Nonfiction Book Publishing Services for Authors
Nonfiction book publishing services from BookPublishersNYC.com take a finished nonfiction manuscript through the stages that prepare it for readers: editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup and marketing. Authors choose the services the book needs, and authors keep ownership of their books.
A nonfiction book has a job to do for its reader. It explains, teaches, persuades or tells a true story, and the reader judges it by how clear, credible and well organized it is. BookPublishersNYC.com is a book publishing services provider, not a traditional or hybrid publisher, so the author publishes the book and decides what to buy.
What Is Nonfiction Book Publishing?
Nonfiction book publishing is the process of taking a book based on fact, experience or expertise from a finished manuscript to a published book that readers can buy. Nonfiction covers many kinds of book, such as memoir, self-help, business, how-to and history. The process covers editing the text, preparing the interior and the cover, setting the book up on sales platforms and promoting it.
This page covers independent publishing with professional services. The author keeps ownership of the book and buys only the services it needs, while BookPublishersNYC.com carries out the work.
At a glance
Memoir, self-help, business, how-to, and history
Editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup, marketing, audiobook production
Publishing services provider; the author publishes the book
Authors keep ownership of their books
Remote, to authors worldwide
The Path From Finished Manuscript to Published Nonfiction Book
A nonfiction book usually moves through these stages. Each has its own page with the scope, the rates and the turnaround.
Editing
The argument, structure and language are improved at the level the book needs.
Step 02Proofreading
The final text is checked for surface errors.
Step 03Formatting
The text, with its headings, tables and notes, is laid out as a print interior and an ebook file.
Step 04Cover Design
The ebook, paperback and hardcover covers are produced.
Step 05Publishing Setup
The book is set up on the chosen platforms.
Step 06Marketing
The book is positioned for its readers.
Step 07Audiobook Production
The book becomes an audio edition.
Editing Nonfiction: What Each Level Looks At
Nonfiction editing asks different questions at each of the three levels. Book editing services describes the levels and their rates in full.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing looks at the book as a whole: the argument or story, the order and completeness of the material, the clarity of its purpose and its fit for the intended reader. It suits a draft whose structure is not yet settled.
Line Editing
Line editing looks at how the writing reads: clarity, flow, tone and word choice. It suits a manuscript whose structure works but whose prose needs tightening.
Copy Editing
Copy editing checks correctness and consistency: grammar and punctuation, and the consistent use of terms, figures, names, capitalization and references. The editor flags apparent inconsistencies for the author to verify.
Copy editing is not fact-checking, and the author remains responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Designing a Nonfiction Book Cover
A nonfiction cover tells a reader quickly what the book is about and who it is for. The title and subtitle carry much of that message, so they have to be clear and readable. A business book, a memoir and a how-to book each follow different visual conventions, and the cover should fit the kind of book it is.
The cover also has to read at thumbnail size, because most readers first see it as a small image on a retail page. The design should suit the ebook, the paperback and the hardcover.
Book Cover Design
- Three initial concepts
- Ebook cover file
- Paperback cover file
- Hardcover cover file
Formatting a Nonfiction Book for Print and Ebook
Nonfiction interiors are often more complex than fiction. A nonfiction book may have a clear heading hierarchy, a table of contents, tables, charts, lists, images, footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography. Each of these needs consistent treatment so the book is easy to navigate.
Formatting works on the approved text, so it comes after editing and proofreading. Books with tables, notes and special layouts take more formatting work than a plain text book. Formatting is billed by final formatted book pages.
Explore Book Formatting Services →Publishing a Nonfiction Book on Sales Platforms
Publishing setup prepares the book’s files and listing for sales platforms. For nonfiction, the listing’s description and metadata matter, because readers search by topic and choose from what the description promises.
Editions
Each edition has its own requirements. The service sets up ebook and paperback editions, and hardcover editions where the platform supports them.
ISBNs
An ISBN identifies a specific edition. BookPublishersNYC.com provides ISBN guidance for each edition. ISBN purchases are paid separately where applicable.
Platforms
BookPublishersNYC.com supports setup on Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu, Draft2Digital, StreetLib, PublishDrive and IngramSpark.
Program Terms
Some platform programs attach conditions, such as exclusivity, to the books enrolled in them. Authors should read each program’s current terms before choosing.
Marketing a Nonfiction Book
Nonfiction marketing starts from the reader’s problem or interest. The retail listing, the description, the keywords and the launch plan all aim to show readers what the book offers them. Book marketing services include listing and keyword research, launch planning and promotional copy and graphics.
Many nonfiction authors also want a page of their own for the book. The Author Launch & Growth package includes an author website landing page design.
Explore Marketing Services →Important Note
No marketing service guarantees sales, reviews or rankings. The outcome depends on the book, the topic and many factors outside any provider’s control.
Turning a Nonfiction Book Into an Audiobook
Nonfiction suits audio, and memoir and personal books often work best in the author’s own voice. Audiobook production services cover narrator selection, recording, editing, mixing and mastering, chapter files and delivery, and the author may use a professional narrator or narrate the book personally.
An audiobook needs the audio rights to the book and the final, edited text. Tables, charts and images do not translate to audio, so the text may need preparation for narration. Pricing is a project quote based on the estimated finished hours.
Explore Audiobook Services →Rights and Permissions for Nonfiction Authors
Authors keep ownership of their book, title and original content when they use BookPublishersNYC.com. Providing services does not transfer ownership of a book to the company, and the company does not take a percentage of royalties for its services.
Nonfiction raises several permission questions. Quotations, photographs, charts, data and text written by other people may need permission. A memoir or a book that describes real people may involve their privacy and consent. The author is responsible for holding the permissions and for the accuracy of the content, and an author with a sensitive manuscript may want to ask a lawyer.
Read about author rights and royalties →What Publishing a 60,000-Word Nonfiction Book Can Cost by Service
The table applies your published rates to a 60,000-word manuscript, which is 240 units of 250 words. It lists only the services with a published rate. The final price is set in each quote.
| Service | Rate | Cost for 60,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental editing | $8–$13 per 250 words | $1,920–$3,120 |
| Line editing | $7.50–$12.50 per 250 words | $1,800–$3,000 |
| Copy editing | $5–$7 per 250 words | $1,200–$1,680 |
| Proofreading | $3 per 250 words | $720 |
| Book cover design | $99 fixed | $99 |
| Formatting | Billed by final formatted pages | Quoted |
| Publishing setup | Individually quoted or in a package | Quoted |
How to Start Publishing Your Nonfiction Book
Request a quote
Describe the book, its word count, its subject and the services of interest.
Talk it through
BookPublishersNYC.com discusses the book with the author by phone and email.
Receive the quote
The quote states the deliverables, the billing basis and the exclusions.
Sign & pay advance
The service agreement and the confidentiality agreement are signed, and the advance payment is received, before work begins.
Questions Nonfiction Authors Ask About Book Publishing
What are nonfiction book publishing services?
Nonfiction book publishing services prepare a nonfiction manuscript for readers through editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publishing setup and marketing. BookPublishersNYC.com sells these services individually, and the author keeps ownership of the book.
Is BookPublishersNYC.com a nonfiction publisher?
No. BookPublishersNYC.com is a publishing services provider. It does not acquire manuscripts, pay advances or offer publishing contracts. The author publishes the book.
What editing does a nonfiction book need?
It depends on the manuscript. A draft whose structure or argument is unsettled may need developmental editing, a revised manuscript may need line editing, and a polished one may need copy editing. Not every book needs every level.
How much does it cost to edit a 60,000-word nonfiction book?
Editing is priced per 250 words. A 60,000-word book is 240 units, so copy editing costs about $1,200–$1,680, line editing about $1,800–$3,000 and developmental editing about $1,920–$3,120.
Does editing include fact-checking?
No. The editor flags apparent inconsistencies for the author to verify, but the author is responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Can you format a book with tables, charts and footnotes?
Yes. Books with tables, charts, notes and special layouts take more formatting work, and formatting is billed by final formatted book pages. The quote states the scope.
Do I need permission to use quotations or photographs?
Often, yes. The author is responsible for holding permission for quotations, photographs, charts and other material written or created by other people.
Do I keep the rights to my book?
Yes. Authors keep ownership of their books, and BookPublishersNYC.com does not take a percentage of royalties. The written service agreement states the exact terms.
Request a Quote for Your Nonfiction Book
Describe the book, its word count and the services you are considering. The quote states the deliverables, the billing basis and the exclusions.