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Here are some easy tips for writing a book that you may not have heard before.
1. Set Goals and Deadlines
Goals and deadlines are important, especially if you are a self-published author. Be sure your goals are reachable and specific.
2. Know Your Characters
You should know more information about your characters than you actually write into your book. This character questionnaire can get you started.
3. Save Copies
Save copies of drafts while writing. It’s good to have a backup in case the file is accidentally deleted or is corrupted. It’s also useful to save text you remove that you may decide to put back in later. At least one copy should be on a network, online, or external drive in case you have a hard drive failure, an accident happens to your laptop, or your laptop is stolen. Label your draft by date or at least add “current” to your current copy so you know what version you’re working on and don’t waste time working on older files.
4. Address Global Issues First
When self-editing your novel, look at global issues (organization, plot, chapter length, and so on) before detail issues (punctuation, grammar).
5. Read Your Book Again and Again
Be sure to read your book multiple times before sending it to beta readers or editors.
6. Use the Read-Aloud Feature in Word
With the read-aloud feature, you can listen to your book and catch typos you’ve missed. This is a great way to fine tune your writing. The cleaner your book is before you send out to editors, the cleaner the final product will be.
7. Hire an Editor and Proofreader
Be sure to hire someone who is a professional editor and a professional proofreader, not just a friend who likes to read.
8. Carefully Choose a Title for Your Book
Don’t settle on the first title for your book—think of several and ask for feedback from friends, family, and readers.
9. Send out Review Copies
Reviews affect the sales of your book. If you send out review copies before publishing, you can have reviews posted on release day, which will boost your sales.
10. Keep writing!
After publishing, don’t sit back and wait for sales. Get working on that next book. The more books you have, the more exposure your work will get and the more you’ll grow your following.
What tips do you have for writing a book? Let us know in the comments below!
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