In case you've crafted a novel - or any other type of book - and are now curious as to just how to proceed with publishing it, stop! Have you re-read your manuscript, correcting mistakes and enhancing any poor areas in your wording? Your response to this is probably going to be "certainly". Have you gone through your work a few times? Once again, you'll probably say "certainly". Have you paid a professional fiction editing service to examine your book with a fine-toothed comb? The response to this particular question for most writers is no. If you're one of those authors and have thus far did not have any contracts with your book, perhaps it is just where you're going wrong.
The fact is that, you can be the finest author on the planet, but simply because you penned the draft, you're probably not going to pick up on all of the weaknesses within your text. Do not simply rely upon word processing software either; it's going to pick up on spelling errors, however it really doesn't realise when you've omitted a word, or use words in the inappropriate order, or by mistake removed a sentence. The hard truth that a great number of writers find difficult to face is that they also can't rely upon their own sight to pick up such simple errors: as a writer, you're just too involved in your work to stand back and examine your work objectively. You can read a sentence through while not being aware of that misplaced word, because your brain knows what ought to be there and supplies the missing words for you. It's quite frustrating, yet it happens.
And then there's the big, nasty, novel-destroying errors that you may not take note of - or not prefer to admit you've spotted: the yawning plot holes, the monotonous dialogue, the fact that your antagonist is entirely ill-matched for most of the fifth chapter without having rationale. Having someone else to read your work and make a note of any part they do not fully understand - or anything they think doesn't make sense - will undoubtedly be invaluable for you.
A lot of writers use friends and relations to proofread their text, however what typically happens is that the family member or good friend returns to the writer pouring out about how exceptional it is, without dealing with some of the issues in the manuscript or presenting any kind of helpful critique. This might be basically because they don't like to disappoint you, but most of the time it's basically because they don't actually understand what they're in the hunt for - if they've never done editing previously, how will they have any idea on what direction to go?
The most effective solution to this is to hire a professional proofreader to go through your book for you - of course, these people cost you money, but that investment won't go to waste. Actually, it can be the best money you spend on your novel, including whatever you devote to your marketing strategy. A professional will be able to check work objectively, be honest in their opinions, and - above all - they will know very well what is required of drafts in the printing trade. They'll understand the grammar conventions you have to be staying with, they will have an understanding of plot as well as structure work, and they will be able to suggest areas for improvement that you can never have thought of without help.
Browse around over the internet for reliable proofreaders as well as editors - many offer assorted services for different levels of editing, and you're bound to discover one that's affordable.
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