On Time Typing Books and Life Stories

Self-publishing services

On Time Typing Books and Life Stories is the self-publishing services wing of our business, specialising in life stories, autobiographies and memoirs, and poetry. We write and/or edit your manuscript. We assist you to self-publish your book, or produce your self-published book for you (hardcopy or ebook). We have edited and produced self-published books of: poetry, short stories, family histories, local histories, sports club histories, recipe books, childrens books.

We have been producing self-published books (from spoken word, or from typed or handwritten manuscript stage) for 30 years. See our portfolios: The publications we have produced;  The self-published memoirs and life stories we have produced;  Our editing experience.

Sally-Anne Watson Kane is owner/operator of both On Time Typing Books and Life Stories and On Time Typing, Editing and Proofreading. She is a professional life stories writer, editor and self-publishing services provider, with 30 years’ experience in writing, editing and producing self-published books. She is: (a) Secretary of the Board of Life Stories Australia Inc (LSA); (b) a professional member of Institute of Professional Editors; (c) a member of Oral History Australia (Victoria branch); (d) an active member of Secret Editors Business network, Northern Territory Writers Centre, and Gippsland Writers Network; (e) cognisant of industry best practice through ongoing professional development.

Find out more about our self-publishing services team (typists, editors and designers)  here.

We can transform your written, or spoken, story into a self-published book

When we produce your life story, autobiography or memoir, we preserve your own voice, your own story, to ensure that the book is 100% yours. We collaborate with you throughout the writing, editing and self-publishing process, until you are holding your self-published book in your hands.

Transforming your written words into a self-published book

If you have written your story (memoir, autobiography), we edit, compile and produce your self-published book, as follows.

  • We provide you with a rough estimate for producing your self-published book and our rates for each stage of producing your book.
  • If your manuscript is handwritten, we can type it for you. If your story is only partly written/typed, we can either (a) provide coaching in self-editing and writing, to help you finish writing the the manuscript; or (b) consult with you and type while you tell the rest of the story, to finish the manuscript.
  • Once your draft manuscript is completed, we working in close collaboration with you to edit it. First we review the whole structure to make sure the sequence and content is logical and it is easy to read. We may suggest or make changes so that your book is well-structured, clear and easy to read. We then conduct a rough copy edit. We write, or edit, any front or end matter. We collaborate with or guide you to place photos, write captions, and tag the photos. If you wish, we obtain an ISBN and barcode for/with you. Once all the content is done, we conduct a final copy edit.
  • We design the inside pages, and the cover, for your self-published book. We  produce your book in hardcopy and/or ebook. We liaise with the printer and oversee the printing. Our job is not over until your book is delivered into your hands (or is a live e-published book).

Note: if you are on a tight budget, we can produce a lower-cost booklet, or document, for you to share with your family/friends.

Transforming your spoken  words into a book

If you are a story teller, rather than a story writer, we scribe, edit, compile and produce your self-published book, as follows.

  • We provide you with a rough estimate for producing your self-published book and our rates for each stage of producing your book.
  • We work in close collaboration with you (the storyteller) to interview you and listen to your stories. If you wish, we also interview family members. We either type while you speak, or record your stories then transcribe them. We use this method to type the whole content of your self-published book.
  • Once your draft manuscript is completed, we working in close collaboration with you to edit it. First we review the whole structure to make sure the sequence and content is logical and it is easy to read. We may suggest or make changes so that your book is well-structured, clear and easy to read. We then conduct a rough copy edit. We write, or edit, any front or end matter. We collaborate with, or guide, you to place photos, write captions and tag the photos. If you wish, we obtain an ISBN and barcode for/with you. Once all the content is in, we conduct a final copy edit.
  • We design the inside pages, and the cover, for your self-published book. We  produce your book in hardcopy and/or ebook. We liaise with the printer and oversee the printing. Our job is not over until your book is delivered into your hands (or is a live e-published book).

Note: if you are on a tight budget, we can produce a lower-cost booklet, or document, for you to share with your family/friends.

Overview of our self-publishing services

  • We explain the stages of editing and self-publishing and offer a free quote or estimate for each stage. If you wish to proceed, we plan the project.
  • Once the manuscript has been typed/written, we do the structural (developmental) editing, rough copy editing, research/fact checking, final copy editing to publication standard (ready for design).
  • If required, we enhance photographs and images (Photoshop and Illustrator)
  • We either obtain ISBN and completing ISBN metadata and information on behalf of the self-publisher (the writer or their family) – or support you to do this.
  • We design the cover, and inside pages – professional, printer-ready level.
  • We produce your self-published book as an e-publication and/or printed book, using Print On Demand and/or traditional printers. If traditional printing used: we proofread the “final press proof” to publication standard.

Links to articles about self-publishing