Welcome to HD&E Services
Hayes Design and Editorial Service welcomes you to our humble online abode. Here you'll find samples of our work and more. We are here to service you in all areas of book production, rather a self-publisher or someone who wants to give their book a fighting chance with their chosen small publisher.
Feel free to contact us at hayesdesigneditorial@gmail.com.
Getting Started - Writing
Last year, the tally of books published hit the 400,000 mark. It's amazing that we have so many books being published each year. However, that's only a small fraction of what would be published if the many repressed writers had help with putting pen to paper.
When you decide to write a book, the first step actually has nothing to do with writing at all. It has everything to do with who you are. Are you writing for self-gratification? For family? For the good of a population? This is the first step. How you answer this question will determine how you proceed in writing.
- Outlines are great for nonfiction; timelines for fiction
- Brainstorm (it doesn't have to be neat, just lend your mind freedom of expression)
- Don't try to make it a book... just write
- You can write or you can edit, but do NOT edit while writing because editing and creative writing comes from different sections of the brain. This has destroyed many authors' ability to flow with an idea. Now there are some who do it and do it well, but generally, we warn against it.
- A rough draft is just that... don't let your first draft stop you from writing. Polish it and rework it. Don't lose heart!
Agent or Publisher?
How do you decide which one you need? There are many schools of thought on this topic. Here is ours, which has proven true many times over:
-- Will this be your only book? If so, go straight for a publisher
-- Are you going to be a career author? If so, an agent might be the best start
-- Do you prefer one of the big seven publishing conglomerates? If so, an agent is absolutely necessary. And not any agent, a highly experienced agent with a great success rate.
-- Are you okay with independent publishers? If so, then you don't need an agent right now. In fact, many people have started here and was later courted by agents and larger publishers.
Other considerations include your level of knowledge. If you are a beginner, an agent may help, but whether you get an agent or not, it is important to educate yourself about the publishing industry. Ask questions from publishers, agents, editors, even designers. Search the net. Purchase books. If you plan to make money in writing, it is going to be a full time job just to learn the industry.