Tips for Creating a Smooth Manuscript

You’re a writer. You have an idea for a book, and you spend weeks, months, even years crafting your idea into a manuscript. You have friends and family read it and tell you they think it’s great. As a result, you become more confident and start submitting your work to publishers.

In a nutshell, that’s how many of us think; that it’s an easy process and we’re going to have the next bestseller. But it’s not that easy. Here’s one thing publishers and editors can agree with: Not all manuscripts are created equal. You may feel your work is a masterpiece, only to find markups and edits all over your work after submitting it, or even worse, receiving  rejection letter after rejection letter. Well here are a few tips for you to follow when writing and revising your manuscript that will  help you develop and polish your work before it leaves your hands.

Proofread

Sometimes the simplest mistakes can hurt your chances of impressing an agent, editor, or publisher.This goes for not only your manuscript itself, but for emails, query letters, and any type of correspondence. Watch for spelling errors, grammar, and punctuation. Some of us may be used to short-hand abbreviations used with texting or Twitter, so be careful not to write, “U,” or “Thx,” when typing. All of these will affect your professionalism and your talents as a writer.

Transitions

One thing an editor will be looking for is transitions. For example, how well one paragraph flows into the next. They’ll also be looking at how well you bring your reader into situations (too fast or too slow), and how each of your scenes and chapters tie in with the overall story. You want to make sure your work is seamless…this goes for fiction and non-fiction manuscripts.

Show the readers, don’t tell them

When outlining a novel, you may start out by listing the situations in a scene, which is often a great idea to getting your ideas down on paper. But when you begin filling in your story, you want to show the readers instead of telling them. What do I mean by this? Instead of making a laundry list of actions and reactions, provide the readers with details of characters, their expressions, movements, etc. Create a scene where the reader can come to their own perceptions of your characters and story by the details and descriptions you offer.

Give credit where credit is due

When editors read through a manuscript, they also look for citations. If you’re submitting a non-fiction manuscript, be sure to cite quotations, work from another book, and photographs. In today’s day and age, it is very easy to Google a photograph or text of a book. Does it mean you should do it?

There are copyright laws out there and the last thing you want on your reputation is that you plagiarized someone else’s work. So if you do decide to use the work of others, please give them credit for it.

Some General Misconceptions About Publishing

The publishing process is complex. It’s one thing to say, “I just wrote a book, now I want to have it published,” yet quite another to set the ball in motion. As authors prepare their manuscript for a publisher(s), many have preconceived notions about how things happen. We want it to be printed as is. We don’t want to pay for editing (friends and family have seen it, that should be enough, right?). We want it to be free. We want high royalties. We want the publisher to handle all of the work. Right?

Wrong. Sure there are publishers out there will print and publish your work as is, but that doesn’t ensure the highest quality product for you or you audience. Sure there are publishers that will provide the work “for free,” but that doesn’t mean you’re not paying for it via your royalties. All these things must be taken into consideration, researched, asked about, and fully explained before you make major decisions.

Below are some of the most common misconceptions that I’ve come across that I feel should be addressed right away. Please feel free to add to this list, as I’m sure there will be more to come on this topic. So let’s take a look.

The submission process is, or should be, the same for all publishers.

Every publisher is different. Each will have its own set of guidelines. One publisher may accept romance novels, while the other may accept science fiction. The same is true for non-fiction material. That is why it’s important to research publishers and learn about what they accept and do not accept. If you submit a manuscript without following the specific guidelines of the publisher, it could be considered an unsolicited manuscript. Your manuscript may not even make it to the rejection pile; instead, it may end up in trash. It is a waste of the publisher’s time, as well as your time, to submit work without following the publisher’s guidelines.

My work doesn’t need to be edited before I submit it to publishers.

Proofreading, editing, revisions, and more revisions are all necessary for a manuscript to be at its best when submitted

to publishers. When friends and family read your manuscript, more often than not, they are not looking at your work objectively. A writer needs to have at least a second set of eyes to evaluate the content and offer constructive criticism.

Please keep in mind that editing is a very in-depth process and will help you further develop your work as you prepare for the publishing process. It takes time and expertise, and the editor is there to help you refine and develop your work to make sure it is of utmost quality. It will also help make a better impression with publishers when your work is free of errors and is fully developed.

Writers should stay away from publishers who charge fees for services.

Traditional publishing is becoming increasingly difficult to break into, especially for new authors. Now-a-days, writers are taking their dream of publishing into their own hands and are finding other outlets where they can publish their work. Both self-publishing and small/Print On Demand publishers are becoming more popular because they allow writers to remain in control of their work and earn higher royalties. POD also eliminates the risk of printing too many books at a time and having to warehouse inventory. Interestingly enough, traditional publishers are now incorporating POD equipment and practices into their realm to keep up with the changing times.

Publishers should be responsible for all promotion and marketing for my work.

While publishers will perform such services (sometimes for a fee), it is imperative that the author plays an active role in the promotion and marketing of his/her book. Along with the publisher, the author must be willing to promote his/her work at any given opportunity in order to achieve the best results.

This may include book signings, handing out your business card when meeting people, attending seminars, networking, utilizing social media, blogging, and doing everything you can do to get your name out there and share your achievements with others.

Are You Ready to Self-Publish?

Hello everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start! I came across another great resource that I’d love to share with you. It’s an article about self-publishing featured on Fiction Matters. The article highlights four aspects of the self-publishing process and asks the aspiring reader if s/he is ready to commit to them.

The four questions:

1) Can you afford to have your book professionally worked on?
2) Do you have a strong sales background?
3) Do you have a strong marketing background?
4) Could you quit your job to sell your book full time?

These are four important questions to ask yourself if you are considering self-publishing. Many aspiring authors may not realize, but self-publishing your work is just like running your own business. You will wear all of the hats and be responsible for every aspect of your book being successful, as it is a full-time commitment.

So ask yourself these questions above. Are you ready to self-publish your work? If you are, keep in mind that you have an endless amount of resources at your fingertips to help you in your endeavor. All you need to do is ask!