This manuscript is commercially important to me. Quality is significantly more important than price. I am looking for someone who takes genuine pride in their work and is capable of producing a publication that would not look out of place on the shelves of a major business publisher.
Business Book Editor & Publication Designer Required
I have written the first draft of a business book titled:
The Small Business Investor Standard™
The manuscript is approximately 60–100 pages and has been written in Microsoft Word.
The content is substantially complete.
I am NOT looking for a ghost writer.
I am looking for an experienced editor and publication designer who can transform the manuscript into a professional publication suitable for business owners, accountants, solicitors, lenders and investors.
The finished document should look as though it has been professionally published by a major business publisher.
Scope of Work
The successful freelancer will:
Editorial
• Review the manuscript for consistency.
• Remove repetition.
• Improve transitions between chapters.
• Ensure the document reads as one coherent publication.
• Correct grammar, punctuation and formatting where appropriate.
• Improve readability without changing the author's style or commercial meaning.
Layout & Design
Create a professional book layout including:
• consistent fonts
• heading hierarchy
• spacing
• margins
• chapter opening pages
• page numbering
• headers and footers
• table formatting
• quotations
• diagrams
• graphics placement
• automatic Table of Contents
Branding
Maintain a clean corporate style throughout.
The book should feel professional, authoritative and modern.
It should resemble publications produced by Wiley, Pearson or Kogan Page.
Deliverables
The successful applicant will provide:
• Fully editable Microsoft Word document
• High quality PDF suitable for printing
• Hyperlinked Table of Contents
• Consistent styles throughout
• Print-ready formatting
Future Work
This is likely to become an ongoing relationship.
Further editions and additional books are already planned.
Required Skills
The successful applicant MUST demonstrate experience in:
✔ Business books
✔ Book editing
✔ Publication layout
✔ Microsoft Word styles
✔ PDF production
✔ Typography
✔ Document design
✔ Professional publishing
QUESTIONS EVERY APPLICANT MUST ANSWER
I would make these mandatory.
1
Please provide links to three business books you have personally edited and formatted.
2
What part of this project do you believe will require the greatest amount of work?
3
Have you previously prepared manuscripts for publication?
Please explain.
4
Which software will you use?
Word?
InDesign?
Affinity Publisher?
Other?
5
Will you return:
• editable Word
• PDF
or both?
6
Describe your editorial process from receiving the manuscript to delivering the finished publication.
7
How would you ensure the manuscript reads as one book rather than several documents combined?
8
What would you improve beyond simply formatting?
9
If you were publishing this book commercially, what three improvements would you immediately recommend?
10
Approximately how many hours do you believe this project will require?
11
Will you personally complete the work?
Or subcontract it?
12
How many revisions are included?
13
Can you produce files suitable for:
• Amazon KDP
• Commercial printing
• PDF distribution
14
What is your experience of business publishing?
Not fiction.
Not novels.
Business publications.
15
Why should I choose you rather than another applicant?
As part of the selection process, shortlisted applicants will be asked to professionally redesign three pages from the manuscript (including text, headings and one graphic).
The successful applicant will then be awarded the full project.
The successful applicant should also be comfortable with publication layout and preparing a manuscript for professional publication.
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