The author and the indexer each have an important contribution to make: the author knows his readership extremely well, and the indexer knows how a reader is likely to use the index. Working together is the best way to ensure the finished product is an index that is a joy to use.

Some authors like to produce a list of key words for the indexer to include. In many cases these key words would have been indexed anyway, but in some situations an author may want to ensure that certain topics are treated with particular importance. Other authors prefer to allow the text to speak for itself.

Indexing is a complex and skilled task, which often has to be completed in the shortest possible time. Because of this, indexers often work long hours, into the night and through weekends. We make every effort, however, to keep our indexing costs low and competitive to provide the best possible service to authors. Our charges start at £1.50 per page for general narrative non-fiction, increasing according to the complexity of the work. Indexes for more complex titles such as legal or scientific texts will be quoted on a case-by-case basis and we would need to see sample material in the form of an emailed manuscript in order to give any quote.

If you need to work out the estimated page extent of your work, go to Estimating what your costs will be.

Please note that we will need to assess the material before we can confirm the fee. There is no charge for this assessment, but please send your manuscript to us as one unzipped Word document to get a quote. We cannot quote without seeing the material because we can't estimate how long the work will take.

There is no minimum length or charge for an index.

Please remember that your manuscript must be in its final stage for an index to be compiled. All editing and proofreading must be completed, any illustrations inserted, and all pages numbered in their final positions. Preliminary pages (known as ‘prelims’) will not normally be included in the index, but sufficient space must be allowed if any preliminary text is to be included later. Changes made to the text or paging of the manuscript will create the need for a new index, which may be charged at the full original price.

This will depend on the length of your work, but indexes are usually completed within days rather than weeks due to the ‘last minute’ aspect of their place in the publishing process. The more notice we have the better, although we understand that the actual date of proof delivery may change due to circumstances out of your control. We will be able to give you a more accurate assessment of timing when you contact us for a quote, but as a rough guide a book of around 300 pages can usually be indexed within 10 working days, providing enough notice is given for the work to be assigned and booked in with the indexer.

From our self-publishing service, WritersPrintShop, Chas Jones' article on Preparing an index

Joanne Phillips is a UK-based freelance writer and professional indexer. She has had articles published in national writing magazines, and has ghostwritten books on subjects as diverse as hairdressing and keeping chickens. Visit her at www.joannephillips.co.uk.

She has also written excellent articles for WriterServices on

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