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Where Are You in Your Book Journey?

March 8, 2021 by Kristy S. Gilbert 11 Comments

Especially if you’re new to the book-writing process, all the different types of editing and the steps for publication can be confusing. Now there’s a map for that! This map covers the main steps and phases for writing and self-publishing a book. (It also lets you know when to turn off to go the traditional publishing route via querying agents and publishers.) Once you know where you are in your process, it’s easier to get the help you need, whether from a writing group and critique partners or from professional editors and designers.

Go through the Draft Marshes to a Full Draft, then traverse the Range of Revision and seek out big-picture edits (on character, plot, pacing, scene structure, setting theme, & more) from writing groups, developmental editors, manuscript evaluations, and sensitivity readers. Then move to line edits, where you polish prose, tone, & word choice. Afterward, either send queries, write a new book, or move to design & copyedits. Split the party for design & copyedits! Cover design attracts the right readers for your book, while interior layout conveys the story's tone & makes it readable for the right audience. Copyedits correct continuity, grammar, usage, and word choice errors. Then your text and your design meet up again for ebook coding and typesetting, when the designs get applied to all the text and designers check for readability hiccups and compatibility across ebook platforms. Then on to the proofread, where we make final checks for typos & formatting errors. Then publish!

Learn more about each destination along the path:

  • Draft Marshes
  • Range of Revision
  • Line Edit Foothills
  • Split the Party
  • Design Pines
  • Red-Ink Woods
  • Reunite the Party (Typesetting & Ebook Formatting)
  • Proofreading Boulders
  • Publish Bay
  • Querying Sands
  • Try Something New

Ready for some help getting your book ready for readers? Contact Looseleaf and tell us about your project! And if you have questions about the process, post them below in the comments.

Filed Under: Design, Editing SFF, Publishing Tagged With: Book Journey Map, editorial services, self-publishing

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Testimonials

Kristy took me through the formatting process with ease and assurance. I quickly trusted her and her opinions and knew that the end result would be a quality product. … She is talented, creative and professional in all aspects of her services.
Cynthia Anderson, nonfiction author
She really made my book shine by offering insightful and helpful feedback and catching more inconsistencies than I could have ever managed on my own.
Madison Custudio, contemporary romantic fantasy author
Kristy does a fantastic job every time. She’s punctual, thorough, affordable, and great to work with.
Brian McClellan, fantasy author
I have used Looseleaf for a number of projects, and have always been incredibly pleased by their speed, quality, and professionalism. … Phenomenal work, and I’ll definitely continue to use them for every project I can.
Dan Wells, New York Times bestseller
Kristy’s talents and hard work on the book’s layout and design can be seen on every page.
Brandon Sanderson, NYT bestselling fantasy author
Kristy is a joy and a pleasure to work with. She works quickly and efficiently with steep deadlines, and has an eye for detail that has helped me tremendously. … I highly recommend her.
Charlie N. Holmberg, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

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Looseleaf Editorial & Production was founded in 2011 with one goal: to help authors and publishers get their books ready for readers.

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