Chapter 6:
As I began writing I never thought I would become obsessed with perfecting my words. I wanted to make sure the reader understood every nuance, could visualize every scene, and imagine my world of Solasta coming alive. I decided once my first draft was complete, which was very rough, to invest in AutoCrit. It was another game changer for me. It helped me map out my plot. Review inconsistencies in my story and provide a beta-reader all in one place. I was able to do 4 complete self edits before I felt confident enough to actually hire a professional editor.
With my ongoing research, one of the main items I learned was the importance of having a professional editor to review your manuscript. The quickest way to kill your novel is not investing in this one portion of your writing. Without a proper edit you may self-publish a novel that readers will review with the kiss of death phrase "Needs an Editor." These three simple little words can be the difference in having amazing sales to none.
I decided I would treat my hobby as a profession and invest in my work. Using a few named resources from "Published" and "Cover to Cover," I was able to find the perfect Editor for me. The safest route for me was using Editor World. There is a treasure trove of freelance editors with reviews you can select from.
I found my perfect match. I was ready for the "red pen of death" to destroy my manuscript and have to complete an entire rewrite. How pleasantly surprised when I received my first round of edits with marginal corrections. They are phenomenal! She was able to polish my words, create succinct sentences, and provide great feedback. Now I await her responses to my corrections and hope for a ready to be read novel. Fingers crossed we are in the final stages of my first book being published.
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