high quality work are an inspiration to anyone who works with him. I am thrilled to bring you his vision for Legacy Book Solutions in his own words.
I’m not sure when the exact moment happened for me. I don’t know if it was when I was helping a local church women’s group put together their annual church cookbook for charity, or when I met a young entrepreneur named Sam, who had an idea to put complete original works of music together in the form of kits for K-12 music teachers. But certainly one of those two events gave me the passion to help people bring their ideas to life.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Legacy Book Solutions, Services, Who are We? | No Comments »
