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EDITING

Editing a book is a tedious, difficult task involving an editor and author.

All books, regardless of the effort made by an author, should be edited professionally. This is why the editors at Professional Press take so much time in helping authors complete their work, whether it is a autobiography, novel, memoir or a book of nonfiction.

This is not a small task. Editing is much more than uncovering simple grammatical or typographical errors that an author might overlook. To us, editing means reviewing the overall concept and manner in which a book is written and presented.

Many new authors fear editing because it invites criticism of the work an individual may have spent years in preparing. Our task is not to ridicule or create any feeling of superiority. It is rather to constructively suggest a means of improving the way a sentence or paragraph or passage of a book should be changed.

The author has the full and ultimate decision since the author is ultimately the publisher as well. All we can do is offer suggestions that we feel will make the book more readable and more salable. The decision to use these suggestions are made by the author. In many cases, the trust between an author and one of our editors is so strong, that an author will happily accept any changes made by the editor.

The final draft of any editing is always shown to the author for a final approval.

REWRITING

Rewriting in a minimal manner is another way an editor can help an author. It usually occurs when a major part of the plot of a book, whether fiction or non-fiction, requires some additional development of character or setting or both. Authors will always find it difficult to create the best nuance in a setting or in a important part of a book. The editor, being objective, can catch an error. Sometimes the error can be in the pacing of a novel or any non-fiction work. It occurs when an author, anxious to complete the book, may have a tendency to rush through the development of character and setting.

Here is where, at Professional Press, we tend to be at our best in searching for the best and, at times, the more obvious answer to this problem of pacing.

CATALOGING IN PRODUCTION

If you want to sell your book to libraries, you will need to be part of the Dewey Decimal System used by all the libraries throughout the world. We offer this special service for $200 and will save you hours of aggravation when you discover that your book will not be used by a library—even your local library—because you did not acquire the proper accreditation. Ask Professional Press for more information on this important service.