Manuscript Preparation & Editing
Prepress, Publishing & Distribution
Promotional Materials & Services
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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 us produce 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 other 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 which are covered at greater length on our main page. • 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. Considerations in the design and manufacturing of your book. • Far and Wide ... Or Not. Physical distribution of your book is integral to your objectives and to the manufacturing process you select. • Give Yourself a Promotion. Promote yourself and your book to your target audience(s). • Capitalize on Your Potential. Plan to make the most of the potential your book has created. Optional Book Review:Some authors have asked if we would take a look at their book and give an opinion as to whether they should proceed with the time and resource commitments involved in publishing their work. If you feel that you would like to have an evaluation of your book before proceeding further, we will be glad to take a look at some of the book’s components and tell you where we think you stand so far, and possibly suggest a few things to consider as you move forward. For this we request you furnish a summary outline of the story and the first ten or twelve story pages so we can see your writing style. If there are any other significant aspects of which we should be aware, please let us know this also. This is entirely optional and not at all required, and while some writers have requested an advance opinion on their work, others have had no interest at all.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. All manuscript materials must be in standard computer file format prior to editing. This function is performed as needed, separately from the actual editing. In addition to help preparing your manuscript, two sorts of editing assistance are generally applied to articles, books, or other materials, depending on your requirements. Copy Editing is usually sufficient for most smaller projects such as articles, sales letters, brochures and similar single topic writings. More complex works will benefit from Content Editing. Many editors have different rates for these services, however we do not. Since we have been editing materials since 1969, most of both aspects is accomplished in one pass through your manuscript, with only an occasional need to revisit some parts for content. Manuscript Preparation. If your manuscript is not currently in standard computer file format (a Microsoft Word document, RTF/Rich Text format, Open Office document, or text file), 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. You are encouraged to download the Manuscript Preparation Guide available on this site to aid you. Content Editing. Edit for content, continuity, and style. Review paragraph, section, and chapter flow. Confirm referenced content. Create front and back matter as required. Copy Editing. Convert nonstandard file format to standard format. Correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure. Proofreading of final pages prior to prepress production. Additional Editing Services. Indexing of final pages after prepress production. Prepublication copyright registration. Editing Rates: Manuscript Preparation, Copy and Content Editing: 1.2¢ per word ($48/hr.) for the first twenty hours, 0.9¢ per word ($36/hr.) for the balance of hours required, per project/title. As a guide, a professionally written 3000-word magazine article requires about one hour to copy edit. Estimates for copy and content editing for most manuscripts are calculated at 1000-3000 words per hour depending upon the content of the manuscript. Time required for conversion of a handwritten manuscript to computer file format is estimated at 50 words per minute. Estimates are subject to change as the work develops and are not offered as firm price quotations. Minimum billing is one hour, payable with your manuscript. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Indexing, Prepublication Copyright Registration: $48/hr. regardless of other hours billed. Minimum billing is one hour, plus registration cost and other external costs (manuscript printing, packaging, postage, etc.) 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 and similar programs. Create final page files, generally as print ready Adobe PDFs, using Adobe InDesign CC to client-selected printer specifications. Prepress services for printed books can be easily adapted to Adobe eBooks and PDF files, and for Kindle or other eBook production. Additional services, such as illustration and photography, are available. Prepress Production Services Rates: Prepress Production: $72/hr. Minimum billing is one hour, plus other external costs if applicable. Any additional hourly charges are billed weekly. Additional prepress services are available per quote. Publishing & Distribution: As a self-publishing author, you may need assistance with the printing and distribution of your book. Whether you will be publishing through RealityIsBooks.com, Inc. or another source, 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. Publishing through RealityIsBooks.com, Inc. includes printing of your books as needed for your own direct distribution and through wholesale distribution sources including Ingram Book Group, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and availability to bookstores and libraries worldwide. We provide ISBN-13 (EAN), and UPC numbers and barcode symbols, and copyright registration of your published work. If you are publishing through another source, we can assist you in working with them, also. Additional services are available, however, not all services are available in every combination. Publishing & Distribution Rates: All work: $72/hr. Minimum billing is one hour. Printing and other external costs are the responsibility of the author as self-publisher. If RealityIsBooks.com, Inc. will provide publishing services, that is, will be the publisher of record, we will provide the ISBN-13 (EAN) and UPC numbers and barcode symbols for the publication. If it is desired for the author’s convenience that outside printing or other costs be passed through RealityIsBooks.com, Inc., the author agrees that these costs shall be paid in advance 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. 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. Promotional Materials. Your book published through RealityIsBooks.com, Inc. includes its own page* on our website and may be periodically featured in RealityIsBooks’ print advertising, which may also be available online. New books will be included in the Ingram Advance catalogue sent to 7000+ major bookstores and libraries when issued. Preparation of press releases, collateral materials, advertising assistance, author and book website development, catalogue listing submission, and additional services are available. Promotional Materials Rates: Promotional Materials: $72/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 RealityIsBooks.com, Inc., the author agrees that these costs shall be paid in advance 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. *Book pages section is currently unavailable due to technical problems but will be reestablished as soon as possible. Payment Terms: We accept payment in U.S. dollars by check drawn on a U.S. bank, or by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit cards.  Your Next Step: Determining what is appropriate 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. There is no obligation or cost to discuss your project. Please contact James Loftus at: |