Launch Pad Publishing

Time-Distance-Rewrite

     After writing like crazy to get your book finished, you are ready to celebrate. You’re Done! But are you?

     You’re anxious and in a rush to go to print. But now is the time when you need to be most patient. Celebrate the completionof your first draft and set your manuscript aside for a week or two and focus on something else. If you’re burnt out on the project, wait longer, a month or two.

     Not enough people do that. 

     When you have taken the time to step away from your manuscript and then return to it, it's amazing the difference in how you see it. For some people, they think, "Wow! I wrote this? I'm really good!" Or, "Wow! This is awful! What was I thinking?" In either case, you have gained perspective on your writing and on your manuscript, and can proceed accordingly.

     At the very least, some editing will be in order on your part before it goes to your professional editor. It might be time for the almighty rewrite. If you decide you are not happy with your work, don’t toss it out. Fix it. If you don’t know what to do, get help. Have someone give you an honest opinion. If there’s no one objective on your list of friends and family, go to a professional editor and ask for a manuscript review.

     One of the most difficult types of books to write is the memoir/autobiography because it is so intensely personal. Manypeople write these books because they have been through so much in life andhave overcome it all to be a productive, even successful, individuals. They want to share that with others, hopefully to inspire them to overcome their own adversities.

     Getting your story out of your head is an intense experience, wrought with emotion and discomfort. You have to practically relive the ugly stuff as you write about it. (In some cases, I recommend having a strong support system or even counseling while you are writing because so much comes up.) But once you have it on paper, chances are you will need a couple of months reprieve before returning to it. Then you have to look at it with a fresh, objective eye.

     Remember who your audience is and what you want them to get from reading it. If your story is too depressing the way it’s written, no one will finish reading it. That’s not to say that you have to “PollyAnna”your story, but you have to tone it down. Find the humor, emphasize the positive and the growth each step of the way. Otherwise, you’re not offering your audience the uplift that you intend. Initially, if your book doesn’t comeout this way, don’t worry about that. These are the fixes you make after you have taken a break from your first draft.

If your story focuses on repeated, pathetic,self-flagellant behavior or abuse from others, your audience will get bored anddisgusted or be too horrified to continue reading. This is not meaning to belittle whatever hardship or horrors you have lived through in your life, but you can get your point across without having to tell every single thing that happened. If you want people to read your entire book, there is only so much emotion they can handle. They don’t want to live your life, just read about it and glean what they can. They want to know that you made it through and what skills you used to get to the other side.

     For others, the memoir/autobiography is about amazing travels or life adventures they want to share with readers. These tales are more exciting and uplifting, with some hardships and opportunities for growth along the way. They take the reader on a journey that they might have liked to be on themselves.

     In this type of book, you want to be sure that you are giving the reader the opportunity to engage in the life adventure with you. When you go back for your editing/rewrite, you might find that you need to add more specifics and detail.

     When it comes to non-fiction, business or personal development type books, your re-engagement with your manuscript needs to be one of making sure that your ideas are getting across to someone who has never interacted with your material prior to picking up your book.

     One of the big problems with the books in these genres is that the author is quite familiar with their topic. They talk about it, teach it, and live it every day. Yet, when it comes to writing about it, they leave things out. Their brain fills in the gaps, leaving readers lost and confused. As a result, readers never finish it.

     Recently, I heard someone say that if you’re a coach, trainer, or speaker, you need a book. And they shared all of the great reasons why. But then they shocked me by saying that it really didn’t have to be a good book or have much content and that the author probably didn’t even have to worry about editing because they know their material.

     Why was I shocked?

     First of all, if you are writing a book to enhance your credibility, garner higher speaking fees, get more people interested in you and your business, how can authoring a crappy book possibly help you do that? I mean REALLY!! What were they smoking?

     And the comment about not needing editing? Wow! That’s just crazy. No matter how good you are in front of a room, it sure doesn’t mean you are good at getting your material into a book format. In fact,the majority of people who are strong speakers are often very poor writers.It’s nothing to be ashamed of; it’s just the way it is. Everyone has different strengths. And EVERYONE needs a good editor, which you’ve heard me say a zillion times. There is not a professional writer in the world who would publish an unedited book. So, if the professionals do it, non-professional writers definitely need to have their book edited by a professional, substantive editor!

     Why waste your money on publishing a book that is less than your best? How is that going to help you?

     I understand that editing can be a big expense.Ok. So do what you need to do to get the money or don’t waste the money you have on publishing. You don’t need to embarrass yourself for a big price tag,you can do that for free!

     Launch Pad Publishing has a sponsorship program to help you find a sponsor for your book to cover expenses. We also have apre-sale program, which can also help cover some of the expenses. Yes, it takes a little longer and requires more footwork on your part, but we will coach you and help you with the materials you need to make it happen.

     As always, if I can be of any assistance, I’m here for you.

Happy Writing...

To Your Authorship Success!

Faye Levow

Your Book-Writing Coach & Publisher