What’s the best investment you can make in your book?
I’ll give you a hint: Not long ago, I handed in my third round of edits to my publisher for my new novel, The Beached Ones.
This, after I put the book through my own edits countless times in preparation for submitting.
I’m ecstatic about this. It means that my novel will be as good as it can be before it hits the market.
What about yours?
When Your Book Lacks Editing, You Lose Readers
My mom—a big reader—just finished reading a self-published book by an author she had read before. The first book she enjoyed. The second one, however, was frustrating for her.
Because it was filled with errors.
Was the author aware of those errors?
Probably not. Just like I wouldn’t have been aware of the mistakes in my novel had not an editor pointed them out.
The point is that this author just lost a reader because he/she didn’t invest in enough editing. I have to believe that my mom wasn’t the only reader turned off by what seems to be a lack of professionalism on behalf of the author.
Which is a shame, because there was nothing wrong with the story. My mom just didn’t enjoy reading the book because the errors kept pulling her out of the make-believe world.
If You’re Thinking of Cutting Back on Editing for Your Book, Don’t
What’s the best investment—by far—that you can make in your book?
You know the answer by now. It’s editing. Authors know this, yet they convince themselves that they don’t need it—or don’t need as much of it—for the following three reasons.
If you’re thinking of cutting back on editing to save money, I hope this post will change your mind.
It’s not worth it.
Three Bad Reasons to Skimp on Editing for Your Book
1. You don’t want to spend the money.
This is, by far, the most common reason writers skimp on editing when it comes to self-publishing.
I get it. It’s not easy to make money publishing books. It’s even harder if you invest in creating the best book you can before you release it on the market.
But think about it. Once you finish the book, it’s going to be out there for a long time. Possibly for the rest of your life.
Is it more important to make a few bucks—and lose some readers—or make sure that your reputation as a good writer stays intact from book to book so that you build a loyal readership?
2. You’re in a hurry.
Just like editing is the most expensive part of publishing, so too is it the most time-consuming
First, you have to find a good editor who is a good fit for your project. That can take weeks to months.
Then you have to fit your project in with that editor’s schedule, which might involve a waiting period.
Then you have to wait for the editor to edit the book. When you get it back, it takes time to go through all the edits and make any necessary changes.
And that’s just for one round. A well-edited book should go through:
- At least one developmental edit (often two or more)
- A copyedit (for grammar and flow issues)
- A proofread (to catch final types and other small errors)
This involves months if not over a year. Many authors want to get their books out there quickly. Get the book published and start earning money! This editing is holding me back!
But just like good wine, good books take time. You can still get your books out there regularly if you plan ahead. But trying to jump the gun by skimping on editing is always a bad idea.
3. You think you don’t need it.
Both new and experienced writers are guilty of this one.
But I think it may be even more common with experienced writers.
You’ve been writing and publishing for a while. You know what you’re doing. You’ve edited the book yourself several times. You’re good to go.
That author I told you about at the beginning of this story? Fell into this category. I’m sure he/she felt like they had “figured it out” and didn’t need to do all that editing.
Unfortunate.
We authors are blind to our own errors. It’s just the way it is. You owe it to yourself—and your book, and your readers—to bring in other professionals on the project.
It may take you a little time and money, but when your books are still going strong in 5, 10, 15 years or more, you’ll be glad you made that investment.
Do you invest in quality editing for your books?
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