Hello! Another “lovely” day of putting myself in order. By this, I mean now that I have finally been able to push myself to finish my children’s book, I can sort out all of those finished and unfinished stories lurking in my writing folder. It is something that must be done. I groan at the thought of going through the editing again, but I need to do it. I promised myself I would not find excuses. I will not shop online…(although I am running out of my favorite shampoo, which is not sold anywhere outside of Amazon) and! I will not look up the names of actors I liked in that black and white movie I saw last night.

I still feel dizzy at all the steps one must take before the manuscript is in good shape to start sending out to prospective agents. I cannot be the only one that has felt this is a monumental task!

Ah! The editing process! There are not enough things I can’t say about it—not here in this forum, anyway. So, how do you start the process? I know it is hard to sort yourself out and make sense of where to start and where to stop.

One day, I was trying to get ideas on how to edit my work. Somewhere, I read that you MUST read, proofread, edit, rewrite, and read again, and! It goes on and on! Until you decide to start to hate your story. You have to do that to get your first, second, third, and maybe fourth draft, depending on how long and/or intense your story is.

Then, when you have your third draft, you can pass it along to family and friends so that they can help you and point out where it needs work, edit it, fix grammatical errors, etc.

Then, another draft is done, and you can take a breather (again) away from the manuscript. Once you have done all the drafting you think necessary. Separate yourself from your “baby” (i.e., your manuscript) and do something “normal” for a change.  You know, reply to emails and fold your laundry correctly (instead of shoving it into drawers). Text your friends and let them know you are still alive. Get a manicure, cut the lawn…Whatever has been put on hold when the muse strikes and nothing else matters.

Now, if you wish to (but it is advisable), it is time to have it edited by a professional. There are many that can do a professional edit. Do an online search. Get information through writers’ websites. Like my favorite character says, “Enfin!” (Poirot, Agatha Christie), do your research!

Another thing I learned along my sort of uncertain journey into the writing process is that you cannot actually fall in love with your story…Beware of this! (but let’s face it, don’t we all love what we write?) I understand that avoiding such pitfalls helps one to be objective. And do not cry like a baby when the person editing your story tells you to lose some of the storylines. I know! I know! What we write is from the heart. You cannot just take certain parts of the story… It is like taking out a piece of you, etc.

But needs must! I am not saying you need to follow such advice to a T.  But a conversation has to occur, and a mutual understanding of where to tweak the story is best. This will (hopefully)  make everyone feel better at the end… or not.

Once you have done everything you can and must for your manuscript, it is time! Yes! It’s time to send it out to prospective literary agents. Or, if you are going Indy, sort out how you want to self-publish. Look for the best options for yourself. I am talking prices. Self-publishing is not cheap. But the alternative is eBook publishing. That is if this is something you wish to do. Or you can do both—paper and digital.

There are also established publishing houses that sometimes allow manuscripts to be sent. But again, do good research. Most publishing houses do not allow this. Read their websites and contact information, and if necessary, call an actual person over their customer service line and ask before you send out your manuscript.

The process of having your manuscript ready is not complicated. But it needs perseverance, patience, and follow-through. I know most of us tend to put aside that which is unpalatable, boring, or whatever. We might find a good book we must finish, that lovely movie that is now playing, or the socks from the laundry need to be paired up. But if we really want to make our dream a solid reality, we must do the work.

I am attaching a few links that might help you along the way.

Fiverr

The above has lots of freelance services, and the prices are excellent. Depending on the service you seek, they range from the ubiquitous $5 to above.

smashwords

This one is for digital self-publishing. It’s an easy-to-use website. If you are interested in their services, download their Smashwords style guide. It’s free and guides you every step of the way.

WritersDigest

This is one of the oldest publications that helps writers make their dreams come true. I am sure you have heard of it. Their printed edition is one of the most recognized in the market. Their website contains loads of info. Some excellent articles help the new writer. Paid services for editing, query letters, workshops, etc.

Poets & Writers

This is a non-profit organization that has existed since 1970. You can sign up for their newsletter, enter contests, and read insightful information to help you with your writing. This is for poets and anyone with a creative writing streak.

I hope I was able to leave some “nuggets of wisdom ” or at least enough information to get your lovely self moving in the right direction.

Remember…Keep writing!

Until I write again,

M.G.

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
― Madeleine L’Engle