I have written a book about wooden boatbuilding and design

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by peter radclyffe, Nov 23, 2017.

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  1. peter radclyffe
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    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    is anyone here an editor, typesetter or proofreader, thank you
     
  2. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    What exactly do you need? For example, passing texts with pictures, tables, graphics, to the .pdf format would not be complicated.
     
  3. peter radclyffe
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    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    I guess I need it presented properly, thanks
     
  4. PAR
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    I have a similar problem Peter and finding a good one typically requires some cash. I'd be happy to look over your progress, though the first thing you need to work on is a "writing style book". This is simply the way you usually like to present things, so the book has some consistency and continuity in style, mannerisms, layout, organisation, etc. When you're close to publishing, you'll need a "graphic style book" which directly addresses how the presentation will appear in print. Usually this is left to a graphic artist, unless you have specific ideas about presentation. These include all sorts of details, most don't know about, like font choices and where applied, kerning, leading, widow/orphan allowances, etc. It also applies to how images are presented, page layout and considerable more than most want or need to know. I tend to be particular about these aspects of a publication, because I know about the "rules of typography", which seem to be sorely missing in many publications any more.

    In short, the way any publication "reads and looks" are key to success, so hiring a real proof reader team and experienced graphic artist are mandatory.
     
  5. peter radclyffe
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    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    thanks
     
  6. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    Would you mind doing a test ?: A format like, for example, "The Elements of Boat Strength" by Dave Gerr, is very easy to achieve.
     
  7. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

  8. PAR
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    "Elements of Both Strength" wouldn't be "easy to achieve" in any way. It's clearly well written by a skilled hand, who knows how to discuss and talk to those considerably less skilled than he. The presentation is professional and easy to follow, being well thought through and graphically represented. These aren't easy to achieve, I know, having several publications under my belt too. In doing these, I've learned (often the hard way) what works and what doesn't, but have quickly found it's a lot more complicated that it might appear. For example, would you prefer your text to have 100% widow control, but can live with a lower percentage of orphans? This seemingly innocuous typographic no-no, is just one of the countless decisions you'll need to make, unless you surrender this aspect of the publication, to what was formerly called a typesetter. The same applies to writing style and presentation, which is what an "editor" is all about. An editor is more than running spell check and grammatical checks. They'll keep the text consistent in tense, "voice", attitude, adjective choices and preferences, writing style, etc., all of which requires a lot more than most suspect.

    Peter, if you like, drop me an email and I can send you some "before and after" texts I've had edited. You can compare the printed version what the original text, just to see what they've done. I'll highlight the changes, show the proof readers notes, typesetter markups, etc.
     
  9. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    I am a real nit, a lover of boats, own a woodie, built a wooden canoe, burned a bad woodie, and would be glad to mark it up for you. And I might even red mark my last sentence and this one, too. It all depends on the level of perfection you wish to achieve.

    My first sentence was grammatically poor, but acceptable. The second started with a preposition. However both were readable. So the first thing I could red mark is for clerical errors and simple readability and spelling, etc. Then I could do a nittier review if you wanted. This website doesn't like woodie or nittier, but most wood boat lovers know the word woodie and nittier is a word.

    PM me. It'd be free of charge.
     
  10. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    We should not confuse the hunger with the desire to eat. One thing is the content of the book and another, very different, the format. The content and the way to explain it only Peter can do it. Choosing the typeface, the kermel, ... is much easier and, in addition, you can always copy the format, the presentation of an existing book.
    In any case, if you go to an editor with a book in electronic format, the editor will give you a better price than if you go to it with a handwritten text and a folder full of photographs and graphics drawn on paper.
    I do not see why you can not do a test and that Peter judges the possibilities he has in his hands, before spending a penny.
    Maybe @fallguy or me or any another, have interesting things to offer. Or maybe not. We will never know if we do not "risk";)
     
  11. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    I have no interest in taking your book, for the record. I realize that is a word of mouth thing. My integrity test=I have a 1941 copy of Chapelle's Boatbuilding at my bedside that I read when I can't sleep.
     
  12. peter radclyffe
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    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    thank you all for the messages, I cant decide
     
  13. Ike
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    Ike Senior Member

    "is anyone here an editor, typesetter or proofreader, thank you"

    I am none of the above, but I did self publish a book on marine electrical systems. I initially created it in Word, formatted it the way I wanted it as PAR said, and then converted it to pdf. In pdf format, anyone with a computer, phone or tablet can then download it. I sell it through a third party seller, e-junkie. I sell maybe 2 a month, but I didn't do it for the money. On my web site are many pages on electrical systems. This was simply for those who wanted this information in a condensed format so they could download it and read it at their leisure.

    An alternative is to self publish through Amazon. My wife is currently working on publishing a novel that way. It is a little more complex, but essentially the steps are the same. Compose it in Word or other word processing program. Format it. Send it to Amazon (they have a separate site for that), and then they publish it in book format.

    ps: There are no up front costs if you do it on Amazon. They take a small percentage of the sales.
     
  14. Earl Boebert
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    Earl Boebert Senior Member

    I have self-published one book doing all the layout myself and using only a print shop for production, another using the Amazon scheme and have a third published by a university press. For the third I started out intending to self-publish and hired a professional editor, who was instrumental in getting a contract. Having an established publisher is a real advantage for a general interest book but in today's world not so much for specialist works. (My third is on the boundary between the two).

    Based on this experience, and production of numerous advisory reports for various sponsors, I cannot recommend too much the advisability of enlisting peer reviewers for content prior to investing time and effort in formatting. I would strongly suggest soliciting peer reviewers on this and other sites like WoodenBoat school, having them sign a simple LegalZoom NDA, and having them mark up copies. There will be a delta improvement in the quality of the work no matter how high the original baseline was, trust me.

    Cheers,

    Earl
     

  15. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    I proofread a fiction book for a friend once post publishing and it had a dreadful number of simple typos and grammatical errors. I cannot tell you how right you are Earl. The best course I had in college was a technical writing course. It helped me become a little less wordy and really be able to pull the content and understand the author's intent.

    I'd be glad to sign any NDA for you Peter.

    And Earl, I'd like to get the title of your book. I am trying to do an electrical plan for a new build that doesn't have one.
     
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