Edit - edit - edit!
Ever since grade school (way back in the olden days) I've had a way with words. I breezed through Language and composition, struggled through math. Over the years I've honed that to include formatting, editing, and proofing, which I tend to do a lot of as I'm writing (Thank Goodness for spell-check).
Probably the most important part of writing (other than good content and flow) is editing, with proofing following a close second. If a story doesn't flow well, is full of grammatical errors and typos, it's not a good story no matter the content. So many self-published books miss the mark by being poorly edited. However, editing can be an expensive proposition.
I edit my own works for several reasons.
1. Starving artist syndrome. I have a budget of $1.27.
2. I've seen shoddy work people have charged as much as $1000 for and I can do better half-asleep.
3. Did I mention lack of funds?
However, no matter how careful you are, or how many times you go over a manuscript, you're going to miss something. You can look at the same mistake over and over and not see it as a mistake, because you're used to it. Human nature.
So, what's the solution? I'm taking about editing and proofing (the grudge work). Get a different pair of eyes on it. Critique groups, an author friend-or-someone who understands writing (and all that involves). Even a friend or good acquaintance you trust not to steal your work. Let your dog read it. All that effort you put into creating and writing needs a fresh pair of eyes on it or all that effort is for naught.
Don't be in a hurry to publish. It's essential that you, as an author, take the time to get your work properly edited and proofed. Granted, I've seen professional works with a typo or two, they happen. But try your best to eliminate as many as possible.
I did use typos and a few grammatical errors (like wich instead of witch) as an incentive to sell my longest work (The Twelve Tablets). I spent such a large amount of time on this 365 page monster writing, editing, proofing, re-editing, re-proofing, that I exhausted my patience, got in a hurry, and published (ebook & POD paperback). Then the errors were discovered (sigh). So I put out a blurb, "Find the errors and win a free copy of one of my other books". Uh, well, it didn't occur to me that potential readers might not want a book published by an author that would purposely leave an errored book published. Erk! Didn't work out too well, but then I didn't leave it up like that for very long.
Self-publishing has been inundated with new authors. I'm in competition with about 2 million others and getting my works noticed on a budget of $1.27 is difficult at best. Those that have read my books liked them and some have been so kind as to write honest reviews. Some are four stars, some are five. All have positive things to say.
Through it all the one most important element is and has been editing. Edit-edit-edit 'til your blue inna' face. Then give it to someone else to edit. Then re-edit it yourself. Eventually it will become polished enough to publish. Whew! Hard work, this self-publishing.
Probably the most important part of writing (other than good content and flow) is editing, with proofing following a close second. If a story doesn't flow well, is full of grammatical errors and typos, it's not a good story no matter the content. So many self-published books miss the mark by being poorly edited. However, editing can be an expensive proposition.
I edit my own works for several reasons.
1. Starving artist syndrome. I have a budget of $1.27.
2. I've seen shoddy work people have charged as much as $1000 for and I can do better half-asleep.
3. Did I mention lack of funds?
However, no matter how careful you are, or how many times you go over a manuscript, you're going to miss something. You can look at the same mistake over and over and not see it as a mistake, because you're used to it. Human nature.
So, what's the solution? I'm taking about editing and proofing (the grudge work). Get a different pair of eyes on it. Critique groups, an author friend-or-someone who understands writing (and all that involves). Even a friend or good acquaintance you trust not to steal your work. Let your dog read it. All that effort you put into creating and writing needs a fresh pair of eyes on it or all that effort is for naught.
Don't be in a hurry to publish. It's essential that you, as an author, take the time to get your work properly edited and proofed. Granted, I've seen professional works with a typo or two, they happen. But try your best to eliminate as many as possible.
I did use typos and a few grammatical errors (like wich instead of witch) as an incentive to sell my longest work (The Twelve Tablets). I spent such a large amount of time on this 365 page monster writing, editing, proofing, re-editing, re-proofing, that I exhausted my patience, got in a hurry, and published (ebook & POD paperback). Then the errors were discovered (sigh). So I put out a blurb, "Find the errors and win a free copy of one of my other books". Uh, well, it didn't occur to me that potential readers might not want a book published by an author that would purposely leave an errored book published. Erk! Didn't work out too well, but then I didn't leave it up like that for very long.
Self-publishing has been inundated with new authors. I'm in competition with about 2 million others and getting my works noticed on a budget of $1.27 is difficult at best. Those that have read my books liked them and some have been so kind as to write honest reviews. Some are four stars, some are five. All have positive things to say.
Through it all the one most important element is and has been editing. Edit-edit-edit 'til your blue inna' face. Then give it to someone else to edit. Then re-edit it yourself. Eventually it will become polished enough to publish. Whew! Hard work, this self-publishing.
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