Let's talk about the main steps in your writing journey!

​

​

1. Write the first draft. 

• It doesn't matter how perfect or messy it is, just get it down. You can't edit nothing. 

• Don't edit as you write, i.e. grammar, punctuation, rewriting, etc. It will often slow your roll, and trip you up. You will be rewriting it anyway. Worry about that for draft 2!

• As you're writing, if you think of something that should be added to another chapter that you've already written, make a note of it in another document, so that when you go to right your second draft, you have all the info you need to weave in your new, exciting information!

​​

2. Alpha readers.​

• These readers come after the first or second draft. They are often brought on board if you are unclear of your stories direction or know if you are missing something from your story. Using the term "Alpha" in your search also signals that it is not an edited or redrafted work. So, don't worry about that. 

• You can sometimes bypass this step by having critique partners. These are often free. 

• Where to find Alpha readers? The same place you find Betas. Usually Facebook groups. Or you can join our discord https://discord.gg/mxGaErUEGx (you may have to copy and paste in your discord for link to work)

 

3. Rewrite your next few drafts! ​

• This is where some of that self editing comes in handy. As you rewrite based on the feedback you found helpful, this is a great time to work on your prose. Grammar. Vocabulary and punctuation as well as your plot and subplot.

• It is suggested that with each draft you should only really focus on 2 things at a time, meaning "I want to work on prose and sub-plot this draft. Tighten that up as much as possible. The next, focuses on character development and character voice."

 

4. Beta readers.​

• Much like Alpha's, these readers will read your finished draft and give feedback based on things that stuck out to them. This is usually around draft 3-5, depending on how experienced in the skill of writing/storytelling you are. 

• There are paid and non-paid Beta readers all over. Fiverr. Facebook groups. Our discord. Etc. Please vet them, especially paid betas. Make sure they are a fan of your genre. They understand your wordcount. And that they can finish within the timeframe you're looking to have it returned. 

• There are no guarantees with Beta readers. The reality is, people flake. They may run it through A.I. which is never accurate in feedback. With this being said, there is an alternative to having first round beta's and that is having a paid manuscript evaluation. 

 

4.5 Manuscript evaluation.​

• If finding reliable beta readers, or any at all, has been difficult, a manu eval may be what you need. This is often done by a professional editor. Usually, a developmental editor (story editor only. Not line editor) or someone that only does evals. 

• Manuscript evaluations often consistent of in depth feedback. What is/isn't working and why. They point out pacing issues, and places that may sag a bit or aren't explained enough. They often point out plot holes, or things missing. They will NOT suggest how you fix it or work through it with you. 

• Average rate $.015. We offer Manuscript Eval's for $.009 per word. ($.009 x 80k words = $720)

 

5. After you have yet another draft, another round of Beta readers should be used.​

 

6. If at this point, you're still getting conflicting feedback, or you feel your story is still lacking, this is where a Developmental editor comes in. 

• This is a paid service that can either come in the form of coaching(which can be done from the start of your journey) or a developmental edit. 

• Dev. editor's focus solely on story, characters, plot, pacing and whatever else they find in your story. They will not only point out what is/isn't working and why, but suggest how to resolve it, work through it, etc. 

• Our dev. editor reads your story twice. Once as a reader, and the second as an editor (now that they understand your story). You receive inline comments throughout the novel as well as pages of notes, and a phone call to understand them and answer any questions you may have. 

• Average rate $.03 - $.04 per word. We offer this at $.02 per word during our promotions. 

 

6.5 If you are trad publishing; in theory, this should be the last stop for you service wise. However, you're not done.

• If you are trying to trad publish, your work needs to be completed to the point you think "this is ready for the shelf". It's not, but in your mind that's where you need to be when you start querying. 

• Agents want something polished. (You can pay for an editor, but it's not really needed if you take the time to best edit yourself or get a proof reader($).) Agents just want to see something they have to do little work on. They will hook you up with editors that come out of the publishers pockets, not yours. (We will talk about querying and publishers later)

• Do the best you can.

 

If you are self publishing, these next steps are for you.

 

7. Line Editor.

• This is an editor that goes through sentence by sentence. They're looking for clarity, flow, style, voice, and impact. They should be giving feedback on this, which should enhance your quality and readability. 

• They are language focused. 

• Average rate $.025 - $.04 per word for fiction

 

8. Copy Editor. (Sometimes a line editor will also copy edit. This should be in their information or contract.)

• Copy editors deal in grammar, punctuation, spelling and consistency. 

• They follow rules and look for details. 

• ​Average rate $.02 - $.03 per word for fiction. 

 

9. You have now finished your edits based on your editors and need a PROOF READER. 

• Proof readers are someone that looks for the last minute things that were missed either during an edit done by you or your editor. (everyone is human. traditionally published novels have errors, old and new. However, this is usually cut down when the editor reads the work twice.

• Average rate $.012 - $.02 per word for fiction

 

10. And you are done! (With the writing part at least.)

​