Jera’s Self-Publishing Blog
Welcome to our blog! We post articles to help the self-publishing and indie author. You will find articles on writing tips, book design, cover design, eBook, book marketing, and of course information on the business of self-publishing.
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More Words to Start Spelling Correctly
"Since writing my previous article on “Words to Start Spelling Correctly,” I’ve keep a list of misspellings I’ve come across while editing. I’ve gathered enough to write about, so here are more common misspellings, some of which are homophones (words that sound alike...
Should I Use a Comma with Direct Address?
Hey Bob, Here are the reports you asked me to send you. Best, Jane If the greeting in this e-mail looks similar to your daily e-mails, you’re doing it wrong. You’re not the only one, though, so don’t give yourself too much grief (just a little). Every day, I receive...
How to Set Headings in Word
One of the most important steps to take before you send your manuscript to your designer or your editor is to set the headings. This is crucial if you have sections and subsections in your manuscript. Your designer doesn’t read your book, and even your editor can’t...
Can I Use Song Lyrics in My Book?
Have you ever thought of the perfect song that coincides with a scene in your book, the song that describes the exact emotion you want to convey? I think we all have. Some of us (you know who you are) have that secret playlist of songs to serve as the background score...
How to Work with Your Editor
Letting go of your manuscript can be a difficult experience. After writing and putting bits of yourself into your book, it isn’t always easy to hand it off for an editor to critique and change, but it’s a necessary step of the publishing process. Here are a few ways...
Self-Publishing Short: A Big Mistake Authors Make When Doing an Illustrated Book
Hello, all! Kimberly here from Jera Publishing. Today your self-publishing short is on a big mistake made by authors of illustrated books. When a self-publishing author comes to us for the design of their interior book layout and mentions they have illustrations, I...
Words to Start Spelling Correctly
Do you find it difficult to recall the difference between effect and affect, lie and lay, or it’s and its? You’re not the only one! These words are called homophones, words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. If you find yourself...
Quotation Marks vs. Italics
In the age of texting and social media, we often find ourselves in need of a way to show emphasis, but italicizing isn’t always an option. Instead, we use asterisks, underscores, all caps, and quotation marks because we want to do something to set the word(s) apart....
How to Add and Delete Comments in Word
Depending on the level of editing your manuscript has undergone, your editor will often leave comments for you on the right-hand side of your manuscript using Word’s Comment feature. You may also find it useful to leave comments for your editor prior to submitting...
How to Accept and Reject Track Changes in Word
After I’ve finished an editing job using Word’s Track Changes and sent it back to the author, the question I am asked most often is “So, how do I review this thing?” My first suggestion is always to go through the document first and reject the suggested changes you do...