Don’t Do As I Do
Don’t do as I do, at least not always. Right now I’m a little annoyed with myself. I’m actually doing the layout or design for a book I’ve ghosted.
True, it’s not too complicated. I’m adding running heads and some call-outs, but it is fairly time consuming.
How did I get in this position? Well, a couple of things happened. First of all, the original plan was to go for a publisher. But the client has decided to self-publish – a good decision I think. I didn’t get my act together to recommend either a self-publishing outfit that would do the design or get prices from book designers.
Also, the last client who self-published claimed to have a designer, and the results are pretty awful. I think the guy is a web designer, which isn’t nearly the same as a book designer. So some of this is simply my own pride. I want this book to look better.
Good book design supports the reader. It provides enough white space so the book is visually open and inviting and easy to read. It also means things like consistent type faces, spacing and the like. I can do that, although probably not as well as a real book designer, and certainly not as quickly.
I’ll try to retrieve the situation a bit by asking for additional pay, but I should have negotiated this up front, and I didn’t. I’m in the middle of it all now and so I’ll complete it, but next time….
Subscribe to Abundant Writing News
Tags: authors, book_designers, freelance-writing, ghost-writing, self_publish, writersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Ghostwriting, Musings From A Freelance Writer, Notes from a Writing Coach, The Kitchen Sink
2 opinions for Don’t Do As I Do
Devon Ellington
Jan 12, 2007 at 9:38 am
Sorry you’re going through that, sweetie. Hang in there — and hold the copy until you’re paid the additional money. If it wasn’t in your original agreement, you don’t have to do it.
Anne Wayman
Jan 12, 2007 at 11:16 am
I know I don’t have to do it and I suspect this time I will.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: