Make sure your story is interesting to read and grabs the reader’s attention. The subject must captivate from the few first lines; if not, who would want to continue? Invest in your style, be sincere, indulge yourself, make us dream and bring us into your world.
Beta reading is a must! Submitting your story to loved ones, often complacent, is not the best way to get objective feedback. If you have the chance, share it with people outside your network who are avid readers. They will be delighted to discover a new author and give their opinion. This approach is certainly generous, daring and risky but offers the advantage of putting you in direct contact with real readers.
Want to dispel all your doubts before embarking on the publishing process? There’s nothing like a professional opinion and appraisal of your manuscript to get you started off right. By entrusting a professional with your manuscript, you will receive clear feedback on both the content and the form. These helpful, constructive suggestions will always be politely provided and will allow you to optimise your manuscript.
Two proof-readings: the other mandatory step in gaining the respect of your readers!
Revisions must be carried out by a professional copy editor, someone whose qualities include having knowledge of, and a true passion for words, who will put in the time required, no matter what it takes, and be sensitive to your voice as author. Automatic-correction software will certainly be able to get rid of egregious mistakes but will not accomplish as much as a professional editor. And because we believe that two corrections are better than one, your manuscript should also pass before a second pair of eyes – those of the proofreader.
- The copy editor works on the content, form, syntax, layout, checks for anachronisms and omissions, alerts you to the over complexity of certain passages, suggests options for partial rewriting.
- Last but not least, the proofreader is responsible for tracking down any lingering mistakes and checking for overall consistency. It is a real team effort with only one goal – to enhance the value of your manuscript.
We would be happy to put you in touch with one of our trusted proof-readers at no extra cost.
Another important step is to create a professional-looking layout and cover design, whether you choose to do it yourself or leave it to an expert. Of course, amateur DIY will allow you to save money, but do not be surprised if readers leave comments on the Internet; the networks are vicious on this point!
The cover photo or the illustration. You only have seconds to grab a reader’s attention, so aim straight.
The cover should represent a mood and appeal to the reader’s imagination. Each literary genre has its own style, hence a wide range of choices. We advise you to go for simplicity – too much detail on a cover or complex imagery and text never lead to a successful result.
If your goal is to generate sales, test your cover design first with your friends and network. Their feedback will be very useful to you.
On the other hand, if you plan to publish only a few copies, then that’s a different story. But remember, a great cover will always make a good impression and make you want to discover what is behind it!
The title of your book. Again, keep it simple and do not use run of the mill, double meaning or cliché titles. A good title can make all the difference. A bad title can kill your book even before it has been read.
The elevator pitch. “Tell me about your story, you have two minutes to convince me!”
Will you need more than luck for this perilous journey? Professional editors and proofreaders can help you refine your synopsis and make it attractive without spoiling the ending.
Author headshots on the back cover are “old hat”!
Be daring and take a different route – place it inside, after the epilogue or as an inset on the back cover. The photo of an author in the book, or on the cover, is not a must, however. In fact, the tendency would be to do without one, especially if you have a website.
Marketing, Promotion and Networking. Use the great toolkit offered by the Internet and BOOK iVOICE. https://www.bookivoice.com/en/our-services/
Content writing, bookmarks, posters, paper extracts, book trailers, digital media, the choice is yours! Be active on social networks (not too much, however – there is a risk of it being annoying), create a blog, a Facebook author’s page, an Instagram account. Join various groups based on your interests, send press releases to influencers, create Facebook campaigns https://www.facebook.com/business, interact, engage with people, offer your advice in your field of expertise or one of your passions, create a buzz.
Connect with people, introduce yourself to booksellers in your neighbourhood, organize book signings, locate literary cafes, trade fairs, book fairs, real or virtual national, international cultural events. Your local town hall and its many associations are also good intermediaries to help you get recognized.
Use word of mouth.