Congratulations! You have finished writing your book! That is an accomplishment in itself. Have a celebration, do something else you enjoy, and relax for a while.
Now that you have taken a step back, it’s time to decide how to proceed. Many times, this next decision is based on budget. You can hire a professional editor to read your book, offer suggestions on ways to improve your work and develop an ongoing relationship with that person as you develop a series. Paid alpha readers can give you simple feedback on the general plot, character development, and how a reader views the book. There are also unpaid options like having your computer read aloud to you. Alternately, you could join a group of fellow authors, get some feedback from them and also be their resource.
A fresh set of eyes and a different perspective can help you with areas you may not have noticed were neglected on the first run-through. I would encourage all authors to have others read and give feedback on their work. If you have had bad experiences with sharing your writing, consider why that experience was negative. If there is an alternative way to get feedback, one that you can be comfortable with, take it.
Low-budget options
A simple, no-cost option is to have your computer read the story out loud to you. Many word processors have a read-aloud function which makes it possible to hear mistakes we don’t read. This often helps with areas that we know are supposed to read a certain way, but maybe we forgot a word, misspelled or used a similar-looking word, or completely left out an important detail. You can edit yourself as you go, listening to what is actually there, not what you expect to be there.
Another low-budget option is to find a group of writers to share with. Some libraries have author groups that meet up and share their stories with one another, give fresh perspectives to each other’s work, and generally encourage each member in their writing pursuits. There are Facebook groups, LinkedIn, and other online platforms that can be helpful as well.
Professional options
Sometimes an alpha reader can help with the overall story arc, character development, and plot holes. If your main character is a complete person in your mind, in your notes, and yet did not make it into the story with all the details, someone else may ask about things that seem incomplete to the reader. This can be free but may cost a small fee. It would be a fraction of an editor’s fee.
If you have finished the first draft and are spent, consider contacting an editor for help. An editor will take your work, compare it to what is standard for your genre, and point out ways to make things better for the readers. As a developmental editor, for example, I have taken a look at a finished story and asked a few key questions to help me, and other potential readers, know what the author has in mind when they describe a brief scene that seems to have a lot of meaning but is not clear to me.
Research, sample, decide
You have heard the expression, “You get what you pay for.” Editing and proofreading are no exception. If you pay top dollar for editing services, you should expect top-quality work from the editor. Have the other people they have worked for left good reviews? How many others have they helped? If they have limited experience, the price may be lower, but is the quality still acceptable, based on the reviews, testimonials, or sample edit they gave you? If a sample edit of your work comes back with information and questions that help you improve your work, the price will be worth it, no matter what level it is at. If the sample edit shows that the person is trying to change your style, your voice, or your story, please move on.
As an author, your story can be like your baby. You are very careful about who you share it with, who gets to interact with it, and how they interact. A professional editor or proofreader is not as involved and it is perfectly all right to walk away from an offer to edit if the sample is not to your liking. Once a contract is signed, however, it is not good ethics to walk away and not pay if the edit does not turn out to your liking. Do your research, test the editor, make a choice, and then you may find a working partner to bring out the best in your writing.
There are many steps to getting a book from the first draft to publication. No matter what your budget, genre, or interest, there are options to choose from. Choose wisely. If I can be of service, drop me a note on the editor page, proofreader page, or beta reader page. Happy writing!