Marketing, ISBNs, Blurbs, Front Matter

What self-publishing tasks can you be getting on with while your manuscript is being edited?

Once you’ve handed your manuscript to a copy/line editor, it’s really important that you don’t touch it again until the manuscript is returned back to you. Having multiple versions of a manuscript in play gets extremely confusing, and needs to be avoided wherever possible.

However, there are some things you can be doing while your manuscript is with your editor. I’ve outlined some suggestions below – and these will be different, depending on whether you are hoping to secure a traditional publishing contract or are going to self-publish.

(If you are hoping to secure a traditional publishing contract, have a look at Part one – Traditional Publishing.)

Marketing

As with traditional publishing, you can start marketing your book now. This means thinking about the best platforms for promoting your book. Social media is an obvious one – which platforms are you familiar with? Do you already have an author account? Can you start building a following? All authors need to have some form of web presence – even if it’s just a static site that you can direct people to, with details of your upcoming books and where to buy them. Writing a blog, keeping readers updated with the publishing process, letting them know what to expect – all of this will help when the book is available for sale.

There are lots of authors who are very good at building mailing lists – this is something else to consider. Most self-publishers intend to sell their books through Amazon, and it’s worth remembering that if you do this, you will never be provided with details of the people who buy your book. This means that you can’t promote your next book to them. So it’s important to try and build your own mailing list if possible. You are then in charge of your own data, and don’t need to rely on Amazon.

Effectively, you are building your author brand. You need to find a way to connect with your readers – to demonstrate to them why they should buy your amazing book, rather than the amazing book written by someone else. What about you, as an author, will give you an edge? One way to do this is to work out why you’ve written this particular book. If you can say your novel is based on something that actually happened to you, in places you’ve actually visited, straight away you are forming a personal connection. Clearly with some genres (such as science fiction and fantasy), it’s unlikely that you have personally experienced many of the events in your novel, or visited many of the places. But did you base any of the characters on family or friends? Did you write it because you wanted to encourage your son to read more books?

Some suggestions for growing your mailing list

If you have written the first book in a series, the end of book 1 can have a hook – coming soon… join my mailing list
Give readers the option of naming a future book
Add a sign-up form to your website.

Blurb

You will be responsible for writing your blurb (the text on the back of the book). A lot of authors find this hard, so it’s worth starting this sooner rather than later. There are lots of websites covering blurb writing. I’d recommend listening to this podcast episode from the Self Publishing Show, where they talk about just how explicit a blurb should be. It’s about managing reader expectations, and they say: “You almost need to say this is an MI6 thriller book. This is a romance book set in a high school. You need to tell someone that they are in the right place, if they like these sorts of books.”

The blurb is probably the first thing your reader will actually read, so it’s important to get it right.

The blurb also doesn’t want to be too long. Have a look at other successful authors in your genre – how long are the blurbs on their books? Often around 200 words is a good length, but these words need to be impactful and intrigue the reader enough to want to know more.

Reedy’s blog How to Write a Book Blurb that Sells (with Examples) (reedsy.com) outlines how a blurb should introduce the characters, set the stage for the primary conflict, establish the stakes and show the reader why this book is for them. That’s a lot to pack into 200 words!

I’ve written before about how one recommendation is to use the blurb to literally give away ALL the good bits in your book. When we watch a trailer for a film, it often shows us all the best bits, but it doesn’t stop us from watching the film. Personally, I’m no so sure this works for books, but it’s something to think about.

It’s also worth considering how your blurb will appear on Amazon, and the Reedsy blog goes on to talk about how to make your blurb particularly appealing on Amazon and other online booksellers.

Further reading: Blurb Your Enthusiasm: An A-Z of Literary Persuasion by Louise Willder

Cover Design

Another thing you will need to think about as a self-publisher is the cover. Should it stand out? Or should it look the same as other books in your genre? Should you draw it yourself (unless you are a professional cover designer, the answer is no!), or find a professional? What should you put on the cover? Have you decided if you will be using a pen name?

The cover needs to tell the reader – within a few seconds – what genre the book belongs to. It’s got to tell them whether it’s science-fiction, a crime thriller, a romance, a horror. And for this reason, it’s really important to stick with the conventions in your genre. Readers who love crime thrillers will pick up (or click on) books that LOOK like crime thrillers. If it looks like a romance book, they are very unlikely to give it a second glance.

The cover design needs to align with your readers’ expectations.

So when someone asks me for an opinion on their book cover, my first thought is, is the genre obvious? The colour, the font, the images used, all provide information which potential readers will, subconsciously, understand.

If you aren’t sure what the cover expectations are for your genre, then a simple Amazon search can help. Looking at best-selling books, you can select your preferred genre, and see the covers of books which are currently selling well.

As an aside, another interesting question is whether any people shown on the front cover should match the description of your protagonist (eye colour, build, hair length). When you are reading a book, how often do you actually look at the cover? Probably not very often, and by this point you’ve already bought the book and are (hopefully) invested in the story, so the details of the cover are unlikely to be impactful. And if you are reading on an e-reader, you are even less likely to look at the cover.

I know that many of the authors I work with are romance writers, so it might be worth you having a look at this article about demystifying romantic comedy and chick lit cover design: Romantic Comedy and Chick Lit Cover Design Demystified (yummybookcovers.com).

One final point – I’d recommend that you don’t put the price of your book on the back cover. Because if you want to change the price (for example, discounting it), you will need to load new artwork on all the platforms selling your book.

Front Matter

Have you written (or thought about) your copyright page, your acknowledgement page and any dedications? As you are self-publishing, it’s really up to you what you want to include in your front matter, but you will have to have a copyright page. This can be a little confusing, so have a look at Creating Your Copyright Page: A Guide for Indie Authors from the Alliance of Independent Authors. They have text that you can cut and paste into your copyright page.

ISBNs (International Standard Book Number)

The ISBN is the number that sits with the bar code on the back of your book, and every book will have a unique ISBN. You can also buy your ISBN now. In the UK, all ISBNs are sold by Nielsens. You will need a different ISBN for each version of your book (hard back, paperback, large print, audio, e-book), so be prepared to buy more than one! At the time of writing, one ISBN will cost £91.00 but don’t panic, you can buy a batch of 10 for £169.00. Nielsons explains ISBNs as follows:

“Whilst it is not a legal requirement to allocate ISBNs to your books, it is used by publishers, booksellers and libraries for ordering, listing and stock control purposes. It enables them to identify a particular publisher and allows the publisher to identify a specific edition of a specific title in a specific format within their output. Systems used by publishers, booksellers and libraries all rely on the ISBN to identify books ensuring they select and stock the correct title and edition.”

If you are not based in the UK, have a look at the International ISBN Agency to find the relevant details for your country.

I’d also recommend you have a listen to The Pen to Published Podcast: ISBNs for a concise explanation about what’s required.

These are all suggestions for things to be getting on with, while your manuscript is away with your editor. Of course, you should also take some time to sit back, relax and pat yourself on the back. Many many authors don’t make it this far!

The post What to do while your manuscript is being edited appeared first on MandaWaller.

It’s possible to edit a manuscript and provide detailed, honest, sensible feedback in a kind and supportive way. Does kind editing mean going easy on your manuscript? Absolutely not!

Writing a book can be an exceptionally personal experience. Maybe some of the scenes you have written have been drawn from personal experience, from events that you have found traumatic, terrifying or highly emotional. You don’t want someone to take your precious manuscript and give you blunt, harsh feedback.

It may be that your manuscript is the result of months or years of hard work. And handing it over to an editor can be a scary thing. It may be that your editor is the first person (other than you) to see your manuscript.

Maybe you are a member of a writing society, or have taken writing courses, and feel confident in your writing. Or it may be that you are someone who just felt like writing a book, someone who believes they have a story to tell.

However you’ve arrived at the point where you are looking for an editor, it’s great that you recognise the need for one.

My speciality lies in providing feedback that will make you feel better about your writing. I will help you see how to improve it, in a constructive, supportive space.

How is my editing kind?

I’ve made the editing process more supportive, and more encouraging, with the following steps.

Pre-edit Questionnaire

Once you’ve commissioned my services, the first thing I do is send you a pre-edit questionnaire. This asks questions about your writing background, your target audience and what you are hoping to do with your manuscript when it’s been edited. Your answers help me to tailor your feedback appropriately, and help to ensure that you end up with the result you were hoping for.

Understanding your writing background means that I can explain things to you at a suitable level. Simply crossing something out and telling you it’s a comma splice is fine if you’ve taken a writing course and know what a comma splice is! Telling you that you need to reduce the narrative distance is perfect if you’ve attended a seminar explaining how to do that. But if you are new to writing then you will need to know what a comma splice is, and how to reduce the narrative distance. If I know you are a novice writer, I will take care to make sure you fully understand the descriptions and the words that I am using.

Editorial Report

For all manuscripts over 60,000 words, I include a detailed editorial report which outlines your strengths and any areas that could maybe be developed. Within this editorial report, I use examples from your text to illustrate exactly what I mean, and I provide lists of resources – including further reading, and suggested group memberships.

This means that if there is anything within the edited file that might need further explanation (for example, the narrative distance point I made above), then there is space within the editorial report to properly expand on this, using examples from your own text.

Two Versions

Once I have completed the editing process, and your manuscript is ready to be returned to you, I always send you two files. The first file shows each and every suggested amendment that I’ve made to your text (using MS Word Track Changes). I’m aware that for some authors, seeing your lovely manuscript covered in red pen can be a little overwhelming! Many of us had a teacher in school who made us feel inadequate with their “could try harder” comments. The last thing I want to do is rekindle that feeling of insecurity! For this reason, I also return a copy of the file with all my changes already approved. This means that you can see exactly how good your manuscript would be, if you accepted all my suggestions.

You may be an author who prefers to see each and every detail and understand each and every suggested change. And this is fine too. For more details about the differences between these two files, please see my separate blog post here: Kind Fiction Editing | MandaWaller | Editing can be kind AND honest

Non-Judgemental

When I first became an editor, my friends confessed to me that they were terrified of sending me messages, emails or letters. They thought I would be seeing their unintended spelling mistakes and judging them for their inability to spell, or for their poor grammar, or for their improper use of punctuation.

I explained to them that yes, of course I can see the errors. But no, I would never call them out on it. And no, I certainly am not judging them. Many of my friends have abilities that I can’t begin to match. I respect them for who they are, and do not consider their ability to spell to be an important factor in our friendship.

The same applies when I work with authors. You have the talent and ability (commitment and dedication!) to write a novel. I respect you for that. You are asking an editor to help you make sure there are no errors. I respect you for that.

Just because I’m an editor, please don’t assume that I am judging you.

Instead, I am here to provide you with a safe, supportive space where you can see your manuscript come to life with careful, considerate feedback and encouragement.

Does this mean I go easy on manuscripts?

I’m easy on the author, but not easy on their manuscript. Being kind to an author also involves providing them with the service that they are expecting, and that they have paid for. My editing is not half-hearted. My editing is detailed, thorough and comprehensive. I do not cut corners, and never rush my work. This means that you can be confident in your manuscript being the very best it can be.

And finally…

….Remember that your manuscript belongs to YOU. I can advise and suggest, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether to agree to my recommendations. If you choose to ignore my thoughts, then that’s absolutely fine too.

No judgement. Just thorough, detailed editing.

For more about how editing can be kind see part two in this three-part series: Kind Fiction Editing – adapted to suit you

The post Kind Fiction Editing – part 1: What is it? appeared first on MandaWaller.

I believe that editing can be kind as well as honest, and in this second blog about Kinder Fiction Editing, I explain how I have adapted my editing process to suit the differing needs of the authors I work with. Also see part one of Kind Fiction Editing – Is My Writing Good Enough?

An author has probably nurtured their manuscript for months, if not years.

When I have finished editing a manuscript, and I’m returning it to the author, I always send it twice. Or rather, I send two versions of the same file.

The first version I send has all my marks on it – this includes:

• all the suggested changes that I have made directly to the text (the more definitive corrections to spelling, grammar and punctuation which I’m confident should be seriously considered by the author and don’t really need clarification). These are made using MS Word’s Track Changes.
• all my comments (any suggested changes which may either need further explanation, or have multiple possible solutions, or that may be more a matter of opinion rather than a matter of fact). These comments are contained within the comments balloons.

I’m aware that an author has often nurtured their manuscript for months, and probably for years. This is particularly true where a manuscript is in excess of 60,000 words – as is the case with most of the manuscripts that I work on. It can be hard to hand over your nurtured manuscript. I am careful to make sure that the authors I work with know my editing style.

Editing should be based on ENCOURAGEMENT and SUPPORT

My editing style is based on support and encouragement, on educating and building you up. It’s not based on judgement, or on unconstructive criticism. I also understand that my voice is NOT your voice. And that this manuscript is YOUR baby, not mine.

For this reason, I also send back a version of the manuscript that has all my suggested changes already approved. By this, I don’t mean the more subjective comments – these are in the comments balloons, and they are the same across both files. I’m talking about the red pen amendments that have been made directly to the text using MS Word Track Changes.

Why do I return two versions of the same manuscript?

Seeing your lovely, nurtured manuscript covered in red pen can be triggering for some authors. Many of us have traumatic memories of a teacher at school who didn’t provide support and encouragement, who made us feel judged or inadequate and who knocked our confidence.

For other people, although they may not have unhappy memories of their school years, they may feel uncomfortable or react badly at the thought that someone is “correcting” their manuscript.

That they’ve handed their manuscript over to an editor indicates they want help. And the second, clean version of their manuscript shows them just how good their manuscript can be. Reading through this clean file shows them how their writing, and their words, can be tweaked – sometimes only very slightly – to produce a more flowing, more accessible, more polished novel. But they can also see that the changes have not removed their voice, changed their style, or changed the meaning or impact of any of the sentences.

A bright and sparkly manuscript

The first file – what I’m calling the red-pen version – is a very, very useful tool for anyone who wants to learn from my editing. To see each and every suggested change, review it, accept it or refuse it. And that’s great – it means that an author is fully immersed in the editing process, and is engaged and open to learning.

However, many writers don’t want (or need) to know all the minutiae of the editing process, and would rather just hand their manuscript over to an editor and have it come back all bright and sparkly.

I know that different authors have different approaches, different levels of confidence, and different levels of interest in learning about spelling, grammar and punctuation. Some authors know that spelling just isn’t their thing, but they are confident in their writing, knowing that an editor down the line will help them sort it out. These authors don’t need to see the details. For these authors, the clean file is the perfect file to work on.

Reduce Editing Costs

Other authors want to reduce their editing costs for future projects, so want to learn the ins and outs of every detail of every suggested change. They want to apply their learning to future books so that the time spent on editing can be reduced (and therefore the cost will be reduced too). For these authors, the red-pen file is just perfect.

I hope that, by providing both versions, I’m catering for everyone!

To repeat, the idea is to provide you with the service that you need to make your book the best it can be, whilst retaining your voice, your message and your style.

I’m just here to help.

For more information about how editing can be kind, see Kind Fiction Editing (part 1) – What is kind fiction editing? and Kind Fiction Editing (part 3) – Is my writing good enough?

The post Kind Fiction Editing – part 2: Editing adapted to suit you. appeared first on MandaWaller.