So, you have completed your book, and now you are wondering about what to do next. You have finally arrived at the next exciting part of your writer’s journey, which is preparing your book for publication. Completing your draft is just a tiny part of getting a book published.
Read on to learn more.
Edit the Draft
Of course, once you have completed your manuscript, you will probably be working on the first draft of your book. There will definitely be some mistakes in your book, as well as plot holes. There will be scenes in your book that might need some fixing. Perhaps you left some characters underdeveloped.
Here is the thing: once you have completed your first draft, we advise you to take a break from the manuscript and put it somewhere in the drawers where you cannot see it. Let it stay there for at least three months.
What this will do for you is that it will help you detach from your manuscript and feel unfamiliar with what has been familiar for so long.
Pick up your book after your brain has detached from it so that you can edit it with a fresh mind and a fresh pair of eyes.
Get Beta Readers
You know that you want to get your manuscript in perfect order before you start looking for publishers. Although it isn’t a bad idea to check out the best publishing houses while you are editing your book, you have made up your mind regarding which publisher you would want to publish your book.
So, when it comes to polishing your book and preparing it for publication, it can also include getting other people to read your work. If you ask your friend or family to read the manuscript and give you their honest feedback – make sure that they are familiar with the subject and that they are brutally honest with you.
Also, you can pay beta readers to read your manuscript and leave valuable suggestions for you. You can find freelance beta readers, and you can pay them an hourly rate for their services.
Make Your Work Publishable
Now that you have taken your time to self-edit and even hired a professional editor to read your work and you have gotten valuable suggestions from beta readers – it is time to make your work actually publishable.
Simply put, you should prepare your manuscript for publishing by improving its format and making sure that it is in perfect shape. Also, if you are a traditional publisher, you should work on your book proposal and prepare a query letter while researching the literary agents through which you want your book to be published.
Nonetheless, to make your book publishable, take care of the following aspects:
- Use standard font and font size.
- Mark chapter breaks.
- Use the right line spacing.
- Include page numbers.
You get the point – exporting the manuscript in the right formatting is crucial before sending it off for publication.
Design Your Book for Marketing
Now, when it comes to designing your book for making, you should know that it is all about appealing to the ideal readers. Of course, your readers will judge your book through the cover first. So, it is important to get the book cover right. The best thing you can do is hire a professional cover designer who will do what is needed for you.
When it comes to marketing your book, you will want to look out for the following aspects of your book:
- Book cover
- Book Trailer
- Author website
- Logo
Of course, you can hire a dedicated team who will do all the needful for you, including making the book cover and creating the perfect book trailer that will help you make your ideal readers feel excited about your book release.
Set Up an Author’s Website
It doesn’t matter how well-written your book is if no one knows about it. To prepare your book for publication, you should start talking about it. The best way you can do this is by setting up an author’s website.
The goal of your author’s website is that it will help you establish a business by preparing in advance and growing brand awareness about your upcoming book. Of course, you will want to have a strong social media presence, too. You can use social media platforms to connect with your ideal readers and let them read excerpts from your upcoming book.
The purpose is to get the buzz going and to have your ideal readers excited about the book launch.
Release for Publication
After you have worked on the marketable things of your book, including your book cover, book trailer, and setting up an author’s website – it is finally time to get your book published. If you are not opting for the traditional route, you are certainly self-publishing.
Now, if you are self-publishing, you can upload your book to a bunch of different self-publishing websites. We all have heard about Amazon, which is a pretty good platform for self-publication. Depending on the self-publication platform that you choose, you might only need to send them your manuscript, and you can start selling your book.
Nonetheless, suppose you have completed your first manuscript, and you are about to get a book published for the first time. In that case, we recommend doing your research and choosing the one option between traditional and self-publishing that you are comfortable with the most.
Final Thoughts
The worst that can potentially happen after you get your book published is for no one to read it. So, you will want to do all the work that is part of behind-the-scenes, including starting to pitch your book from the very start when you sit down to write the first chapter of the draft.
This way, you will ensure that you have an audience who is actually excited about your book. Good writing and editing your draft is only half the batter. You must ensure there are people who are waiting for your book to get published so they can get a copy of that.
