Typically, printed non-fiction books run 50,000-60,000 words. Research-heavy books run longer, and novels average 90,000. A rule of thumb is 100 printed book pages per 25,000 words, give or take. eBooks can technically be any length but must be long enough to cover their subject properly and justify the purchase price.

Check that you’re really done by printing out 2-3 (bound) copies and giving them to bookworm friends who can serve as beta readers. If your readers point out minor plot holes or information gaps, fix them. If they point out major issues such as poor characterization, insufficient structure, or a confusing premise / examples (non-fiction) or plotline (novel), consider hiring a developmental editor.

Yes. An editorial consultation is the first step. That will give you a taste of the developmental editing process and help you determine if Blue Ocean Books is a good fit for your project.

The basic process goes like this: Writing Editing First proofreading on the Word file Layout Cover design Final proofreading on the PDF Printing the first copy (AKA the blues or printer’s proofs) Checking the first copy Printing Distributing to stores

I get asked this all the time. (That’s why it’s in this FAQ…) Here are the different types of editing: Developmental editing takes a big-picture view and addresses foundational issues. Developmental editors can help an author plan a new book or help fix a book that is already written. (If you’re a first-time author, best to be proactive and seek advice before you write an entire book.) Only some books require this. Line editing goes line by line, keeping the bigger picture in mind while rearranging and smoothing out the text. Every book requires this. Copyediting / proofreading There are granular differences between the two but only copyeditors care about them! All an author needs to know is that both copyeditors and proofreaders zoom in on the fine details of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style (such as use of italics and how words will be transliterated from a foreign language). This is the polishing phase. Proofreaders will rarely suggest major changes unless they trip over a significant contradiction. Every book requires this. Best to proofread twice because a) once is rarely sufficient b) when text is laid out, new issues crop up. After your book has been both edited and proofread, it's best to begin reaching out to possible distributors. You wouldn’t want to finish writing a book and then find that because of this or that issue, there is no one who wants to get it into the stores for you.

If you’re a quick learner, have time on your hands, and love to DIY, hire the editor first. Ask for a sample edit in track changes so you can see what was done and get a feel for whether the editor retained your voice and improved your text. Once your book has been edited, reach out to possible typesetters. Not because your file is ready. Just because you want them to save time for your project. When you are up to laying out the book, ask them to typeset a sample chapter in two styles so you can pick the one that works best. (The design is meant to support the text.)

Hire a production manager to handle the hiring and oversee the entire project. We offer those services.

100%. You’re the client and this book is your baby. You will review the edited file. You will offer guidance and feedback to the cover designer. You can even choose the thickness of the paper. You’ll give all the crucial input while saving yourself time and a few bad headaches.

Ghostwriting services vary widely. Here is what the Blue Ocean Books ghostwriting process usually looks like: Publishing a book is an excellent, enduring way to establish authority as a thought leader. The journey generally begins by developing your table of contents. That means we’ll discuss and clarify the topic, key takeaway messages, and the content that will best support those messages. Once we have a game plan, one of our talented ghostwriters will interview you by phone, each week for about 1-2 hours. Each conversation centers on the topic of a specific chapter of your book. We take notes and also record these interviews. Afterward, we sculpt the material into an engaging chapter and move on to the next chapter. Depending on the arrangement, ghostwriting clients can either offer feedback on a chapter by chapter basis or every few chapters. There’s more to it, but that is the general process. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask.