The publisher, to protect himself against the author who practically rewrites his manuscript after it has been set up in type, usually provides in his contract that corrections in excess of a certain percentage of the cost of composition shall be charged to and paid for by the author. The printer makes a careful distinction between printer's corrections and author's corrections. Corrections marked in galley and page proofs of a book where the printer has not followed copy are printer's corrections. Author's corrections are changes and additions made in the proof. Obviously, where these changes make a distinct improvement in the text--that is, a better book--the publisher takes a sympathetic attitude; but when the item of author's corrections runs to a total of twenty-five or fifty per cent or more of the cost of setting up the book, there is clear indication that the author did not complete his book in the manuscript but in the proof.
For a general rule it should be kept in mind that corrections in the galley proofs cost much less than corrections in the page proofs where remake-up of pages involving a large expense may result from the addition of a single line, or even a few words. But it is most important of all for the author to realize that every correction made after the manuscript has been set up in type is time-consuming and expensive, and that such delay and expense are reduced to a minimum when the author submits a clean, carefully prepared manuscript which embodies his final judgment of content and style.
Within a short period after the author returns the proofs of the index, the book is ready for publication. The author's work is then practically done.
Immediately upon the arrival of the bound books from the bindery, the publisher places the work upon the market, copyrights it in this country and abroad, and undertakes campaigns for its distribution.
This section of the _Suggestions_ is intended to show the author how he can help in this work and to answer certain questions which are asked constantly.
=Marketing a Book.=--We take pride in the thoroughness with which we seek the market for all books bearing our imprint. The spirit of the agreement which we make with the author is that each book is a separate business venture into which we have entered as a partner of the author.