Book 2 of the Detective Temeke Series is finally finished and making its rounds on the editing circuit. This is probably the most important part of the process. But there are a few more points to consider before I can think of kicking back and catching up on the last season of Luther in a single sitting.
1. Feedback Approaching readers from my target audience has been the best way to get honest feedback. I have four/five readers who always make valuable suggestions based on their expertise. They have been able to get into the thick of the manuscript, not just because some are editors and writers, but because they ‘get’ the characters and plot. Its important for me to take any suggestions/critiques on the chin and make changes where necessary.
2. Self-edit This is the hard part. Having the patience to wait a good few weeks before attempting any self-edits. I need fresh eyes for this. I might be aiming too high if I say I want no grammar mistakes or typos. But aiming high is healthy. In a market saturated with independently published books, ours must rise above the rest. Editing is the key.
In a market saturated with independently published books, ours must rise above the rest. Editing is the key.
3. Choose a title For my first crime book, The 9th Hour wasn’t an issue. The number 9 signified a large chunk of Norse legend necessary to the plot. The second book, Night Eyes, was punchy and went well with the story. As for the third, I have two possibilities but the jury is still out on both.
4. Imagine your cover If a book cover and title catches my eye, do I make an impulsive decision to use the ‘look inside’ feature on Amazon? Absolutely. If I want my cover to stand out in a crowd, it needs to convey the right mood – so giving the book designer a detailed brief is extremely important. We all judge a book by its cover. No good pretending we don’t. If the format, layout, font and photo is great – so much the better. If not, a bad cover can destroy the chances of a well written book in less than three seconds.
We all judge a book by its cover. No good pretending we don’t.
5. Blurb Writing a compelling blurb is a challenge and needs to rouse a buyer’s curiosity . Having sent my book description to 4/5 professional authors, it is now in the final stages.
6. Publishing Whether we resubmit to an existing publisher, send to a new publisher or self-publish, one of the most important things to organize is a launch party on Facebook to celebrate all that hard work!
Finally, I want to thank all those who have read, commented, made suggestions on Night Eyes. I couldn’t have done it without you!
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