My First Draft Is Done. Now What?
Your first draft is done. You’ve gone through and done as much self-editing as you know how to do. Now what? How do you go from a finished manuscript to a finalized book available on the marketplace? Let’s talk about it!
Don’t Start Querying or Uploading!
You’ve spent ages writing your book, and what feels like a lifetime editing that draft. After all that work, it’s got to be ready to submit to agents or to upload to KDP, right? It might feel frustrating to continue to wait, but your manuscript still needs more work before you start querying agents or uploading. Now is a great time to draft up a query letter, wait just a bit longer before hitting send or upload.
Beta Readers
Once you’ve got a polished manuscript, finding a beta reader is a great next step. A beta reader is someone who will read through your book and offer feedback on the parts that work for them, the parts that confuse them, and any other thoughts they have.
Can you get a friend to be a beta reader for you? Sure, but you want to select someone who won’t be afraid to tell you if they spot a problem, and someone who will offer you more helpful feedback other than, “It was great!” A lot of writers find it easier to hire at least one beta reader to look over their book (which is something we can help you with) in addition to passing it along to any interested friends and colleagues.
Hire An Editor
Remember, hiring an editor is so important for any writer. It can seem like a waste after working so hard to self-edit, but they’re a vital piece of the puzzle. An editor will be able to read your book as someone who is outside of your head, who has a different perspective, industry knowledge, and can help you strengthen weak points you didn’t know you had and fill in gaps that your brain might not have noticed. Whether you work with one of our editors here at Self-Publishing Services or you find an editor somewhere else, take the time to discuss the project (at SPS we offer a free consultation to do just this!), discuss your financial situation, your goals, and work together to make a plan that works for both you and your editor. Then you can sign any papers or send any payments.
In short, once you’ve finished editing your draft, give yourself a bit of a break! You’ve put a lot of work into your book, and chances are you’re sick of reading your own writing. Call in a professional to help polish up your work to give yourself a bit of a brain break and bring in a new perspective. And remember, we offer a free consultation to help you make the perfect publishing plan for you, so if you’re ready to move on to the next step in your publishing journey, reach out to us today!