Getting Started
You’ve written the story.
Let us help you clean it up a bit.
HB Ink is an independent publishing imprint that helps authors with editing and formatting to polish and prepare their works for publication.
Quick Navigation
What do you want to learn more about?
How We Edit
At HB Ink, We Focus On Four Types of Editing.
Developmental Editing
Reviews plot, structure, character, genre, and pacing throughout the story
Continuity Editing
Verifies descriptive, chronological, and point-of-view continuity across the manuscript
Copy Editing
Refines and maintains consistent authorial voice, style, clarity, and flow
Proofreading
Polishes mechanics, like grammar, spelling, and punctuation
To ensure your manuscript is in its best form for publication,
we show your work the meticulous care we would show our work.
So, we edit… rather comprehensively.
Our editing packages include the review of your manuscript with an eye for
all four types of editing—not once, but TWICE.
Round One includes all four types of editing.
Round Two includes all four types of editing.
Then:
Round Three includes a final proofread as we format your book for publication.
The best part:
Many editors charge a per-word price to go through your manuscript once,
sometimes performing only one specific type of editing.
We go through it three times, covering all four types of editing,
often for less than a developmental editor’s per-word average.
And you do not pay upfront in one large sum, but in installments.
Because if you’re serious enough about your work to hire an editor for it,
then you are doing your part to elevate the reputation of independently published authors,
and you deserve a break.
Better still, your package includes more than meticulous editing…*
Keep scrolling to learn why we perform three rounds of edits and see a detailed outline of our editing process.
Or click a button below to choose your own adventure.
Why Three Rounds of Edits?
Why do you perform three rounds of edits when other editors perform only one?
As our comprehensive editing encompasses developmental and continuity editing, we are not simply correcting your grammar. For example, when you receive your edited manuscript after the first round of edits, you may see suggestions or questions pertaining to inconsistencies in structural elements, plotlines, chronology, or character development and behavior. These require more than accepting a tracked change to correct.
We give you the opportunity to implement our suggestions, which often creates new or significantly altered content for us to review. As such, those reworked sections essentially require first-pass editing during the second round of edits, so they may call for more attention than the rest of the previously edited manuscript.
This method ensures that we have comprehensively edited the entire text by the third round, and all that remains is the final proofread to polish the minor blemishes that should not detract from your tale.
The Process
Step One.
The Discovery Call.
Your editor will sit with you for an hour—via web conference—to discuss your story and the way you want to tell it. We’ll review your overall vision regarding tone, genre, audience, point-of-view, and a potential schedule for publication.
Once your reservation for a Discovery Call has been received, you will be contacted by email with confirmation details.
At the end of the Discovery Call, we will provide instructions for manuscript submission.
(The Discovery Call is free with no obligation.)
Step Two.
First-Round Edits.
You submit a digital copy of your manuscript to us, and we go through it with a fine-toothed comb with an eye for all four types of editing listed above—developmental editing, continuity editing, copy editing, and proofreading.
We use MS Word’s Track Changes, redlining any in-line recommendations we see fit, and utilize margin comments to go into greater detail where we feel additional explanation of our suggestions is necessary.
Once we’re done, we return this edited version of the manuscript to you, and you go through it, change by change, to clean it up the way you want it, based on our edits and suggestions.
Step Three.
Second-Round Edits.
You submit a clean (unmarked) digital copy of your updated manuscript to us.
We refine it for a second time, taking into consideration the changes you made and polishing it even further, again with an eye for developmental editing, continuity editing, copy editing, and proofreading.
Once we’re done, we return this edited version of the manuscript to you, and you go through it again, change by change, to clean it up the way you want, based on our edits.
Optional.
Additional Editing.
Please Note:
For manuscripts that require substantial changes during the Second-Round Edit stage, we may suggest an additional round of editing to reach the level of polish we strive to achieve in every project.
The decision of whether to embark on this additional round of editing will be jointly made by the author and editor prior to progressing to Step Four.
If you already believe your manuscript may require this level of extra attention, consider adding a Beta Read Package or Strategy Meeting Package to your services before we begin editing.
Step Four.
Polishing & Formatting.
You submit a final, clean (unmarked) digital copy of your manuscript to us, and we do a final proofreading sweep while we format it for the trim size (cover size) you’ve selected for publication.
At this stage, all editorial changes have been finalized, and we will now only make formatting, aesthetic, and artistic changes to the manuscript.
We’ll return a print-ready electronic galley (e-galley) for you to review the visual layout. Once updated and returned to you, any additional changes will be charged as an Additional Editing Round.
(Let us repeat: Any additional changes beyond the scope of the two completed editorial rounds, before or after the e-galley changes) will be charged as an Additional Editing Round.)
Step Five.
Cover Art Coordination.
(Optional.)
We discuss your plans for exterior cover art, provide artist recommendations (if desired), and coordinate with you and your artist to provide cover art templates and other required materials.
HB Ink does not create or provide cover art.
HB Ink does not allow the use of AI-generated cover art.
Step Six.
Print Galley (Author Proof).
(Optional.)
If you choose to review your book in its physical (printed) form before publishing (proofs are ordered at author’s expense), we will provide one opportunity to make small, final changes to your book’s files, free of charge, before we deliver the updated final versions to you.
(Once more, with feeling: Extensive changes will be charged as an Additional Editing Round.)
Deliverables
The Finished Product.
What Do You Get from Us?
When we’re done, we’ll give you:
1. The digital file manuscript formats you need for print (paperback or hardcover) and e-book, ready for uploading to an independent publishing platform’s website.
An additional print edition—either paperback or hardcover, whichever is not selected with the package—is billed at an additional $150 for formatting and an additional ISBN. If no additional formatting is needed, $75 will be charged for the additional ISBN only.
2. Two (2) ISBNs—one for e-book and one for print (paperback or hardcover)—to allow you to sell your book anywhere (no need to purchase your own).
Eligible clients will receive ISBNs under the HB Ink, LLC, imprint; additional HB Ink ISBNs (beyond the two listed above) will be charged at $75 each (without formatting, i.e. – for audiobook) or $150 each (with formatting, i.e. – for alternate print format).
3. Three (3) 3D renderings of your books for promotional use (additional 3D renderings billed at $25 USD per image).
Please Note:
Terms.
Payments for books and special projects will be invoiced in installments via PayPal, as determined by the size and scope of the work. Payment must be received by the deadline to maintain project momentum and completion.
All packages are subject to a non-refundable deposit to reserve your space in our production calendar for editorial services. This deposit is due after the Discovery Call and before we can begin work on submitted manuscripts or projects.
The value and deadline for subsequent payments are outlined by package below.
Manuscripts exceeding 75,000 words (or 2,999 words for Package 1) will be charged an additional cost of $0.04 USD per word, as counted within the original submitted manuscript.
All prices are in USD.
All manuscripts must be submitted in MS Word for PC environments. We use Track Changes for editorial notes and suggestions. Code compliance issues may arise when crossing over from MS Word to other writing program environments (like Google) or from PC to Apple or Linux environments. HB Ink, LLC, is not responsible for the creation of crossover issues or the repair of those issues.
Services are not prorated for authors who have previously secured ISBN or Copyright registrations.
Authors are responsible for all Copyright and Library of Congress Registrations, including deposit copies and fees.
Erotica manuscripts are not accepted.
AI-generated manuscripts are not accepted.
AI-generated cover art is not accepted.
Content of an excessively violent or disturbing nature may be decommissioned and returned with prorated deposit for editor’s time (billed at $50/hour) at editor’s discretion.
HB Ink, LLC, does not format for children’s board books.
HB Ink, LLC, does not provide distribution services.
HB Ink, LLC, does not provide ghost writing services.
Authors who delay the projected timeline in excess of a year (from date of nonrefundable deposit’s submission), due to negligent return of editorial corrections, will be charged a $250 USD fee to insert the project back into our production calendar. In this instance, no guarantees are made to adhere to the original project timeline, as other projects may have been added to the calendar and may take precedence, depending on editor availability. A new projected timeline will be assigned to the project.
HB Ink, LLC, reserves the right to use platform-generated ISBNs instead of HB Ink, LLC’s imprint ISBNs with written notice and without refunding payment.
HB Ink, LLC, reserves the right to terminate projects with written notice and explanation and without refunding payment or providing further service.
Still Not Sure?
Trial Editing
We get it. You want your editor to be the perfect fit for your writing style, work methodology, and personality.
We want that, too.
Ask us about a trial edit.
For a fee, we will edit a portion of the manuscript using the same methodology we would if you’d handed us the entire thing. Within a week, we’ll return your sample with Tracked Changes and margin comments so you can see if our style matches yours.
Better still, if you hire us to complete the work on that same manuscript, we’ll subtract that trial fee from the final installment of your full editing package.
What If I Need Other Editorial Services?
We either offer them or partner with specialists who do.
Additional Editing.
Cover Art.
If your manuscript requires a massive overhaul during the included rounds of edits, and you and your editor feel you need another pass to get it right, we can perform an additional round of editing before our final formatting round.
While our editorial packages for books include exterior cover design–either using art provided by the author or using royalty-free, license-free stock images–we also know artists who can create the cover of your dreams. We’ll help you find the one that’s right for you, and we’ll hook you up—with no finder’s fee.
Strategy Meeting.
Beta Reads.
You don’t have to be publication-ready to chat with one of our veteran authors and receive the help you need to make your story work the way you want. Need guidance on plot holes, character motivations, storytelling cohesion, or canon concerns in series publication? We got you, and we’ll set aside the time you need to discuss the nitty-gritty details specific to your work to get you unstuck and writing with confidence again.
Need to ensure your novel is cohesive before an editor tells you it needs a rewrite? Smart. We’ll read through it and give you constructive, actionable feedback with suggestions for implementation and improvement.
PLUS: If you hire us to edit your novel after we beta read it, we’ll refund 50% of your paid beta reading cost from your editing costs because we know you’re serious about getting this right, and you should be rewarded.
Interior Formatting (Only).
If you don’t need one of our full book editing packages and require only the formatting necessary to publish it in print and e-book formats, we can help with that, too. We’ll format your interior to your printer’s desired specifications for print (paperback or hardcover) and e-book formats.
What’s included:
- Discovery Call to discuss your desired specifications for publication
- An “All Rights Reserved” legal disclaimer
- Front matter pages (title, copyright page, interior title, dedication and/or acknowledgements, table of contents (when applicable)
- Back matter pages (author and illustrator bio, “other works by this author”, Internet links directory (website, social media, buy now, QR code), index and/or glossary (when applicable)
- Your choice of Trim Size (as permitted by printer)
- Your choice of either white or cream paper interior
- Your choice of either black & white or full color interior pages
- Two formats included: e-book and your choice of paperback or hardcover (an additional print edition—either paperback or hardcover, whichever is not selected with the package—is billed at an additional $150)
- Your choice of font (open-source fonts only; if you have a specific font in mind that requires purchase of a license, you will be invoiced for that license fee before the layout process begins.)
- Unlimited illustration and/or chapter head insertions (provided by the author)
- Print interior files delivered in MS Word for PC and PDF formats
- Your choice of “flowable” or “non-flowable” e-book reproduction of the print format of your book (see above).
- Embedded table of contents and Internet links in e-book
- Standard e-book files provided in EPUB format
- Additional file types other the standard types provided for print and e-book will be billed at $150 for each file type
What’s excluded:
- ISBNs, Copyright, Library of Congress registrations, and bar codes are not included with this service
- Services are not prorated for smaller manuscripts or for authors who want only print or e-book formatting; both interior layout designs are included in this package
- Interior formatting for children’s books or special projects
- Cover art creation or formatting
Ready to Go?
The Timeline
We understand the importance of maintaining momentum.
You will receive a projected completion date during our Discovery Call to better facilitate your ability to plan your launch and marketing programs.
Books.
The average turn-around time to complete a book project is approximately three to four months (depending on word counts, complexity, editor availability, and author’s correction turn-around).
Need it sooner?
Ask us about Rush Services!