The Difference is in the Details
It was my night to cook and creamy chicken surprise was the main course. It would have been great, except that I left out one detail when copying the recipe: the milk used to make it creamy.
The mush ended up breaking a serving ladle and is now affectionately referred to as “chickcrete.”
One detail can make a world of difference.
If you’re on the road to getting your book published and have begun working with one of our project managers, you know how excruciating it can be to wait a day—or even an hour—to get your questions answered.
Here’s how you, the author, can present your requests to your project manager so he or she can respond in the most efficient, timely manner possible:
Provide details
Your project manager is not a mind reader. I remember the time an author wanted the typesetter to change a word in a sentence, but the author didn’t tell her project manager what page the word was on. Unable to telepathically connect with the author, the project manager had to put the task aside until the author provided the necessary information. Give your project manager a detailed request, and it’s likely your task will get completed exactly the way you want.
Don’t overlook small details
One time, an author wanted a sub-title on her cover moved up a little. The author e-mailed, “Move the sub-title closer to the top of the book.”
As instructed, the designer moved the sub-title about an inch from the top of the book. Later, the author clarified that she wanted the sub-title to stay beneath the main title. If she’d explained her request in detail, that situation could have been avoided.
When communicating with your project manager, load on the details. Write your instructions from every angle imaginable. Those who follow your instructions will appreciate the wonderful bits of information that let them know they’re doing exactly what needs to be done.
George Dillaway has worked at WinePress for five years and has always been fascinated by the process required to create a book. As a Project Manager he follows the many intricate details of getting an author’s manuscript to print. George finds the final product of an author’s labor always a joy to hold in his hands and looks forward to many more to come.
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