It’s well past time to address this topic…after all, we put the graphic below on our Home page, hinting at the process, so we really should explain how it all works. It starts off with an idea—someone somewhere has to have an idea…not even a fully formed idea yet…just a glimmer, but that’s enough to get started. Thinking about the idea is good, but trying to tell the story to someone else is better (writing it down will come later). You don’t even have to tell it to anyone in particular…some of my earliest stories were told at bedtime…to children. We can’t edit a blank page, so having an idea is just the start.
Tell It, then Write It
For non-fiction, this is when you’d hire a Developmental Editor, but for fiction, hold off on that for now. Just work on getting the basic details refined. This is the step where you are allowed to paint yourself into a corner, in fact, encouraged to do so…then, in a panic, retreat and rewrite (or retell) that section to fix it.
Once you have the basic story in mind, it’s time to commit it to paper. If you can find a group of fellow writers, they can help identify some of the less obvious problems you might encounter, and if you’re lucky enough to join a Critique Group, as they read your story—chapter by chapter—you’ll be reading theirs, learning by finding problems in their stories (which you can then avoid!).
Ready for Edit
After a few back and forths (sometimes quite a few) with your mini-audience, you should now have a complete story…on paper—that’s your manuscript. You are now ready for your first edit: the Line Edit. The story is done, but it needs a bit of polishing. At this point the written and spoken versions should be identical…you are just getting the flow smoothed out. Then it’s back to the author to do final clean up, and it’s ready for the second level edit: Copy Edit. This is a more in-depth look at the mechanics, the grammar, the usage…if you have a particular style, here is where it will become obvious.
The author doesn’t sit back and wait whilst the ms is being edited either…now is when the Front and Back Matter should be created—all the stuff that isn’t the story. Finding a good cover artist is important, too. (We can recommend a few…ask us.)
Put it together
After the Copy Edit is done, the formatting and layout steps are done and a temporary cover is slapped on, so Advance Reader Copies can be printed. Marketing should have started already, but now you have something physical to hand out to reviewers. The final edit step is now upon us: Proofreading—actually reading the proof copy of the book. Involving yet another set of editing standards, we are now building an experience for the reader to enjoy.
The last step is to add the final cover and have a release party. Be certain to invite us! We love a good release party.