You’ve poured your heart and soul into your writing and finally completed your manuscript… Now what?

First of all, kudos to you! Completing your manuscript is no small task. Secondly, we don’t blame you if you find the publishing process to be a tad complicated. But don’t worry, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide that will demystify the process for you and tell you exactly how to proceed.

Step 1: Evaluation and Revisions

If you’ve reached the point of writing where you’ve lost all objectivity and can’t tell if it’s any good, you probably need to get an external perspective on it. Getting your manuscript evaluated by a professional book editor is a good way to get constructive criticism and decide how to go about revising your manuscript. They can provide solutions for your plot, structure, character arcs, narrative, and the works.

Step 2: Editing

The most important (and the longest) step in the publishing process. It involves three kinds of editing:

• Developmental editing – A developmental editor ensures that your writing has no plot holes, inconsistency, or confusing dialogue.
• Line editing – Line editing goes right back to the basics– your sentences. This includes tone, syntax, word choices, style, and overall readability.
• Copy editing – Any grammar and punctuation errors are removed during copy editing. Copy editing also involves spell checks and ensuring comprehension that makes it easier to hold the reader’s attention.

If you’re ready to hire a book editor, check out Bound’s editing services here.

Step 3: Formatting and Design

This is the stage where your manuscript starts to look like an actual book. You get to collaborate with a designer to give your book an attractive cover, after which it undergoes formatting and typesetting for print and digital versions.

Step 4: Publishing

Finally, your story is set to go out into the world. If you choose to self-publish, you have several self-publishing platforms at your disposal, where you can directly upload your book without the need for intermediaries. But if you decide to go the traditional route, you will need to pitch your book to a publisher. This is your chance to showcase your project and convince the publisher why your book is worth putting out into the world.

Unsure how to create an effective pitch? Bound’s got your back!Step 5: Marketing

How do you make sure your book is in the right hands? You market it to the right people! You should ideally have a marketing plan before you print/upload your book to create anticipation and get people talking. If you need tailor-made strategies to market your book, reach out to us here.

Whatever stage of writing, editing, or publishing you’re at, we would love to be a part of your journey. Get started here to find all the publishing guidance you need in one place!