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Editorial FAQ

What is a BISAC code? What is a back cover category? How do I change them?

The BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) code helps booksellers determine the primary subject or focus of a book. Notice the different sections of your local bookstore to see some of the existing classifications, for example, Science Fiction, Literature, Romance, Self-Help, Cookbooks, and History.

The back cover category is a label placed on the back cover of your book that provides more detailed classification information that is easily accessible to a potential buyer. For example, a back cover category will give a reader browsing the Science Fiction shelves an easy way to differentiate between a book on time travel and a space-opera novel.

Contact your Publishing Services Associate if you want to change your book's BISAC code or back cover category.

Editorial Evaluation

What is editorial quality and why is it important?

The editorial quality of a book refers to how well the book is written in terms of basic content, style, and technical accuracy. No matter how small or big an audience you want to reach, the editorial quality of your work matters.

If I can self-publish my book, then why should I care about its editorial quality?

Higher editorial quality can give you more credibility as an author, but a book that is filled with errors can hurt an author's reputation. No matter how you publish your book, you've made a promise to your readers that it contains all the elements expected in a professionally published work.

What is an Editorial Evaluation?

The Editorial Evaluation is a manuscript checkup that assesses your work to be sure it has fulfilled the basic requirements of a published book. The editorial evaluator will not only provide you with a general overview of your manuscript, but also offer feedback on how to write a better book—on what works and what doesn't. If needed, the evaluator will prescribe an Editorial Rx Referral to an editorial specialist, such as a line editor, who can help you continue to improve your manuscript. Books that receive a favorable Editorial Evaluation will qualify for the Editor's Choice program.

Can I add an Editorial Evaluation to my Express submission?

You cannot add an Editorial Evaluation to your Express Publishing Package. It's a program designed to speedily produce a book with no options or exceptions.

What is the price of an Editorial Evaluation and how do I order it?

If purchased separately, an iUniverse Editorial Evaluation costs $349, which is far below industry standard costs for an editorial review. If you have chosen our Select publishing package, simply order the Editorial Evaluation option when you submit your publishing order. An Editorial Evaluation is included in the price of our Premier and Premier Pro publishing packages, and you receive other essential marketing and publicity services as well. Authors with existing iUniverse Select titles can also elect to submit their books for an Editorial Evaluation and republish a new edition. Contact your Publishing Services Associate for details.

Why should I order an Editorial Evaluation?

You've worked hard to get your manuscript written, and it's even harder to evaluate your own work. An Editorial Evaluation may be the only objective opinion you get before your book is available to the general public. An independent evaluation is critical to successfully establishing and maintaining a credible public image—whether it's with friends, family, colleagues, or booklovers anywhere.

What if my manuscript doesn't qualify for Editor's Choice after the Editorial Evaluation?

We don't just tell you what's amiss; iUniverse provides you with the tools and service providers needed to make your book the best it can be—a quality work that meets professional standards across the board. You can do the work yourself, use your own editorial service provider, or purchase the services of one of our carefully selected publishing professionals—the choice is yours. All of the recommendations are just that—you have complete control and can follow the suggestions made or ignore them. At iUniverse the author always has the last word.

What's most important to remember is that this is not a pass/fail program. Just because a book doesn't make Editor's Choice doesn't mean it's not worthy of publication or that it won't be successful. There are countless stories of books that were turned down at twenty-five publishing houses and then became huge best sellers.

Why didn't the evaluator correct or list all of the errors in my book?

The Editorial Evaluation is a manuscript checkup. The evaluator will provide you with a general overview of your manuscript, and if needed, suggest you consider working with an editorial specialist, such as a line editor, who can edit your manuscript line by line, giving it the professional polish that you'd get at major publishing houses.

Can I use feedback from my Editorial Evaluation on my back cover or to promote my book?

No. The purpose of the Editorial Evaluation is to provide advice and suggestions on how your book can be improved and how you can strengthen your writing skills. The guidance and feedback you receive is not intended to be an endorsement and may not be used for promotional purposes of any kind. Keep in mind that using text from an editor who has worked on your book presents a conflict of interest and is discouraged in the publishing community.

Can I speak to the evaluator?

Confidentiality is essential for an atmosphere of professional honesty. Just as we protect our authors' privacy by prohibiting our evaluators from disclosing information from any Editorial Evaluation, we likewise do not disclose our evaluators' identities. Maintaining this confidential relationship allows our evaluators to provide straightforward, honest feedback. Our contract with our evaluators requires us to keep their identities private, so we can't allow an author to personally speak with his evaluator. If you have brief questions regarding your evaluation, your Publishing Services Associate can forward them to the editorial department, who will share your concerns with the evaluator, if appropriate, and respond to you in a timely fashion.

What are my editorial evaluator's credentials?

Our evaluators are experienced book-publishing professionals, including editors, literary agents, and book reviewers. They are not only knowledgeable about the levels of editorial services needed to give a book a professional polish, but also well-informed about what's needed to be successful in a competitive marketplace. Most importantly, we give you customized advice, not a generic form letter.

Editor's Choice

What are the benefits of the Editor's Choice designation?

If your manuscript is awarded Editor's Choice, a special Editor's Choice icon will be added to the back cover of your book. Books accepted into this program will also carry the Editor's Choice icon next to the book title in the iUniverse online bookstore and will be prominently featured in a separate Editor's Choice section of the bookstore. In addition, iUniverse offers publicity and marketing programs reserved only for the high-quality titles in Editor's Choice. This designation is also a prerequisite for entry into other iUniverse programs, including Rising Star and the Star Program.

Does the Editor's Choice designation help with sales?

In the publishing world, everyone from literary agents to booksellers ask two key questions when considering the potential success of a book: Is it good? Will it sell? The Editor's Choice designation answers that first question with a resounding yes. Also keep in mind that many factors contribute to book sales, and more often than not, successful sales also depends on the willingness of the author to market the book. The all-important word-of-mouth is a result of reaching readers to let them know the book is available and then delivering a quality product that they will recommend.

Editorial Services

What are editorial services and why are they important?

Traditional publishing houses have several editors working on each title. iUniverse offers a full range of editorial services so that self-published authors can take advantage of the improvements that an editorial specialist, such as a copyeditor or developmental editor, can make to a manuscript. Quality matters—to agents, editors, booksellers and, most importantly, to the reader. If a book is good, a reader will tell a friend or colleague, and word-of-mouth, the best sales tool for any product, will begin.

How do I order editorial services?

Your Editorial Evaluation will determine which editing service is right for your book. To order editorial services, use your myUniverse account or consult with your Publishing Services Associate. If you have any questions about the different services we offer, our editorial consultants can help guide you through them.

How much do editorial services cost?

Editorial services fees are charged on a per-word basis. Most editors charge by the hour, leaving you dependent upon their work speed. Our fees are charged per word so you know exactly what you're getting into. For higher-level services such as a book doctoring or ghostwriting, we give you a firm estimate before an editor starts work on your manuscript, and we guarantee that price. By using iUniverse service providers, you know you're getting qualified editors at affordable, industry-standard prices. There are no surprises.

Why should I use iUniverse editorial service providers?

iUniverse editorial service providers have extensive experience in book publishing, so you are eliminating the risk of using amateurs who can charge a fortune for bad services. Moreover, our in-house editors double-check the work done by our freelance staff to make sure it conforms to our high standards of editorial quality.

May I purchase a lower-priced editorial service than is recommended? I don't want to spend that much money.

At iUniverse, the author has complete editorial control over the manuscript, but sometimes a book is still in the draft stage and not ready for certain services. Moreover, as with most products and services, the rule "you get what you pay for" may apply. Purchasing a lower editorial service than what your Editorial Evaluation recommends means that the editorial quality of your book will probably not be the best it can be. And because a manuscript with higher editorial quality can translate into an enhanced reputation and increased marketability for your book—as is the case for Editor's Choice books—the extra cost might just pay for itself.

If I buy the recommended service, does that guarantee I'll get Editor's Choice?

After carefully considering your manuscript, your evaluator will let us know whether your book has the potential to be an Editor's Choice book. As in traditional publishing, manuscripts with potential often still need the assistance of an editor, such as a copyeditor or line editor. If we see Editor's Choice potential in your manuscript, we will share this information with you when you receive your completed Editorial Evaluation. If you choose to purchase the editorial service indicated in your Editorial RxReferral and make the necessary revisions, we will work with you to bring your manuscript to the level of Editor's Choice.

If I make the Editorial Evaluator's recommended changes myself, will I still be eligible for Editor's Choice?

If you decide to revise your manuscript on your own and want to be considered for Editor's Choice, we require a second evaluation of your book to allow us to review the changes you have made. Keep in mind, however, that if your second evaluation still identifies the need for professional editorial assistance, we will ask that you consider working with an editorial specialist, as recommended, to be eligible for Editor's Choice or, if you choose, simply move to publication.

Are editorial services available with all of the iUniverse publishing packages?

Editorial services are available after an Editorial Evaluation, which is included in the Premier and Premier Pro Publishing Packages. In the Select package, an Editorial Evaluation, line editing, proofreading and indexing may be chosen as options. Editorial services are not available with the Express Publishing Package.

For higher-level services, does the author see the manuscript while the editorial work is being done?

Higher-level services, such as our Developmental Editing and Book Doctor services, include opportunities for the author to view and approve a sample of the editor's work or provide additional feedback as requested. To help you better understand the steps involved in these services, we've provided a visual guide.

Why is an index important? What's the difference between the index iUniverse provides for free and the Indexing service available for a fee?

An index compiled by a professional indexer can maximize the usability of a nonfiction title. Although indexes can also be automatically generated by computers, a computer-generated list of key words may not be sufficient for selling your book in certain markets. In addition, computer-generated indexes can be excessively long and have no logical organization other than alphabetical.

A professional indexer analyzes your book, anticipates items your reader will most likely want to find, and lists them in an intuitive, accessible manner. The end result is an industry-standard, two-level index, fully copyedited for quality assurance. Simply put, people read books; computers don't.