At lastan indexing guide for editors, authors, and designers who need to create, edit, format, or evaluate indexes and work with professional indexers. Three experienced indexer-authors explain the various types of indexes, the characteristics of good indexes, and common formatting considerations. They share dozens of practical tips and over 100 examples of good and bad indexing practices. Publishing professionals will not only learn how to edit an index, but how to hire freelance indexers and maintain successful editor/author/indexer relationships. While geared to the needs of publishing professionals who are not indexers, the book will serve indexers as a guide to navigating the publishing process and explaining indexing processes to their clients.

At last-an indexing guide for editors, authors, and designers who need to create, edit, format, or evaluate indexes and work with professional indexers. Three experienced indexer-authors explain the various types of indexes, the characteristics of good indexes, and common formatting considerations. They share dozens of practical tips and more than 100 examples of good and bad indexing practices. Publishing professionals will not only learn how to edit an index, but how to hire freelance indexers and maintain successful editor/author/indexer relationships.

An index could be the thing your book is missing. Take a look in a library or bookstore and you will find few nonfiction books that don't have indexes. That's because publishers know how important the presence of an index is to readers - and therefore how vital it is for sales. Indies often don't realize this - and miss out on potential sales and potential good reviews. A book index is like a guidepost or map for your readers. It tells them what to expect from your book, where to find topics that interest them, and - importantly - what isn't in the book. This means that it reduces the chances of poor reviews and increases the chances of positive reviews. An index helps usability, which makes it more useful to readers.If you are an author thinking of creating your own index, you're in good company. There is quite a precedent for author-indexes (especially in the world of academia, where subjects are so specialist that it's hard to find a professional indexer with relevant experience). This book will guide you through the process and show you how to do it yourself in Microsoft Word. (Sorry, no Mac instructions.) This book is for you if... You need easy-to-understand instructions on how to create your own index for a non-fiction book using Microsoft Word; Your [traditional] publisher is insisting on an index and expecting you to pay for it; You don't have a big budget; You aren't a computer or publishing expert; You don't want to spend weeks (or months) learning how to index. This book is not for you if... You need an in-depth, theory-based book. Many people like the jump-right-in, workbook approach. You are looking for something to help you become a professional indexer, or to win indexing awards. Most professional training courses and organizations often recommend Nancy C. Mulwary's Indexing Books. Also check out the American Society of Indexers (ASI) - www.asindexing.org - and other professional and standards organizations in other countries. You can find courses on indexing in local colleges, as well as online. If you do buy this [print] book, you will have the opportunity of joining the forthcoming online course based on it - free of charge. You will be able to ask questions, receive help, and see in real-time what the creation of an index involves.

Since 1994, Nancy Mulvany's Indexing Books has been the gold standard for thousands of professional indexers, editors, and authors. This long-awaited second edition, expanded and completely updated, will be equally revered. Like its predecessor, this edition of Indexing Books offers comprehensive, reliable treatment of indexing principles and practices relevant to authors and indexers alike. In addition to practical advice, the book presents a big-picture perspective on the nature and purpose of indexes and their role in published works. New to this edition are discussions of "information overload" and the role of the index, open-system versus closed-system indexing, electronic submission and display of indexes, and trends in software development, among other topics. Mulvany is equally comfortable focusing on the nuts and bolts of indexing—how to determine what is indexable, how to decide the depth of an index, and how to work with publisher instructions—and broadly surveying important sources of indexing guidelines such as The Chicago Manual of Style, Sun Microsystems, Oxford University Press, NISO TR03, and ISO 999. Authors will appreciate Mulvany's in-depth consideration of the costs and benefits of preparing one's own index versus hiring a professional, while professional indexers will value Mulvany's insights into computer-aided indexing. Helpful appendixes include resources for indexers, a worksheet for general index specifications, and a bibliography of sources to consult for further information on a range of topics. Indexing Books is both a practical guide and a manifesto about the vital role of the human-crafted index in the Information Age. As the standard indexing reference, it belongs on the shelves of everyone involved in writing and publishing nonfiction books.

Whether you’re approaching academic editing as an author or an editor, this book will demystify the key stages in the editorial process. The Art of Academic Editing is the first full-length guide to the different types of editorial services and when they happen in the life cycle of a scholarly text. It will facilitate more effective collaboration between authors and editors as the field of academic editing expands. The book covers: Developmental editing Book coaching Working with international authors Working with graduate students Line editing Copyediting Indexing Proofreading The eight contributing authors—experts in their fields—explain the nuts and bolts of their editing practice using real-life models, sharing their tips and advice for both scholarly writers and editors. The book is written in an engaging, nontechnical style to make it easier for all readers, regardless of their background or editing experience, to understand the academic editor’s methods, skills, and training. With a glossary of common terms and an online resource guide, this is the essential handbook both for scholarly editors and the authors working with them. Co-edited by Cara M. Jordan and Leslie Castro-Woodhouse, The Art of Academic Editing’s contributing authors also include Nancy Burkhalter, Cameron Duder, Pamela Haag, Caroline Malloy, Tess C. Rankin, Elizabeth H. Stern, and Maria Snyder.

The Indexing Companion, first published in 2007, gives an overview of indexing for professional indexers, editors, authors, librarians and others who may be called upon to write, contribute to, edit or commission an index. It covers basic principles as well as examining controversial areas. It is based on publishing standards, textbooks, and the consensus of the indexing community, gained from participation in various mailing lists. It discusses a wide range of document formats and subjects that require indexing, as well as dipping into new topics on the edge of indexing such as folksonomies and the semantic web. Some people consider indexing to be a dry topic - at the end of this book people should be thinking of indexing as a challenging and rewarding profession.

Continuing the series that addresses specialized areas for indexers, Becky Hornyak has assembled a panel of experts that includes Sandy Topping, Carolyn Weaver, and Carol Schoun. The emphasis is on indexing textbooks and books aimed at clinical practitioners in the field of psychology. Included are extensive, annotated listings of print and online resources for psychology indexers.