I've recently completed the manuscript for my book, and I'm eager to move forward with the subsequent steps to prepare it for publication. This includes crucial processes such as editing, ensuring copyright protection, and designing a compelling cover. Given the intricate nature of each of these steps, I'm seeking guidance on how best to approach them.
For writers, publishers, or industry professionals: How do I go about getting a thorough edit for my manuscript, ensuring it's copyright protected, and adding a professional and appealing cover design? Whether it's recommendations for reputable services, insights into the process, or any other relevant advice, I'd greatly value direction on these critical post-writing phases to bring my book to fruition.
How do I get my book edit, copy written and ad cover to it?
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Leila
Self-editing tips:
I do not wait nor set the manuscript aside. Reading the first draft: (Using track changes in MSWord)Here is where I note dates, times, names, and such details to ensure consistency. I look for time lapses and insert transitional statements or scene breaks. I watch for POV and ensure I am not head-hopping. I also try to catch as many of these as I can...
Some of this might not apply to children’s books.
• Run an automated grammar and spellchecker – Grammarly, ProwritingAid, Word Rake, etc.
• Choose simple words.
• Read your manuscript aloud (or have it read to you).
• Eliminate unnecessary words: Adverbs, pointless adjectives, and glue words/sticky words such as so, if, than, but, about, in, on, the, was, for, that, of, off, get, just, every, etc. This does NOT mean never to use them.
• Delete redundancies: She thought to herself. He clapped his hands. She shrugged her shoulders. They sat down, or they stood up.
• Eliminate words or phrases over usage and echoes. Also, be aware of your pet words —those you tend to overuse. Use CTRL-F to search for them, then replace as many as possible.
• Watch out for common word pair mistakes like farther/further, affect/effect, less/fewer, etc. Spellcheck, Grammarly, etc., won’t catch them.
• Watch your tenses.
• Vary sentence structure.
• Avoid alliteration.
Avoid quotation marks around words that are not dialogue – commonly used phrases.
• Avoid passive voice when it’s not intentional. Look at all sentences with the word “was,” and change to active voice: was saying -- change to said. My book was edited by Angie – change to, Angie edited my book.
• Eliminate clichés.
• If in doubt, don’t capitalize.
• Subject-Verb Disagreements: If the noun is singular, so must the verb be. Conversely, if the noun is plural, so is the verb. E.g., The dog chases the cat. The dogs chase the cat.
Homophones: There, they’re, their.
• Make sure your dialogue is properly punctuated, believable, and moves the story forward. Use simple dialogue tags: he said, she said.
• Avoid name-dropping in dialogue.
• Maintain a single point of view in each scene. Leave a three-line space between scenes to shift POV.
• Show don’t tell – if what the MC is wearing or the color of the walls is material to the story and moves it forward, then instead of making a list, expose what your MC is wearing and what color the walls are through the MC(s) interaction with their environment.
• Introduce new characters, even with a line or two.
• Cut anything that doesn’t contribute something to the story. I know we’re in love with our words… but maybe we can use this masterpiece line for another story.
• Delete unnecessary scenes, backstories, background information, etc. They take your reader away from the story.
• Hand your manuscript to a professional editor after the umpteenth revision and editing
. In other words, get it as finished as you can; this frees up the editor to put the final polish on it!
How to pick your editor
Choose a qualified, professional editor. Have the editor go through a sample of your writing and give you feedback. You and the editor must be compatible and can establish a working relationship.
Types of editors:
• Copy editing - Word-by-word editing addresses grammar, usage, and consistency issues. Copy editors will check for typos and spelling errors and correct grammar, language, syntax errors, and punctuation, such as commas, semicolons, and quotation marks.
• Line editing – Also known as structural editing. It focuses on the finer aspects of language – the flow of ideas, transition elements, tone, and style.
• Developmental editing – This comes early in the writing process. It addresses setting, timeline, characters, plot, story structure, pacing, and presentation.
• An editor makes suggestions. You, the author, get to decide whether to accept or not.
• An editor does NOT change the author’s voice. Does NOT change the story.
I do not wait nor set the manuscript aside. Reading the first draft: (Using track changes in MSWord)Here is where I note dates, times, names, and such details to ensure consistency. I look for time lapses and insert transitional statements or scene breaks. I watch for POV and ensure I am not head-hopping. I also try to catch as many of these as I can...
Some of this might not apply to children’s books.
• Run an automated grammar and spellchecker – Grammarly, ProwritingAid, Word Rake, etc.
• Choose simple words.
• Read your manuscript aloud (or have it read to you).
• Eliminate unnecessary words: Adverbs, pointless adjectives, and glue words/sticky words such as so, if, than, but, about, in, on, the, was, for, that, of, off, get, just, every, etc. This does NOT mean never to use them.
• Delete redundancies: She thought to herself. He clapped his hands. She shrugged her shoulders. They sat down, or they stood up.
• Eliminate words or phrases over usage and echoes. Also, be aware of your pet words —those you tend to overuse. Use CTRL-F to search for them, then replace as many as possible.
• Watch out for common word pair mistakes like farther/further, affect/effect, less/fewer, etc. Spellcheck, Grammarly, etc., won’t catch them.
• Watch your tenses.
• Vary sentence structure.
• Avoid alliteration.
Avoid quotation marks around words that are not dialogue – commonly used phrases.
• Avoid passive voice when it’s not intentional. Look at all sentences with the word “was,” and change to active voice: was saying -- change to said. My book was edited by Angie – change to, Angie edited my book.
• Eliminate clichés.
• If in doubt, don’t capitalize.
• Subject-Verb Disagreements: If the noun is singular, so must the verb be. Conversely, if the noun is plural, so is the verb. E.g., The dog chases the cat. The dogs chase the cat.
Homophones: There, they’re, their.
• Make sure your dialogue is properly punctuated, believable, and moves the story forward. Use simple dialogue tags: he said, she said.
• Avoid name-dropping in dialogue.
• Maintain a single point of view in each scene. Leave a three-line space between scenes to shift POV.
• Show don’t tell – if what the MC is wearing or the color of the walls is material to the story and moves it forward, then instead of making a list, expose what your MC is wearing and what color the walls are through the MC(s) interaction with their environment.
• Introduce new characters, even with a line or two.
• Cut anything that doesn’t contribute something to the story. I know we’re in love with our words… but maybe we can use this masterpiece line for another story.
• Delete unnecessary scenes, backstories, background information, etc. They take your reader away from the story.
• Hand your manuscript to a professional editor after the umpteenth revision and editing
. In other words, get it as finished as you can; this frees up the editor to put the final polish on it!How to pick your editor
Choose a qualified, professional editor. Have the editor go through a sample of your writing and give you feedback. You and the editor must be compatible and can establish a working relationship.
Types of editors:
• Copy editing - Word-by-word editing addresses grammar, usage, and consistency issues. Copy editors will check for typos and spelling errors and correct grammar, language, syntax errors, and punctuation, such as commas, semicolons, and quotation marks.
• Line editing – Also known as structural editing. It focuses on the finer aspects of language – the flow of ideas, transition elements, tone, and style.
• Developmental editing – This comes early in the writing process. It addresses setting, timeline, characters, plot, story structure, pacing, and presentation.
• An editor makes suggestions. You, the author, get to decide whether to accept or not.
• An editor does NOT change the author’s voice. Does NOT change the story.
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Tara
Figure out your budget, ask writers you know for editor and cover artist referrals, and reach out to those people for references and examples.
Provide editors with a chapter to test edit.
Provide editors with a chapter to test edit.
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Simson
Of course there's a way for you to do the book edit, copy written and ad cover to it.
Just inbox me, so we can discuss better on it.
Just inbox me, so we can discuss better on it.
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