If you're reading this then congratulations, you've finally finished your manuscript! However, now is when the really hard part comes in - going over and making it perfect! But this is also the process that will payoff the most.
That being said, here are:
That being said, here are:
1. Take It Slow
As soon as you're done, you're going to be so tired of reading the same thing over and over again that you'll be tempted to just buzz through your work. Well don't!
If you need to, take a few days break from looking at your finished manuscript, this way you can look at it with fresh eyes and a less cluttered mind.
Once you've done this, read through your manuscript slowly, even read it out loud if necessary, as it will not only force you to avoid "skimming" but let you actually hear your words. Read everything line by line and sound it out - that's usually the best way to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
If you need to, take a few days break from looking at your finished manuscript, this way you can look at it with fresh eyes and a less cluttered mind.
Once you've done this, read through your manuscript slowly, even read it out loud if necessary, as it will not only force you to avoid "skimming" but let you actually hear your words. Read everything line by line and sound it out - that's usually the best way to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
2. Trim The Fat
Every publishing company has their own standards for manuscript length, and it also can vary from genre to genre. To be safe, especially for a new authors, your novel should be no longer than 80,000 to 100,000 words. This is mostly because reader's don't know who you are yet, and are less likely to take a chance on a giant tome of a book, rather than a slimmer, more friendlier looking novel.
So yes, use this opportunity to embellish on all the details you researched, but try your hardest to trim the fat wherever possible. This doesn't mean taking scenes out (unless you find them utterly useless) but find paragraphs or even sentences that don't do much to MOVE the story forward.
Before you know it, all of this trimming will add up and not only bring your book down to the proper word count, but transform it into a leaner more efficient story.
So yes, use this opportunity to embellish on all the details you researched, but try your hardest to trim the fat wherever possible. This doesn't mean taking scenes out (unless you find them utterly useless) but find paragraphs or even sentences that don't do much to MOVE the story forward.
Before you know it, all of this trimming will add up and not only bring your book down to the proper word count, but transform it into a leaner more efficient story.
3. Let A Friend Read It
One good way to get honest opinions about your work is see if a friend will read it. Even if they don't know much about writing, a good friend can be honest about whether the story moved them or not, or dragged too long in some areas.
Plus, they can be more objective than you can as they have less stake in the story. So use this to your advantage!
Plus, they can be more objective than you can as they have less stake in the story. So use this to your advantage!
4. Hire An Editor
I personally think this is a must as you absolutely can't catch every single error.
Yes, it costs money and yes, it means someone going through and possibly changing parts of your beloved book, but guess what. Just like every business, you NEED to make investments. And hiring a qualified editor is a huge investment.
This goes the same for whether you are self publishing or trying to find an agent. Because either way, your work needs to be polished before any customer buys, or any agent considers to represent you. Your book is a direct representation of YOU!
And not only will an editor help you with grammar, continuity and story pacing, but they will help be objective as well and guide you as to what area's need to be trimmed and slimmed down.
Yes, it costs money and yes, it means someone going through and possibly changing parts of your beloved book, but guess what. Just like every business, you NEED to make investments. And hiring a qualified editor is a huge investment.
This goes the same for whether you are self publishing or trying to find an agent. Because either way, your work needs to be polished before any customer buys, or any agent considers to represent you. Your book is a direct representation of YOU!
And not only will an editor help you with grammar, continuity and story pacing, but they will help be objective as well and guide you as to what area's need to be trimmed and slimmed down.
5. Make Sure YOU Are Happy
As I said, your book is a direct representation of you as an author, therefore you need to make absolutely sure its up to YOUR standards.
Did you write the story YOU wanted to write. Also, the story you wrote should be 100 percent the story you want to READ. Is this the case?
Does your story excite you? Does your story keep you in anticipation or continue to thrill and amuse you? Also, while you're checking these things off, did your characters make the transitions you wanted them to make? Are they characters you would look up to, admire, or even just get enjoyment from reading about?
So aside from grammatical and structural things, you need to make sure you not only did the best job you could, but are confident that YOU would buy your OWN work. Because only once you are satisfied and feeling 100 percent accomplished with your work, will you have the perfect manuscript.
Did you write the story YOU wanted to write. Also, the story you wrote should be 100 percent the story you want to READ. Is this the case?
Does your story excite you? Does your story keep you in anticipation or continue to thrill and amuse you? Also, while you're checking these things off, did your characters make the transitions you wanted them to make? Are they characters you would look up to, admire, or even just get enjoyment from reading about?
So aside from grammatical and structural things, you need to make sure you not only did the best job you could, but are confident that YOU would buy your OWN work. Because only once you are satisfied and feeling 100 percent accomplished with your work, will you have the perfect manuscript.