This is Part 3 of the “Indie Publishing Expectations vs. Reality” series. Be sure to check out Part 1: Book Covers and Part 2: Knowing the Difference Between Writing Alone and Going It Alone of the series.
I continue with this series on indie publishing, and tackle what I would consider one of the harder if not hardest aspects of writing—one that we’ve all either 1) struggled with, 2) thoroughly enjoyed, 3) hired someone else to tackle that messy piece, or 4) pointed two fingers (I think you know which ones) at the editing process and hit the publish button.
However you handle the arduous process of editing, I would highly encourage you to avoid number four at all costs. Even if you’re averse to the editing process or just anxious to get something published, I would advise—and beg—please give it at the bare minimum a once-over.
I cannot tell you have many fan fiction pieces and even some books that I’ve read where it was evident no one edited a darn thing.
I digress.
I remember the moment I typed “THE END” on the first manuscript I ever completed. The euphoria was intoxicating. I’d done it—I’d written a book! Finally. That one word summed up the initial four years of my path to publication.
In my mind, the hardest part was over, and in about one week (gross underestimation by the way) I would have it published. Only thing left to do was get a banging cover a quick pass through and BAM! I’d be holding my first book.
Now, I’ll jump into my battle with editing.
The Rush to Publish
The book was written and I was anxious to get it out and have copies ready for the 2024 Birmingham Noir at the Bar. All of the other authors had a book either out or coming out, and I needed one out too. (I will interject here, it is a bad, horrible idea to compare yourself to other authors-period! That is the quickest way to end up at depression’d door. Just trust me on this one).
That was over a year ago, and I have learned a tremendous amount since then. I will admit that with my first novel (Taming Armand Book 1 of the Coven Origins Series), it only went through one—yes, I will repeat that—one round of major edits, and those were done by… me.
Yep. If you’re a writer, teacher, blogger, etc., then I’m sure you chuckled and probably had to do a quick re-read. But no, your eyes are not deceiving you. I didn’t realize how much of a horror that book was until it was published.
If you’re new to indie publishing, let me save you some heartache: your first draft isn’t your book. Not even close. It’s the raw material your book will eventually be carved from. Understanding this distinction—and the editing gauntlet that transforms one into the other—might be the most important reality check you’ll face as an indie author. That was the case for me.
With Taming Armand, it was and still is my baby. It was the first testament that I could do it—that I had started carving away at my dream of becoming a bestselling author. It wasn’t until Taming Armand had been on the market and I had that first copy in my hands and started to read it that I began to understand where I went wrong—and I had gone wrong way before I even completed the manuscript.
I Was a Victim of the First Draft Fantasy
Even before I began to take my writing seriously, I had a romanticized view of the writing process with little to no thought given to the editing process. But what little thought I did give to editing was something like this:
- Start the book, finish the book. Celebrate.
- Take a brief breather. Read through what you have written. Fix the obvious typos and sentence structure.
- Adjust a few sentences for flow. Maybe even add a few here and there to spice things up a bit.
- Take another breather. Proofread it yourself. Send to a proofreader for final polish (ended up not doing this because I was in a rush to GET IT OUT!).
- Add the finishing touches and voilà! Sit back and watch the five-star reviews (and the royalties) roll in!
I thought editing was like washing a car—a quick rinse to make something good look shiny and new. I had no idea with Bloody Endings: Book 2 of the Coven Origins Series that I was about to enter what I would call “the editing gauntlet”—a grueling but essential process that would completely transform my work into a final form that I was very proud of.
Learning from Mistakes
Several months after Taming Armand was on the market, it had to undergo some serious rework. The first release was what it looks like when you rush to publish—when you release your baby into the world before she or he is ready. I was sure not to repeat that with the second one.
Going into manuscript two, the first draft fantasy was over and I went in knowing there was some seriousness that needed to be taken with not just the writing but the editing portion as well.
Book two underwent multiple rounds of edits but I still felt like more could have been done and at some point I had to call it or else the plot would have been lost.
Another difference between book one and book two was I actually took joy in the entire process. I was able to give the attention to book 2 that frankly I should have given to book one. I outsourced what I didn’t know how to do. I hired someone for the cover. I hired an editor and a beta reader.
What I will say in a nutshell about the editing process is that it’s tough. It’s necessary, and it is one process that no writer should go through alone. After the first pass-through by you, get someone else (I would recommend a professional—yes, indie publishing can be a bit pricey, but I learned to cut corners where possible and budget accordingly).
Your Turn
What are some mistakes you have made during the editing portion of your manuscript? Did you rush it? Put both middle fingers up to the process altogether? Or were you blessed to have a team to help guide you through the editing trenches?
Sound off in the comments—the Weirdo wants to know.
Until next time!
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