Let me shout this one from the rooftops: Authors need good editors. More importantly, authors who ARE also editors need good editors.

I am an author. I am an editor and an awesome one, if I do say so myself.

But...

Editing my own manuscript is a big NO-NO!

And yes, I found that out the hard way. The author sees/reads what they expect to be there and ultimately misses a few (or many) simple mistakes and/or huge potholes in their plots--plot-holes.

For those who insist on sticking with self-editing because hiring a professional editor can be costly, I will share self-editing tips from time to time so stayed tuned. But I will always advocate to seek help from a professional editor. Not your bestie who enjoys reading your books for free and always give you positive feedback. Someone who tells it like it is. Someone who knows books and knows the difference between a developmental edit and a simple proofread.

Just about every time someone approaches me regarding an editing job, they don't realize the different levels of editing. They simply ask, "How much to edit my book?" Well, the answer is always, "It depends."

It depends on what the manuscript needs. Where in the book writing process is the manuscript at the moment? If it's first or second or even third draft, an author should not be seeking a proofread. If the manuscript has been written, revised, had feedback from beta readers incorporated into the document, revised some more, and the author's eyes are bleeding re-reading their work... it may be time for a copy edit.

For clarity, over the next few weeks, my newsletters will discuss the different types of book editing services and what they provide so authors can make an intelligent decision when seeking an editor. To include them all here would make a simple newsletter seem like a dissertation; and we don't want that.

Let's start at the beginning:

Manuscript Evaluation

The manuscript evaluation provides an editorial assessment of a written draft, both the strengths and the areas in need of revisions, as well as a recommendation for a follow-on level of editing to achieve a quality manuscript worthy of publishing.

The objective of a manuscript evaluation is to answer the question, "How do I know whether my book is 'good enough' to publish." It is my mission to provide you with guidance on how to improve your book and get it ready for editing and publication.

Some people confuse manuscript evaluations with beta reading. These two seemingly similar things are different animals.

***And yes, I caught that misspelling in the image. I chose to leave it as is for the sake of time.***

Beta reading is general feedback from an average reader's perspective on an early draft. Beta readers do not diagnose manuscripts strengths and weaknesses.

Manuscript evaluations diagnose the manuscript for strengths, weaknesses, plot holes, story structure, character development, perspective (Point of View - POV), dialogue, scenes, and writing mechanics, including addressing the following questions:

1. Is there a state theme or implied theme?
2. Is the theme supported consistently throughout the manuscript?
3. Is the narrative tone consistent? If there are deviations, are they intentional and aid the narrative?
4. Is the story arc complete? How is pacing? Does the story flow well (or is it rushed or too slow in places)?
5. Does the story arc answer the who, what, when, where, and why of the story?
6. Are there any loose ends that need to be resolved?

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If you are in need of manuscript evaluation, simply reply to this email and I can set up a complimentary consultation to discuss your book's needs. Or you can visit my editing services webpage at https://www.bookmageediting.com/