I recently spoke to a potential client who had already written the first draft of his manuscript. He confidently told me that he was an excellent writer and thought his book wouldn’t require professional editing. So, I asked him to send me a copy to review. Here’s what I found by reading just the prologue and the first chapter:
- Run-on sentences that needed to be broken into two or more sentences. In one case, a sentence went on for an entire paragraph.
- Incorrect grammar – such as using ‘on’ when it should have been ‘upon’.
- Not using contractions such as ‘ I have’ instead of ‘I’ve’
I encourage my clients to stay in their area of expertise and knowledge and hire other people who are experts in areas they aren’t – like editing and book design. No matter how great your content is, the way it’s presented can make the difference between readers loving your book and hating it. They may not know exactly what’s wrong, but they will feel unsettled and uncomfortable when reading it. Using professionals can make your content sing!
Of course, I recommend you do as much self-editing as possible before sending your manuscript to an editor. It’s more cost-effective for you and allows the professional to focus on true errors rather than wasting your money correcting obvious typos.
I also recommend:
- Take a break of several days after finishing the first draft before starting to self-edit. This allows you to get some perspective and distance so that you come to the editing task with fresh eyes
- Read your manuscript out loud when you start editing the first draft. It puts you in a reader’s frame of mind and helps you to catch errors more easily.
- Pay close attention to how the book starts. You’ll want to ensure you catch the reader’s attention immediately. For more information, read my post on how to write a compelling start to your nonfiction book
- Send the manuscript to your Beta Readers after you’ve edited the first draft. This way you can incorporate their recommendations before starting the second draft.
- After you’ve polished the second draft, send it to a professional editor.
When you self-edit, incorporate beta reader feedback, and use a professional editor on your book, you’ll ensure it looks professional and captures the attention of your ideal reader.
