J. Leigh got us started with a bang yesterday with her fantastically funny (but sadly all-too-accurate) post on creating a YA cover for your novel. If you haven’t read it yet, do. Hopefully it will make you smile!
All this month, J. Leigh and I will be writing about the process of getting your manuscript ready for publication. If you’re planning to self-publish, you won’t want to miss this series! And even if you’re planning to work with a traditional publisher, you’ll find lots of useful tidbits here on finalizing, editing, and reviewing your manuscript.
This week, we’ll talk about putting those finishing touches on your manuscript: editing techniques that will save you time and sanity, avoiding common editing pitfalls, and perfecting your prose.
Next week, we’ll focus on the pesky but necessary process of formatting your manuscript for both print and ebook editions. Choosing a font type, setting the margins, and placing your page numbers may seem like insignificant details, but managing the visual appeal of your book is hugely important, especially for print. We’ll also offer helpful tips for navigating the KDP and Smashwords formatting processes, which can be frustrating in the extreme the first time through. Finally, we’ll address the review process: how to ensure that your print proof copy is gorgeous and error-free and that your ebook is digital perfection.
And then the grand finale…J. Leigh’s real post on book cover design! We’ll also talk strategies for writing great back copy and for putting your best face forward (literally) with your author bio and photo.
Editing, formatting, and packaging…it’s the nitty-gritty of our writing profession, but that doesn’t mean it has to be drudgery! We’re planning some fun contests to liven up each week’s focus…can’t wait!
And last but not least… We love all our readers, and we’re hoping to hit 200 blog followers this month! So exciting!!! You can help us by spreading the word and bringing a friend! 🙂
Happy writing!
SK
