Which Edits Does a Self-Publishing Author Really Need?
January 15th, 2022
I recently received a question from an author about the editorial process and what would be the most efficient and effective services needed for a publishable manuscript. Which steps could help this new author move forward with confidence? These are good questions! The terminology isn't even consistent in the industry or across different editors/publishers. And, as you might guess, the answer is usually it depends. But that’s never a helpful answer. Instead, I offer both the larger scope of the process and my recommendations for the most necessary steps. Let's start with the fullest picture of the editorial stages: In an ideal world in which every author had unlimited funds and time to follow the full process, an author would plan an idea for a novel and/or series, outline, and draft it — all with a book coach to help this author set out with a strong footing and good, marketable foundations if needed or desired. The author would revise and polish as much as possible on his or her own, possibly checking the story arc against — or follow... read more