A curated knowledge base addressing recurrent scholarly publishing pain points spanning manuscript preparation, journal targeting, ethical compliance, and post-publication positioning.
What can I submit for copy editing?
At this time, Foreword Editorial Services is accepting all genres of fiction and literary nonfiction. To avoid giving legitimacy to books encouraging violence, hate speech, etc., we do reserve the rig read more
Will editing make my book perfect?
Even titles that grace the New York Times Best Seller list are not devoid of mistakes, but our team of editors will use the skills and knowledge they have gained over years of professional experience read more
Will the editor fact-check my manuscript?
Our editors will perform a general fact-check to confirm things such as the spellings of common names and places, historical dates and references, brand names, etc. read more
I know plenty of people who are good with grammar. Why can’t they edit for me?
Our editors are all professionals from within the publishing industry, giving them unique insight into the style guides, dictionaries, and linguistic conventions used by some of the largest publishing read more
Will the copy editor change my manuscript?
All edits are made using track-change features, allowing you to review each change individually and determine if you wish to accept or reject the edit. We will never alter your manuscript without keep read more
Why do I need a copy editor when I have spelling/grammar check in my word processor?
Sites like Grammarly, Scribens, or the spelling and grammar features included in your word processor are useful tools, but can fall short with some of the more nuanced aspects of language and grammar. read more
I know this story better than anyone. Why can’t I edit it myself?
Even the most skilled authors seek out a fresh pair of eyes. Our team of editors work in the publishing industry, providing them with an inside understanding of what agents, publishers, and readers lo read more
Will a developmental edit change my story?
Our editorial team is dedicated to helping you improve the manuscript you already have, not turning it into something else. All of our edits are made using track-change features, allowing you to revie read more
If typos are being corrected, is a new ISBN necessary?
No. read more
If changing the cover of a book, does a new ISBN have to be assigned?
US practice is if the book is just out or the idea is to give a marketing boost to the product, then no, a new ISBN should not be assigned. However, if the change in cover substantially changes the pr read more
If the price of the book changes, does the ISBN?
No. The ISBN only changes if the product changes. read more
What is the purpose of an ISBN?
The purpose of the ISBN is to establish and identify one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition, allowing for more efficient marketing of products by boo read more
If an ISBN is assigned in another country, does a US ISBN have to be gotten to sell the book in the US?
No. All ISBNs are international. There is no such thing as a US ISBN. ISBNs are international, but assigned locally. read more
If a publisher is selling their books in another country, does the publisher have to get an ISBN for that country?
No, all ISBNs are international. They are merely assigned locally. read more
What products and entities eligible for ISBNs?
The ISBN is intended for a monographic publication: text that stands on its own as a product, whether printed, audio or electronic. ISBNs are never assigned to music, performances or images, such as a read more
Can ISBNs be assigned to magazines?
ISBNs are not assigned to magazines, academic journals or other periodicals. However, if a single issue of a periodical is being sold as a book, then that issue alone may be assigned an ISBN. read more
How are ISBNs assigned to books in a series?
An ISBN is assigned to each book in the series. A series of books is also eligible for an ISSN (International Standard Series Number), available from the Library of Congress. read more
How are ISBNs assigned to multi-volume works?
ISBNs are assigned to the volumes as they are sold as products. If they are only available as a set, the set gets one ISBN. If each volume is available separately and as a set, each volume gets an ISB read more
If a second edition has the same title as the first, does it keep the same ISBN?
No. A new edition is considered a different product and gets its own ISBN. read more
What's the difference between a reprint and a new edition?
A reprint means more copies are being printed with no substantial changes. Perhaps a few typos are being fixed. A new edition means that there has been substantial change: content has been altered in read more