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You Can Submit A Better Manuscript
Writers Write is a writing resource. In this post, our guest blogger writes about how you can submit a better manuscript.
Becoming a best-selling author is the driving force behind every aspiring writer. Only the most determined make it.
You Can Submit A Better Manuscript
Writers Write offers an advisory service to help bring your manuscript to the required standard for submission to a literary agent or publisher. Once you have completed your book, Writers Write advises you follow these steps.
Step 1: Manuscript Appraisals
The first step is getting advice. Many writers feel feedback from family and friends is enough. It isn’t. Neither is the opinion of another published author. Writers should engage the services of a writing professional who is experienced in appraisals. A comprehensive 9 to 15 page report highlights the best parts of your manuscript. It draws attention to weaknesses. The appraiser assesses quality. This saves you time and money. All writers benefit from a critical reading of their work.
Step 2: Editing
Editing is about looking at the bigger picture. It is about reviewing your manuscript as a whole. There are two levels of editing: The first level will focus merely on the content, structure, language and style of the manuscript. The next level of editing is more complicated and requires skill and diplomacy. The editor advises on storyline and character development and makes recommendations. Often these recommendations include deleting characters, part of a story or even changing the story. The insecure writer may not understand the recommendations and see this as a sign of weakness. You reserve the right to listen to these recommendations.
Step 3: Proofreading
The proof-reader scans and highlights spelling, sentence structure and grammar. The proof-reader looks at the correctness of the text with a magnifying glass. I prefer to proof read a text once editing, formatting and manuscript layout is complete. Typos and misplaced punctuation creep into manuscripts. Submitting a polished, error-free manuscript puts you one-step ahead of the pack. It shows publishers you respect them. It also shows you are serious about becoming a writer.
Writers Write appraisers teach authors how to write. More than 130 Writers Write graduates are published. The appraisers are also experienced book reviewers and avid readers. And our appraisers are published authors.
by Ulrike Hill
Ulrike is a Business & Creative Writing Facilitator for Writers Write.
If you enjoyed this post, read:
- 6 Things To Do When You Finish Writing Your Book
- What Literary Agents Want From Authors Of Non-Fiction
- What Literary Agents Want From Authors Of Fiction
- 5 Questions On Self-Publishing Answered
- 15 (or so) Fabulous Publishers For Debut Authors
Top Tip: If you want to learn how to write a book, sign up for our online course.
Posted on: 9th July 2012
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0 thoughts on “You Can Submit A Better Manuscript”
Dear Ulrike,
I wrote a narrative about me, my mother and Alzheimers disease. My problem is the facts are all there, but struggle to put it into a flowing story. The publishing company advises me to get a ghost writer to assist me in the endeavor. f you are interested, please email me back.
Regards,
Evalina van Wijk