Welcome to another edition of my Monday Q&A sessions, where I tackle the writing and publishing questions that keep you up at night! Today I'm diving into one of my biggest editing pet peeves: overcapitalization.
Trust me, my first editing client capitalized every third word, and it was like reading a ransom note written by someone having an identity crisis.
The Great Capitalization Catastrophe
Let me be clear about when you should capitalize things. Names get capitals—cities like Portland, people like Neil deGrasse Tyson (yes, even with that tricky lowercase "de"), and acronyms like my own PFP (Publishing for Professionals). The letter "I" always gets capitalized, and obviously, the first word of every sentence deserves its moment in the spotlight.
But here's where writers lose their minds: they start capitalizing words like "executive" and "corporate" just because they sound important. Unless "Executive" is part of a proper title like "Executive Appeal Program," keep that E lowercase. Same goes for "corporate"—it's not capitalized unless you're talking about "Corporate America" as a specific entity.
When in doubt, err on the side of keeping things lowercase. Your editor will thank you, and more importantly, they won't need to spend five to seven times longer fixing your manuscript. Overcapitalization makes editing feel like performing surgery with oven mittens on.
A Publishing Horror Story That'll Keep You Up at Night
Speaking of things that make new authors cry, let me tell you about my recent client's publishing disaster. This is a cautionary tale about why "cheapest" isn't always "best" in the publishing world.
My client wanted specialty paper that Amazon doesn't offer, so we explored independent publishing houses. Four companies quoted him around $20 per book, but one came in at $12. Red flags started waving immediately when I spoke with the cheaper company's representative—imagine a used car salesman, but for books, and with twice the sleaze factor.
I warned my client about my gut feeling, but the price difference was tempting. He decided to go with the cheaper option despite my recommendations to choose the more expensive but trustworthy company with the lovely, straightforward representative.
Plot twist: it became a publishing nightmare worthy of Stephen King. The first batch of 50 books arrived with the old, error-filled manuscript instead of the corrected version we'd submitted. When my client contacted them about their mistake, they refused to refund the purchase and demanded he pay for a second batch of books.
He paid for the second shipment, hoping to finally get the correct books. Spoiler alert: the second batch had the same wrong manuscript. Now he's stuck with 100 unusable books and is ordering copies from Amazon so that he can attend his scheduled book signings.
The Lesson That Could Save Your Publishing Dreams
This disaster teaches us something crucial about the publishing industry. Just like you wouldn't choose a plastic surgeon based solely on the lowest bid, don't choose your publishing partners exclusively on price. Quality, reliability, and customer service matter more than saving a few dollars per book.
Sometimes, paying $8 more per book means the difference between holding a beautiful finished product and explaining to potential readers why your book signing has no books.
Join the Conversation
I host these Q&A sessions every Monday for 10 to 15 minutes, and no question is too big or too small. Whether you're asking for yourself or "for a friend," I'm here to help navigate the wild world of writing and publishing.
Don't forget to check out my podcast, Publishing for Professionals, available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and YouTube. Whether you prefer audio or video content, I've got you covered with actionable advice for aspiring and current authors.
Remember: if you don't start writing your book today, the person who desperately needs your information tomorrow won't be able to find it. So stop overthinking the capitalization rules and start putting words on the page.
Connect With Me
Find Publishing for Professionals on your favorite podcast platform or watch video episodes on YouTube. Join me every Monday right here for live Q&A sessions where we tackle everything from grammar gremlins to publishing pitfalls.
Here's to creating books that don't look like ransom notes and choosing publishing partners who won't hold your manuscript hostage!
Find out more by booking a Discovery Call today or visiting my website at www.writeforyou.me
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