Tech Biz Writing

When the first draft has passed through the two loops of the development phase flowchart, it should be both technically impeccable (or as near as possible to it) and editorially beyond reproach. The time has now arrived to assemble the final draft for submission to the production people.

The final draft must be perfect in all respects, with full instructions for the production team attached, and all points of the specification observed punctiliously. Any changes demanded by the vetting authority and editor should have been incorporated, and the author’s final polishing attended to. If the book is to be lithoed, there should be full agreement on the draft by all concerned before camera-ready copy is produced.

At this point a number of smaller tasks must be tackled. The preliminary pages (prelims) should be prepared. These include title page, contents page, key to abbreviations and others depending on the type of publication. Also the end pages, which may comprise a bibliography, acknowledgements, and an index. However, the average technical document may contain few of these, and it’s the house style which will dictate on these matters.

Unless a disk copy is to be used directly for print, when preparing copy for a compositor, page designer or typist, the following points should be observed:

* Use double spacing.
* Use only one side of the paper.
* Make sure the MS is legible.
* If written, use black ink.
* Number each sheet
* Circle any instruction to the typist.
* Conform strictly to house style or spec.

It has been estimated that, on average, a typist makes three errors per page. Some, it has to be said, are much better than this, though others are worse. Suffice it to say, it would be a very unusual typescript that arrived at an author’s desk without a single typo. The typescript should be very carefully checked at this stage (page proof). This is the final version. Major author corrections — or changes of mind — are definitely ruled out now. You had your chance. Your fate is sealed!

Next: 32. Commercial Books.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 21st, 2006 at 7:55 pm and is filed under Technical Writing, Publishing, TechBiz Writing, Documentation, Research, Editing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.