David Blatner

An author used generative AI to source and create 152 citations. I found that 46 of these were partially or fully hallucinated. Do not use ChatGPT for research unless you check EVERY. SINGLE. FACT. Some hallucinations were as tiny as the page numbers or journal issue. Many of them had the wrong DOI link, even though the paper existed. Some sources were correct, but the fact in the book was wrong. And 14 of them were so messed up that I couldn’t find the real source at all. “Spot checking” is not enough. If you use AI, you should check EVERY. SINGLE. FACT. (Yes, I’m saying it again because it’s that important.) Rant over. === I’m Jeanette 👋 a copyeditor, line editor, award-winning self-editing instructor, and mermaid. Follow my profile to see more of me in your feed!

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🚀 Libraries are sitting on a goldmine of digital resources—but too often, patrons don’t even know they exist. I just published a blog post with a 12-month promotional campaign plan to help libraries boost database usage and prove the value of their digital collections. This strategy goes beyond “Did you know we have this?” and focuses on solving real problems for your community. If your library has no advertising budget (like most), this plan is for you! Here's how to start building awareness, month by month: https://lnkd.in/gF8sd-iF #LibraryMarketing #Databases

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Look, you can't say you support the rights of authors and artists but still use generative AI programs that have stolen work from those same artists and authors. This does not apply to people whose employers make them use AI.

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PDFs are one of the biggest accessibility challenges in higher ed—and fixing them is critical for Title II readiness. Anthology Ally’s new PDF Quick Fixes make remediation easy, directly in the LMS, with no extra tools or training. See how simple fixes lead to big impacts. Read more: https://ow.ly/tjkZ50X1Qqz #DigitalAccessibility #HigherEd #Ally #TitleIICompliance

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Quick Grammar Tip: Master the Oxford Comma! As editors, we know the power of punctuation. One small mark—the Oxford Comma—can clear up confusion and improve clarity. Example: Without Oxford Comma: "I’d like to thank my parents, Eleanor Roosevelt and John Wayne." With Oxford Comma: "I’d like to thank my parents, Eleanor Roosevelt, and John Wayne." The Oxford Comma (the one before the “and”) ensures your lists are crystal clear. It’s a tiny change that makes a big impact on readability! #WritingTips #GrammarMatters #Editing #OxfordComma #TheEditDerr

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Dreaming of seeing your book in your favorite library? In Episode 90 of Publish & Prosper, Lauren and Matt share advice for getting your book into libraries including why libraries are great for discoverability, how to make sure your book is eligible, and tips for getting your print books or digital media in front of librarians. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you like to listen: https://lnkd.in/eKgn-Jwn

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Breaking into copyediting requires more than a love of language; it demands specialized training and practice. Here’s a brief overview of the essential skills and steps for success in this rewarding field. https://zurl.co/qSzKN #Freelancing #Writing #Language #Skills #RightTouchEditing

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Before your manuscript becomes a book, it passes through many hands: editors, proofreaders, and then your designer. A little preparation for your book designer makes a big difference. Thoughtful planning, organization and formatting of your manuscript helps the design process go smoother, faster, and helps make your intentions clear to your designer. It also helps ensure your book looks professional when it lands in readers' hands. A few tips to get started: • Make sure editing and proofreading are complete. Your designer needs the final manuscript, as changes after design and formatting can be costly. • Resolve and delete any tracked changes or communication comments between you and the editor. If notes to the designer are necessary, insert them between brackets. • Stick to simple formatting and minimal styling in your Word doc. Don't worry about making it look "designed," that's what your designer is here for. • Make sure you are consistent. Chapter headings, subheadings, and any special elements, such as poems, or pull quotes should be formatted consistently throughout. This helps your designer set up clear styles. • Flag any special content. If you have charts, poems, or pull quotes, make a note of them so they can be placed with care. • Remove images from the manuscript and send them as separate high-resolution files. Simply note the file name in brackets wherever the image belongs in the manuscript. • If your book has a Table of Contents, include it in the manuscript, but page numbers are unnecessary because they will be different in the final book format. In indie publishing, collaboration is everything. When in doubt, ask the designer about their preferences. When authors, editors, and designers all work together seamlessly, the manuscript-to-masterpiece journey becomes much smoother. ============== About me: I'm Michelle, and I have over 20 years of book design experience. I specialize in designing nonfiction books in the mind/body/spirit genre, including inspirational memoirs and guidance for living a healthy and happy life. #SelfPublishing #BookDesign #ManuscriptTips #IndieAuthors #PublishingProcess #BookProduction #BookPublishing #AuthorsOnLinkedIn #EditorialToDesign #WritingTips

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If you're a self-publishing author hiring a book designer to format your book interior pages, make sure you find out what software they will use. Generally speaking, if you will have a print version of your book, there is only ONE correct answer: Adobe InDesign. If they say Canva, run away! Canva is not made for designing books and it can cause major issues down the line. If they say Microsoft Word, proceed with extreme caution. Formatting a book *can* be done in Word, but it will not look professional. Professional designers don't use Microsoft Word. It's for typing your manuscript, not formatting it. If they say Vellum, again, proceed with caution. Professional book designers don't use Vellum. I haven't personally used it, but my impression is that it's a better option than Microsoft Word. I don't think Vellum is up to the task of any complex layout. It was created more for a DIY author wanting to do their own simple book formatting. In that instance, I have heard mostly positive things about it. But if you are hiring a professional, I would double check on their expertise if they are using Vellum, and be weary. Make sure they have designed books for print before and that you have seen examples of their work and like the way it looks. Ideally, make sure you can confirm with a past client of theirs that they were good to work with. But be aware, Vellum files can only be opened in Vellum. If you have your source files and need to work with a pro designer in the future, they likely won't have Vellum, will refuse to use Vellum, and won't be able to work with the files. They'll want to start over in InDesign. Nothing against Vellum, I'm sure it serves a great purpose and is a good option in some cases. But it is not industry-standard software for professional book design. Have questions? Let me know in the comments or DM me. Happy publishing and Happy Friday! 💫 ====== About me: I've been a book designer for 15 years and I'm on a mission to help self-publishing authors publish high-quality books. #bookdesign #selfpublishing #nonfictionauthor #bookformatting

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Authors, a few reminders as the "rush to publish" before the end of the year begins: 📚 Editors and proofreaders book services in advance. Many do not accept rush jobs or "squeezing in" extra work. If you find someone you jive with to work on your book expect that you may have to wait to work with them. 📚 If you're waiting, use that time to draft and revise. Find some trusted free sources to read your book and provide feedback. Friends and family members can be great if you've never had any feedback. Critique groups or partners, or even beta readers, may give you more critical feedback. Both types of feedback are valuable. 📚 Make a plan for publishing. Unless you're a rapid-release author (and those folks are a particular brand—they have their process down pat), you're going to need to plot out your publishing timeline over at least 6 months, especially if you're a first-time author and you're learning the ropes as you go. 📚 Ignore the temptation to rush. I know it feels like you have to get your book into the world right now, but really, you don't. Take your time. You'll thank yourself for it after publication when you have a quality book to show for it and reviews to match. --- Hi, I'm Sarah. 👋 I'm a freelance fiction editor and proofreader. Can you tell I've encountered some authors in a rush to publish lately? 😉 Now booking manuscript reviews, line/copyediting, and proofreading for October through the end of the year. If you're a fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, or romance author desiring to publish a high-quality book, let's chat! 👉 www.sarahfraps.com/contact Image by Stephen Phillips on Unsplash

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Designing with #librarians and #archivists, not just for them. 🤝 In JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services, research revealed two ways stewards work: targeted bulk edits and context-rich bulk cataloguing. That insight led to a full-width editor, all metadata fields visible by default, and item thumbnails that keep context in view. Read how listening and evidence shaped the experience: https://bit.ly/4n7BWZu

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Nonfiction writers, if you're looking to get an agent and publish the traditional way, please don't write your manuscript first. There isn't a nonfiction publisher I've worked with who has bought a book on full manuscript. It's always on proposal. Learn how to craft a book proposal FIRST, and make sure you have gathered the right information to make it stellar, before you query agents. Your manuscript will be so much better for it.

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