by Krystal Russell

Created on: November 06, 2008

When you take the plunge and self-publish your book, you're going to be doing a lot of things yourself (it's built right into the word). Editing, proofreading, design, marketing-a mistake that a lot of writers make when they begin to self-publish is trying to do everything alone. I'm not saying you have to spend thousands of dollars hiring professionals to do all of these things for you, but in the long run your book will be much more appealing to readers-and you'll be a lot happier with it-if you take the time to seek out experienced help.

Editors

An editor will help you by looking at your book as a whole and offering suggestions to make it better. A lot of writers choose to pinch pennies here by asking their mom, neighbor, pastor, babysitter, etc. to "take a look" at their manuscript, but that isn't helping your book get better. Most of the critiques coming from these people are gushing compliments or vague criticisms (either because they can't pinpoint what's bothering them about your book or they don't want to hurt your feelings). In the long run, it's much better for you and your book to get an experienced, professional editor. If you plan on hiring a pro, you can expect something in the neighborhood of $25-30 an hour, or $2-3 per page.* If you have a more personal relationship with your editor, you may be able to work out a discount rate or work on barter.

Where to find Editors:
Networking at writer's conferences or organizationsAuthorlink.com has a list of editorial servicesP.O.D. publishers (i.e. lulu, iuniverse, authorhouse) often have preferred vendorsUniversity English/Journalism departments
Proofreader
Spellcheck does not count
as proofreading your manuscript. You need human eyes to catch all the grammar goofs that spellcheck misses, and the more eyes, the better. Many writers can get overconfident in their grammar and spelling skills. Hey, I was a state spelling bee finalist in the 8th grade, and I still have other people double check me for typos. I'll look up words I'm not sure about. No one is perfect all of the time. If you decide to hire a professional to proofread your work, expect to pay $1-2.50 per page.* Some editors will also proofread, but don't assume both services are standard.

Where to find Proofreaders:
Friends and family (the more eyes the better, but it's a good idea to ask people who can spell their way out of a paper bag)SchoolteachersThe Editor resources

Designer

Technically, anyone with a computer and some software can create

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