Claire Wingfield Editorial and Literary Consultancy

 Why is typesetting important in publishing your book?

In my book-production work, I get truly excited about the typesetting stage. Having worked with an author in developing their novel or work of non-fiction, edited the text and prepared it for typesetting, finally seeing the words and layout in published-book format is a special moment. It’s when an author gets a sense of ‘this is really happening: my book is really being published.’

Sometimes, it can feel as though the book-production process speeds up after the first typeset is produced; the book launch is in sight and the book-production schedule takes on a momentum of its own. The earlier stages of writing, development, editing and proofreading may have wearied the author and produced a mild case of disenchantment with the publishing process. Viewing the typeset can inject a new energy into the process. Words the author and publishing team may have felt so familiar with (too familiar with?) somehow appear differently once professionally typeset and a new stage of revision beckons.

Amends after the typesetting stage

Professionally typesetting a text somehow changes a text. We see the words on the page arranged for the reading public and small matters such as just a few lines running on to the last page of a chapter can focus our minds to some last-minute tightening of the text. Unintentional repetition can stand to attention. Convoluted description is somehow easier to spot once the book is typeset. Names that are confusingly similar call attention to themselves. Perhaps it’s just a less forgiving format than the unglamorous Word document that had preceded the typeset. Often there’s a line or section I’ve questioned in the editorial process, which an author or publisher has been set on retaining, that finally comes out after the book is typeset. It may be easier to kill one’s darlings as publication comes palpably closer.

Matters of narrative development should have been cleared up earlier in the process, so the typeset is a ‘clean’ version of the text, allowing those last matters that jar to stand out for attention. Using three words where one would do, unintentionally starting several paragraphs or sentences in the same way, a section of meandering ‘filler’ that survived earlier revision rounds.

Once the manuscript is typeset, author amends have to be listed for the typesetter, which helps to avoid over-editing and encourages the author to interrogate each request. This can feel a slightly laborious process and can also be a stage when unintentional error sneaks in, so it’s important to consider the manuscript ‘finished’ before sending for typesetting (even though the typesetting process will inevitably throw up some additional changes). It’s also important to carefully check the fresh typeset after each round of amends. (If there is a fairly long list of amends, it is recommended to read the full manuscript again, so you can see how those amends impact the whole; if you are getting down to the last handful of changes, you may only need to carefully check the impacted pages.)

Viewing the typeset manuscript also encourages attention to the book’s beginning and end matter (anything that is not the story or central non-fiction text). This could include a dedication, author’s note, the design of the copyright page. It’s ideal to view a number of recently published books to bring some fun, creativity and inspiration to these pages. This can also draw your attention to typesetting trends and help you to be alert to the opportunities to show a little about yourself as an author the beginning and end matter offer.

For example, where chapters are numbered only, it’s no longer usual to include a contents page in the print format; the author’s name on page headings may have fallen out of fashion for a cleaner typeset; or you might note how an intimate or humorous tone in a dedication or author’s note can make them feel like an old friend - or a friend you’d like to have, engendering loyalty. The mention of how to connect on social media or join an exclusive fan club (e.g. an e-newsletter) gives an action to channel that impulse after finishing the book.

When I work with an author on full book-production support, I often give the manuscript a light edit after the typesetting stage, before passing the typeset to the author to read and prepare a clear list of author amends. From my early career experiences of a working as a reader in a book-production company, a pain point came when the ‘keyer’ inputting author and publisher changes into a typeset was detached from the book, meaning late-stage changes often introduced error into a typeset. It was part of my job to spot these late-stage errors and check the amends had been correctly implemented before the typeset was returned to the publisher. Now being able to work closely on the typeset of a book I am editorially familiar with makes this stage a much more efficient and seamless process. 

For both author and editor, working with a typeset manuscript is a rewarding new stage in the publishing process. After many months of work, it allows a text to be viewed with fresh eyes. Don’t be surprised if, having worked on the manuscript for what can feel like many months on end, some of the decisions made after typesetting have an impressive and seemingly disproportionate impact on the final product.

Top tip for viewing your typeset manuscript

Whilst it is incredibly exciting to view a first typeset of your novel or non-fiction book, don’t allow the sense that the end is in sight to rush your final stages. This is an excellent opportunity for the final tweaks, clear-sighted inspiration and proofreading that can really make a difference to your final product.

Once you have worked through amends to the typeset, be sure to allow enough time for reading the first printed proof, which gives a further opportunity to refine your product. Remember that a book is an ongoing asset so taking care with these final stages (especially when not working with the size of team that can be expected in a mainstream publishers) will pay off more than rushing for a self-imposed publishing deadline.