Welcome back!
Last week we discussed the early stages of writing a novel, the research and planning that goes into writing.
This week, we'll focus on everything that goes into preparing the written contents of a novel for publishing.
Last week: Part 1: Research, Planning, and Writing
This week: Part 2: Self-Editing, Beta Readers, Getting a Professional Editor, and Choosing a Publishing Path
Next week: Part 3: Cover Design & Blurb, Formatting & Distribution, and Marketing & Promotion
Continuing our roadmap, we're cruising along and maybe even picking up a few passengers along the way.
Since we discussed steps 1-3 last week, we'll jump right into step 4. Editing.
Part 2
4. Edit, Edit, and then Edit Again
This is where the magic happens. Some of my best writing came in the editing phase. I replaced bland chapters that did nothing for the plot with ones that drove the story forward. I deleted an unnecessary character and even completely rewrote another.
First, give yourself time away from your manuscript and come back with fresh eyes. Read through and avoid making changes other than correcting typos and grammatical errors. Make notes of potential changes and the chain reaction those changes would set off.
Read with an eye for:
- Plot holes
- Character inconsistencies in action or dialogue.
- Pacing: every scene should drive the story or provide something vital. Not every scene has to be fast-paced, and some will be reflective after major action scenes.
- Dialogue: make sure it's in character, realistic, and concise.
- Awkward phrasing: stick to active voice over passive, avoid stating multiple sentences in a row with the same word, and vary your sentence structure and length.
Review your notes and finally, implement the necessary changes.
I might do a separate piece on editing if I get feedback that you want more on this topic.
5. Beta Readers and Feedback
Get more eyes on your work. It’s better to get feedback here than in your reviews once you hit publish.
It’s important to consider all the feedback given, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to implement 100% of what those readers suggest. You don’t have to make sweeping changes to your novel based on the feedback from one reader, but if you notice a pattern emerging, you may want to consider some of those changes.
Ideally, your beta readers will be familiar with your genre and those genre conventions. Your family and friends aren’t the best choice here (unless you have a friend who’s in a literary field). If you don’t personally know people who fit this bill, you can check out online communities.
For more about beta readers and where to find them, check out this article from Reedsy.
6. Get an Editor
If you’re planning to publish traditionally, the publishing house will have editors. However, you may still want to consider getting an editor for at least the first three chapters that you’ll use to query an agent. You want your work to look the best that it can.
If you’re self-publishing, the standing advice is to get a professional editor. As a self-published author, you still have to compete with traditional publishers who churn out quality books.
There are different types of editors:
- Developmental editors are useful for plot, pacing, and character development.
- Structural editors are related to developmental editors and can provide feedback on the big-picture structure, especially for manuscripts that combine multiple narratives or jump back and forth through time.
- Line editors evaluate the flow, sentence structure, and word choice.
- Copy editors come into play for grammar, spelling, and proper punctuation. This is typically reserved for last.
Don't stretch yourself thin trying to get every single editor listed above. Find an editor that's right for your book and go from there.
Know what you can do yourself and what you need to outsource.
You can do some of the proofreading yourself. There are also AI grammar checkers that can help cut down on some of the copy edits. Evaluate each suggestion—don’t just blanket accept all “corrections.”
I’ve seen AI grammar checkers suggest wrong word choices, especially Microsoft’s built-in spelling and grammar checker. I once had one suggest I change the phrase, “descrying the copse of trees,” to “describing the copse of trees.” These are two completely different meanings. (Also, for some reason, most spell checkers don’t recognize the word “copse” and try to change it to “corpse”—another mortifying mistake if it makes it to the final print.)
Always do the final read-through yourself—and do it out loud.
7. Deciding on the Publishing Path
Traditional and self-publishing both have advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional publishing gives you access to a team of editors, designers, and marketers who will turn your manuscript into a professional book.
However, the traditional route may take years between querying and securing an agent and getting picked up by a publishing house—if you get picked up at all. You’re likely to face multiple rejections from agents and publishers alike, and even if you land an agent, that’s still no guarantee you’ll be published.
For more information on traditional publishing, check out the subreddit r/PubTips.
Self-publishing puts the onus on the author to do or outsource every task. Let’s not forget the financial burden of the upfront costs of getting an editor, cover designer, copyright, ISBNs, and marketing.
Self-publishing has its upsides, though. For one, you’re in complete control. You don’t have to compromise your story, title, or cover.
You can publish faster. Once you’ve edited, have a cover, and received feedback from beta readers, you can quickly publish on platforms like Amazon’s KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and other places.
You keep more of your royalties. Depending on where you publish, you can expect 70% commission on ebooks and 60% on print versions (minus the print costs, which come out of your 60%).
Traditionally published authors typically make between 5-18% off the retail price of their books, and that’s after their sales have earned back the initial advance from the publisher.
And just because you’re traditionally published doesn’t get you off the hook for book marketing. Those publishers still expect the author to actively market their book. Marketing a novel is harder than publishing it. There’s a sea of other books, and most readers have a backlog of books on their to-be-read shelf.
Now take a deep breath. Writing and editing a novel doesn't happen overnight (or in one week). Don't rush your editing in your excitement to publish, but don't spin your wheels, tweaking and touching up your words for years.
If you missed part 1, check it out here: From Concept to Cover: A Writer's Guide to Publishing Your First Novel, Part 1
If you want more writing tips, check out a previous post: 8 Tips for Writing a Novel.
Next week we'll delve into part 3: Cover Design & Blurb, Formatting & Distribution, and Marketing & Promotion.
Happy Writing!
Janine Eaby
