You’ve finished writing your novel! What now?
Okay, so you’ve finished your novel.
What now?
First…
Sit back, relax and bask in the wonder that is those two little words: The End.
You wrote a book. You badass.
Seriously. Deciding to write a book is easy. Finishing a book is hard.
When you’re ready to move on from celebrating (but not too soon… soak that shit up!) you might be tempted to immediately start searching for an editor, but it’s important that you take a beat and ask yourself a few questions.
Draft?
Is this your first draft? If yes, I promise you that it is highly unlikely that your book is ready to go to a professional. Instead, put the manuscript away for a few weeks, even a month, and then re-read it, making notes to yourself on what doesn’t work, what isn’t coming across the way you wanted it to, and what you just want to tweak. Once you’ve got that list, it’s time to go back in and begin some revisions.
Revisions Complete?
Okay, so you’ve revised your novel, multiple times, and you can’t see anything wrong with the manuscript in front of you… is it time for an editor now?
Perhaps! But, I still would recommend taking a moment to think. Has anyone else read your book? If no, then I’d slow down and see if you can get some beta readers (people who are your target readership, and who are happy to read your book and give you feedback), before you make the commitment to pay someone to do it. (You can find a lot more about how to find beta readers on this blog post.
Feedback Accepted!
Right. You’ve written and revised multiple times, then sent your book to beta readers (ideally unbiased ones!) then revised again based on their feedback. Is it ready for an editor now?
Yes!
Maybe.
Don’t roll your eyes at me, please! There’s method to my madness.
Take some time to look at your manuscript (maybe put it back in that drawer for a while first.) Now ask yourself, does this book really need editing by a professional?
What’s needed?
Firstly, are you happy with your story? Are you getting great feedback from those (unbiased remember?) beta readers? Are you struggling to find anything that you feel you need to tweak? Then chances are, you won’t need a developmental editor! Hurray! However, if you’re getting feedback that you aren’t sure how to deal with, or if there are areas of your book that just aren’t hitting the way you want, then is the time to think about hiring a developmental editor.
What about copy editing?
Well, If you are planning on trying to get your manuscript traditionally published, you won’t need to hire a copy editor, as the publishing house will arrange for this.
If you are planning on self-publishing, then I would recommend copy-editing, but only after all big picture and structural edits are complete.
If you aren’t sure, then some research and potentially a consultation with a professional editor might be your best bet!
Moving forward…
Once you know whether an editor is appropriate and why, you can then move forward with confidence that you (and your book) are in the right place.
Want a bit more information on editing?
You might find the information in these blog posts helpful:
Hi, I’m Alexandra.
I’m a developmental editor specialising in helping authors of fantasy, sci-fi and all kinds of speculative fiction bring their worlds to life, and make their books as immersive, compelling and enjoyable as possible!
Follow my blog for writing craft tips specifically tailored for speculative fiction authors.
