12 Days: My Self Publishing Journey (Part 6 of 12)
So, it’s here. Only one more hour until the promotion starts. Right now, it’s 11 pm (Pacific Standard Time) and I’m still working diligently on my second book. The editor, of course, found an error in chapter 3 in my second book and she’s working on it as I write this post. We went over the mistake about 20 minutes ago, verified that it was indeed an error, and as soon as we’re done fixing it, I’m uploading book 2 back onto Amazon so that it will be there when people download my first book.
Editing 101
After writing a story, an edit is a must. Then another edit. Then another, until you’ve reached the point where your head is about to explode and you want to curse at kittens. I know, it sounds a little overboard, but that’s not where it stops. A week after the edits are complete, you pick your book back up and edit again, and again, and again, then you start actually cursing at kittens–if you can find any. By the end of the edits, you’re pounding your head on the desk as you pull your hair. A week later, you pick up your book again and edit.
It’s a long process and by the time you’re done, you realize you can edit the book another dozen to two dozen times. It’s never-ending. Even J.R. Tolkien of the Lord of the Ring Novels complained about his book–twenty years later–saying he could have edited this part and that part better and so on and so forth.
That’s why it’s so important to have an editor. They not only fix the grammar, spelling mistakes, and comma placements, they also help you with your plot and characters. If a certain spot in the story doesn’t make sense, they point it out and help you patch it up. An editor can take a so-so story and make it a masterpiece. They are the other piece of the writer and without them, most writers are lost. They are the hero/heroine behind the scenes. They should be applauded, paid more, and given lots and lots of smiles when you walk by them on the sidewalk. You’ll know an editor by the massive crease in their brow.
Kindle Previewer
Before approving my book to be published on Amazon Kindle, I look at the Kindle Previewer. It’s a free application from Amazon that allows you to see what your book looks like on the Kindle–before it’s downloaded on Kindle. This is where I spend hours upon hours reading through my book, making sure the indents are correct, the spelling has been spell-checked properly, and everything is kosher. Writing a book is a lot of work, a lot of happiness, and a lot of in-between! But, worth it.
Promoting on a large email list
Where I live, there’s a very large email list of networkers who are always advertising their services. I’m on the email list and have been on it for over five years. It’s time to introduce my second book to them by introducing my first book. I’m going to tell them about my free promotion that starts tomorrow.
I’ll tell you how it goes…
