Tips for Updating Your 2nd Edition Book
Originally published in 2015. Updated to reflect current book production and publishing practices.
Are you considering updating your 2nd edition book?
Author Jan Torrisi Mokwa asked me about the process for updating her book before starting her project.
I told Jan I was available to update her book and assured her that I still had the original files, including the cover, interior, illustrations, photos, and fonts. I would retrieve the archived files from my backup while she worked on the manuscript.
If you’re planning to update your book for a 2nd edition, here are the steps you and your designer should take.
Plan Ahead
Author: Decide what you want to change and begin working on the revised manuscript.
Designer: Set up a Dropbox folder—or another file-sharing system—to share the new files.
Designer: Retrieve and organize the archived files from the original edition.
Update the Cover
Designer: Update the cover design. Show the author new color choices or other design options as appropriate. Add a “2nd Edition” burst or other indication that the book has been updated.
Ask the author whether there will be other changes, such as a new price, updated endorsements or blurbs, revised author information, or a new publisher/imprint.
Author: Review and approve the updated cover.
Prepare the New Manuscript
Author: Provide one complete, revised Microsoft Word document containing the entire manuscript, including front and back matter. If possible, use Word styles consistently for chapter numbers, chapter titles, subheads, body text, and other recurring elements.
Designer: Import the complete Word document into InDesign. Using consistent Word styles makes it easier to map the manuscript to the book’s existing styles and maintain consistent formatting throughout the revised edition.
Tip: Use only one space after periods, colons, exclamation points, question marks, quotation marks, and other punctuation that separates sentences.
Having the original production files can make updating a 2nd edition more efficient, although the best approach depends on the condition of the files and the extent of the revisions.
Review the Interior
Designer: When the revised interior layout is complete, send a PDF to the author for review and edits.
Author: Review the PDF carefully and provide corrections.
Designer: Make the corrections and send an updated PDF.
Author: Have the revised layout proofread again by a professional other than the copyeditor who worked on the manuscript. A fresh set of eyes can catch errors that everyone involved in the project has become accustomed to seeing.
Update Your Publishing Information
A second edition may require a new ISBN, depending on the extent of the changes and the publishing platform. KDP currently considers significant manuscript or book-detail changes to be a new edition and requires a new title setup.
Author: Research the current requirements for your publishing platforms and make sure the new edition has the correct ISBN and edition information.
You should also review and update your:
Book description
Author bio
Keywords
BISAC categories
Price
Contributor information
Publisher/imprint information
Copyright page
Edition statement
Cover and interior metadata
If your book is distributed through multiple platforms, make sure the information is consistent across all of them.
Author: If you’re updating your book description or author bio, have the new copy proofread before submitting it to your publishing and distribution platforms.
Check Library of Congress Information
Author: If your original book has Library of Congress information, research what needs to be updated for the new edition. An LCCN and copyright registration are two different things, so don’t assume that updating one automatically updates the other.
NOTE: The Library of Congress does not administer ISBNs; in the United States, ISBNs are administered by Bowker.
Prepare and Proof the Final Files
Author: Approve all final files before uploading them.
Designer: Create the final high-resolution PDFs according to the specifications of the printer or distributor.
Author: Order a physical proof.
Author: Review the physical proof carefully. Check the cover, color, typography, page numbers, images, tables, captions, margins, and overall appearance. Proofread the book again.
Designer: Make any necessary corrections and upload the revised files.
Use the online proofer when available, and order another physical proof if significant changes have been made.
Author and Designer: Repeat the review and correction process as necessary until the final files are approved.
Publish and Promote
Once the new edition is approved, publish it and start promoting it.
Don’t wait until the book is available to start creating interest. Update your website, email list, social media, and other marketing materials. Let readers know what has changed and why the new edition is worth their attention.
The Bottom Line
Updating a book for a 2nd edition can be much easier than designing a new book—especially when the original designer still has the production files. But it still requires careful planning, editing, design, proofreading, production, and publishing.
Give yourself—and your designer—plenty of time. A 2nd edition is a new production project, not simply a matter of replacing a few pages.
Updating your book for a 2nd edition? I can help you work from your original files, update the cover and interior, and prepare the final files for publication. Contact me to discuss your project.