Slow and Steady Wins the Publishing Race

Today is a sunshiney day…even if you’re in Minnesota, stuck in a winter blizzard. 

Why? you ask.

Because you’ve finished the second draft of your manuscript! What an amazing feeling. Now, all you want to do is get it out there for everyone to read and love. You’ll format to the best of your ability and self-publish. Great!
 
Uh, hold on…Not so fast.
 
It’s very tempting to quickly self-publish once you feel your manuscript is done, but believe me when I tell you—IT’S NOT.

If you don’t believe me, try this test: give the first twenty pages to three of your friends and ask for their feedback—grammar, typos, and plot holes. I guarantee each friend will find different errors that somehow magically eluded you. 

How’s that possible?

I have yet to dissect this strange phenomenon, but there is no question it exists. Perhaps it’s as simple as we are human and will not find every error, no matter how many times we look at the pages. Wouldn’t you prefer to correct your book BEFORE you publish it? 

If your test goes as I expect it will, it’s time to give your friends the whole document with enough time for them to review it and get it back to you.

Okay, I’m ready now.

Nope. 

Find an editor. Unless it is totally out of your budget, get a pro’s eyes on your work. You only get one chance to make a first impression on new readers. If you blow it with mistakes, it’s unlikely they’ll give your future work a shot. If you can’t afford a pro, send the manuscript to more friends, family, and anyone willing to help you.

Advanced readers, check. Editor, check.

Well done! Now it’s time to format. It can be time-consuming, especially for longer books, but it’s a necessity for a professional-looking result. For Amazon publishers, Kindle Create is a useful and free tool. If you can’t do it by yourself, get someone on Fiverr or a similar inexpensive app to do it for you. 

Next, remember to set your pre-order date. This means readers will be able to order your book before it’s actually available for purchase. It’s a terrific way to build buzz. Be sure to have the book in its final form by the date you select, or you may be banned from using the pre-order option in the future. Set your date with enough time to market the new book on social media, newsletters and ads. 

Sounds like this process will take forever!

These stages take time…typically, months. The wait is hard, but publishing a polished book will pay off in spades for your career and reputation as a professional writer. In life and in publishing, patience is always a virtue. 


Nellie Neeman is the author of Spree, A Jon Steadman Thriller available on Amazon. Her second book, Resurrection will be available for pre-order in January, 2021. For more on self-publishing and giveaways, go to www.nellieneeman.com. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.