Medical practitioners want each patient interaction to feel like a house call.
That level of service is what I want for my clients.
When I last worked in-house, I was assigned a title that had come in from a rookie editor.
The manuscript was a mess: no rhyme or reason to the table of contents, no clear decisions about structure, no consistency to help the reader find their way through the content. There were a number of problems that the previous editor hadn't known how to handle.
The problem was vision: the previous editor couldn't see the forest for the trees.
The first Housecalls--Housecalls Product Development--was a retail product development firm founded by my father in the 1990s. The name came from my mother, a surgical and obstetrical nurse, who knew that a house call was (and still is) a rare level of personal service. I strive to provide that level of customer service. After 15 years in medical publishing, I know authors can sometimes feel lost in the publishing process. Let's fix that.
After 15 years in medical publishing, I'd seen these trees before; I already knew my way out of this forest.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE THE BIG PICTURE?
How I helped:
The first thing I did was look at the market to determine what readers would expect from this type of title. When that research was complete, we started making decisions:
Table of contents
The table of contents was restructured so the reader's knowledge would build on itself.
Chapters
The chapters had a standard outline imposed to help the reader stay oriented while acquiring new information.
Case studies
The case studies had a template implemented so the reader wouldn't have to dig for relevant information.
The Result:
Happier authors. I'd made changes that put a strategic and
deliberate face on the author's expertise.
Happier contributors. I'd formatted the manuscript look like the final printed page, which helped them respond to queries.
Happier publisher. I'd made the author happy and kept the book on schedule.
Happier readers. I'd done the research to know what readers will expect, rather than making assumptions.
The biggest change?
Based on the author's frustration with the development process, I worked with the publisher to develop a new system for processing manuscripts, to make them easier for authors to review. That shift helped keep the book on schedule despite an entire second round of development.
The puzzles are easier to solve when you’ve seen them before.
let's talk
I have successfully managed more than 100 titles. I can’t wait to help with yours.
Introduction to Permissions
In a minute you'll have a guide in your hands to help determine whether you need to request permission to use that content. I'll help you take control of what can be a confusing process!
