Wordsbyhaught

Q. Why should I hire a professional indexer? Why not just use the indexing application of my publication
software?

A. There are many computer programs out there which will analyze a document and count the number of times a word appears,
thus creating a paginated list of keywords for the text. However, this is not an index. This is known as a concordance. The
indexing software used by professional indexers doesn't create the index entries; it organizes them according to style
requirements. The decisions about what should be used as an entry and how it is related to other entries is the job of the indexer.

Q. Shouldn't I just ask the author to write the index? They wrote the book, wouldn't they know it best?

A. Some authors can indeed create a very good index. However, many authors aren't trained as indexers and aren't always the
best decision-makers about what should go into an index. Indexing is a specialized form of writing. Indexers are professionals
who have received training in this particular field. My doctor is a very nice man and a very good doctor. But I go to a dentist
when I need my teeth cleaned. Has my doctor been to medical school and studied how teeth grow? I certainly hope so! But I still
go to a specialist when I need to. Writing is an art. Indexing is a specialized art.

Q. Why aren't your prices listed on the front page? What is involved in the pricing process?

A. Pricing for a book is done per indexable page and varies by the density of the material. A typical trade book will run from
$2.75 to $3.50 per indexable page unless the material requires few entries. Indexable pages generally include all text material
but not such things as front matter and acknowledgements. Notes and appendices may be indexed according to preference of the
editor and the style of the book.

The pricing process is fairly simple. The more information I am given about the book, the more accurate a bid I can make for the
job. I generally ask for a table of contents, at least one representative sample chapter (not an introductory chapter), a complete
page count and a time frame. Rush jobs will incur an additional 10% fee, in most cases.

Q. How long does it take you to write an index?

A. For most trade books I ask for a deadline of 2 weeks per 250 pages from the day I receive final proofs. Scholarly works may
take longer. I prefer that you contact me as soon as you know when the book will be in final proofs so that I can add your project
to my calendar.

Q. What about author's word lists? Are they necessary? Won' t they make less work for the indexer?

A. An author's word list is not necessary for an index to be created. If an author prefers to provide a word list, I will definitely use
the word list as a guideline to the indexing process. Well-written indexes does more than list keywords and assign page numbers.

Q. So word lists are a waste of time?

A. No. Not completely. A word list from an author tells me what concepts in the book she/he feels are important. A word list can
provide a vocabulary, a backbone, around which the index can be built. As I read and analyze the book, I would definitely keep
these words in mind as well as look for the concepts they represent. As a guide to the material, word lists can be very helpful.
However they should be used with an understanding between the author and the indexer that the words will only be used as a
guide and not all words may be appropriate for the index.