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Services & Rates Our self-publishing services are performed as “work for hire,” that is, you own the materials you contract to have produced for you. You can select whatever help you feel may be useful, and do with it as you wish, without restriction. We can assist you with the various aspects of publishing your book, or you may decide to do these yourself or contract with other sources as you see fit. Some self-publishing operations encourage you to use their editorial and creative services by bundling several items together, or they may place restrictions on the use or ownership of the materials they produce. If you are considering using such a source, read their author agreement and other contracts carefully to determine specifically what they are offering and what your options are for providing your own input into the self-publishing process and for controlling the work for which you have paid. To put our services in context, we break the components of self-publishing into six general categories: • You and Your Manuscript. Your
manuscript and motivations help to determine which path to publication
to follow.
• The Publishing Decision. The basic options for investing in publication of your book, deciding to make it happen. • Getting It Printed. The design of your book, prepress work (creation of the cover and body files), and printing. • Give Yourself a Promotion. Promote yourself and your book to target audience(s). • Far and Wide ... Or Not. Physical distribution of your book is integral to your objectives and to the manufacturing process. • Capitalize on Your Potential. Plan ahead to leverage the potential you have created. All of these topics are covered at greater length on our main page. If you have not read the additional materials provided (MORE ...) with several of the topics, you are encouraged to do so. Editing Services: Editing can be applied to practically anything that is written, from short articles, letters, and speeches to brochures, owner’s manuals, and instruction sheets to short stories, topical books, and full length novels. The additional services required for book publishing involve many other considerations, so are separated from the editing function. Whether your work is long or short, our focus is on providing assistance to authors who wish to have as much control as possible over the publishing of their work. Manuscript Preparation. If your manuscript is not currently in standard computer file format (a Microsoft Word document), it will require conversion. If it is typed, it will be scanned and input to Microsoft Word. Handwritten manuscripts require input to standard computer file format. Copy Editing. Convert nonstandard file format to standard format. Correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure. Proofreading of final pages after prepress production. Content Editing. Edit for content, continuity, and style. Review paragraph, section, and chapter flow. Confirm referenced content. Create front and back matter as required. Additional Editing Services. Indexing of final pages after prepress production. Prepublication copyright registration. Preassigned Control Number/Library of Congress Control Number (PCN/LCCN). Editing Rates: Manuscript Preparation, Copy and Content Editing: $25/hr. for the first 20 hours, $20/hr. for the balance of hours required, per project/title. A 2000-word article requires about one-half to one hour to copy edit. Minimum billing is one hour, payable with your manuscript. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Indexing, Prepublication Copyright Registration, Preassigned Control Number/Library of Congress Control Number (PCN/LCCN): $25/hr. regardless of other hours billed. Minimum billing is one hour, plus registration cost and other external costs if applicable. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Prepress Production Services: Articles and similar writings for periodicals, and books to be submitted for publication through commercial publishing houses generally do not require work beyond the editing services outlined above. If you are planning to self-publish your work, however, you may need or want to provide your book as print ready cover and body pages. Various barcode symbols may be needed depending upon your method of distribution. Prepress Production Services. Cover and body pages design. Illustration and photographic manipulation using Adobe Photoshop. Create final page files, generally as print ready Adobe PDFs, or as Adobe PageMaker files, to client-selected printer specifications. ISBN, EAN, UPC application and printing consulting. Copyright registration of work to be published. Additional services are available. Prepress Production Services Rates: Prepress Production: $60/hr. Minimum billing is one hour, plus registration cost, ISBN and other barcode symbol cost, and other external costs if applicable. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Additional prepress services are available per quote. Promotional Materials & Services: If you plan sales and distribution to general markets, such as retail bookstores, libraries, internet stores and such, you will benefit from determining and providing for your promotional materials requirements and any related services needed. Much of this material needs to be sent out prior to the actual publishing date, so must be prepared in advance. Promotional Materials. Preparation of press releases, collateral materials, advertising assistance, author and book website development, catalogue listing submission. Printing and additional services are available. Promotional Materials & Services Rates: Promotional Materials: $60/hr. Minimum billing is one hour. Printing and other external costs are the responsibility of the author as self-publisher. If it is desired for the author’s convenience that printing or other costs be passed through James Loftus & Associates or RealityIsBooks.com, Inc., the author agrees that these costs shall be paid in advance, without mark up of the costs, and that the time required to handle such work shall be billed at the hourly rate. Author agrees that regardless of any amounts quoted for these costs, additional charges may apply, and that these additional charges for outside costs are due and payable upon presentation. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Additional promotional services are available per quote. Publishing & Distribution: As a self-publishing author, you may need assistance with the printing and distribution of your book. We can provide you with assistance in whatever areas you decide will be advantageous. This help can vary widely depending on your objectives in publishing your book. Publishing & Distribution. Planning for printing and distribution, preparation of requests for printing quotes, obtaining and provision of estimates or quotes as appropriate, evaluation of options, interaction with printer and distribution channels, and preparation and dissemination of information related to distribution. Additional services are available. Publishing & Distribution Rates: All work: $60/hr. Minimum billing is one hour. Printing and other external costs are the responsibility of the author as self-publisher. If it is desired for the author’s convenience that printing or other costs be passed through James Loftus & Associates or RealityIsBooks.com, Inc., the author agrees that these costs shall be paid in advance, without mark up of the costs, and that the time required to handle such work shall be billed at the hourly rate. Author agrees that regardless of any amounts quoted for these costs, additional charges may apply, and that these additional charges for outside costs are due and payable upon presentation. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Your Next Step: Determining what assistance can be useful for your project requires discussion and at least preliminary answers to several questions about your manuscript, audiences, purposes and plans. This can be done conveniently by phone, and there is no cost or obligation to discuss your project. Please contact: James Loftus & Associates
Email: jloftus@jamesloftusassociates.com or jloftus@realityisbooks.com Phone: 866-534-3366 (RealityIsBooks.com, Inc.) |