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Musings of a freelance PA

Musings of a copywriter, editor, typesetter and freelance pa…

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What an indie author needs to know before self-publishing their book: A timeline
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

What an indie author needs to know before self-publishing their book: A timeline

Publishing is now accessible for everyone, and it gives indie authors complete creative control over their books. With that freedom comes responsibility for the writing, the marketing, and much more! The whole self-publishing process can be daunting. First-time indie authors often underestimate how much time, planning, and professional support are needed between finishing a draft and holding a polished book in their hands.

So, I’ve written a helpful stage-by-stage timeline of what to expect before you self-publish, what you need to do as the author, and how a professional editor can guide you through the process.

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Balancing AI and Professional Editing: A smart path for indie authors
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Balancing AI and Professional Editing: A smart path for indie authors

AI is rapidly reshaping creative industries, and that includes publishing. But can it really replace the expertise of a professional editor? My short answer is ‘No, but it can be helpful.’

In this musing, I’ll break down the key differences between editing with AI tools and working with a human editor so that you can make an informed decision for your book.

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Why outsource your editing?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Why outsource your editing?

Outsourcing your editing is a smart strategy for writers and content creators! But why? Many writers know, the writing process doesn’t end when the words hit the page. Editing is essential, but is often time-consuming and challenging. This is where outsourcing your editing can offer significant benefits.

In this musing, I’ll look at reasons to outsource your editing and offer you some tips on how to choose the right editor.

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Common editing mistakes and how to avoid them
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Common editing mistakes and how to avoid them

Editing is a crucial and often underestimated part of the self-publishing process. A manuscript evolves between the first draft and the final version.

In this musing, I look at common editing mistakes and how to avoid them to ensure the quality and success of your book.

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The role of an editor for an indie author
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

The role of an editor for an indie author

Self-publishing offers authors incredible freedom: complete creative control, flexible timelines, and direct access to readers. But with that freedom comes responsibility, especially when it comes to the quality of the finished book. This is where an editor plays a crucial role.

In this musing, I’m going to look at what editors do and why their support is so valuable on an author’s writing journey.

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Tips on how to focus on the task at hand
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Tips on how to focus on the task at hand

Multitasking may be the name of the game, but in reality, true productivity comes from focused attention on one task at a time: working smarter, not faster. That means giving each task the attention it deserves, without letting your mind wander.

In this musing, I thought I would share a few practical strategies I’ve found effective for staying focused, on track and delivering high-quality work throughout the day.

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Understanding typesetting costs: what you need to know
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Understanding typesetting costs: what you need to know

So you’re ready to get your manuscript typeset… but how much does it cost? You’ve searched the internet for a price to typeset your book and not found anything concrete, and now you’re just a little frustrated. Well, let me help!

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Why does editing cost so much?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Why does editing cost so much?

Editing is a professional service, priced on the time and expertise required to make a manuscript, or any other copy, shine.

So, let’s look at why editing costs what it does and why investing in a good editor is a good choice for your project.

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Self-publishing: what’s involved?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Self-publishing: what’s involved?

Self-publishing encompasses all the processes involved in publishing a written work, whether that is a book, eBook, or other written content, independent of a traditional publishing house.

There are pros and cons to the self-publishing approach, and while self-publishing has opened doors for authors to share their words with the world, some costs need to be considered once they have finished writing their book.

So what does it all cost? Well, “How long is a piece of string?” I’m not being difficult, but there’s a LOT to consider.

Want to know more?

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Learn to Love AI
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Learn to Love AI

Here is a question, “Can AI be your new best friend?”

My answer is, “Yes, I think so.”

AI isn't going anywhere, so we must embrace it and use it to benefit us and our businesses. So, I did some training to help me understand what AI can do and how I should use it.

Want to know more?

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How an Editor helps an Indie Author
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

How an Editor helps an Indie Author

As an indie author, you are responsible for writing, editing, marketing and distributing your book. As an author, I assume that the creative writing process is the bit you love, but editing is crucial to ensure your book reaches its full potential.

An editor will polish your manuscript and, hopefully, you will find them invaluable as they will do all of these wonderful things…

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The Anatomy of a Paperback
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

The Anatomy of a Paperback

The make-up of a book is more complex than most people realise so this musing is quite lengthy. Understanding a book's structure should help any author format their book for their editor or publisher.

Read on for more information…

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Punctuation: a guide
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Punctuation: a guide

Punctuation: the art of dividing sentences by marks.

Simple really.

If you think about it we use pauses and the pitch of our voice to help people understand what we are saying. Punctuation plays a similar role in our writing.

Read on…

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Editing poetry: my top tips
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Editing poetry: my top tips

Editing poetry needs particular care and attention by the poet and the editor. So, I thought I would share some tips for editing poetry… whether you’re revising or editing your poems or someone else’s. Read on…

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How does a small business owner take a holiday?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

How does a small business owner take a holiday?

How does a small business owner take a holiday?

This is a serious question to small business owners … when did you last take a holiday? I’m talking a real holiday not just a day off or a long weekend.

Read on for a few tips so that you can take that holiday …

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