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Is Your Manuscript Suitable for Printing?

When should you release your work to the public? This article offers questions to help you determine the readiness of your current project.

,   and  ASMedia
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When should you release your composition into public domain? This discourse provides some inquiries...
When should you release your composition into public domain? This discourse provides some inquiries to contemplate regarding your ongoing piece.

Is Your Manuscript Suitable for Printing?

Determining the Right Time to Publish a Novel: Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear

Many writers strive to produce the finest novel possible before submission, but this quest for perfection can transform into an obstacle, delaying publication and potentially hindering growth. To assess if one's perfectionism has evolved into undue fear, consider these behavioral and emotional patterns:

  • Endless revisions
  • Aversion to submitting work for publication
  • Procrastination and creative paralysis
  • Heightened self-criticism
  • Imposter syndrome
  • Fear of negative outcomes

Recognizing these indicators will help you identify when your pursuit of perfection is thwarting your objectives, enabling you to seek strategies to conquer these anxieties and progress towards publication.

To determine if your novel is ready to publish, consider the following questions:

  1. Have I thoroughly revised the novel on my own?No initial draft can be publication-ready. Set the manuscript aside, and after re-reading it, identify what requires adjustments. Clarify your characters' motivations, ensure proper story structure, check the inclusion of essential turning points, and meet genre expectations. Revise to the best of your ability.
  2. Have I obtained outside feedback?Seek perspectives beyond your own, whether from friends, beta readers, or a writer’s group. Three to four people should examine the completed manuscript for constructive criticism. Choose trusted individuals preferably well-read, as they may recognize issues like a boring middle or unfulfilling climax.
  3. Have I enlisted professional editing?If querying agents, editing may be optional but strongly recommended. For self-publishing, working with an editor is crucial as poor quality may hamper sales, garner negative reviews, or turn off potential readers. While not replacements for an editor, editing software like Grammarly, Fictionary, ProWritingAid, or AutoCrit can help identify and correct issues.

Consider the following factors:

  • Can you pitch the story in one or two sentences?Clear, concise pitching may indicate a focused, ready-to-publish novel. If crafting a pitch remains challenging, re-examine your manuscript for potential revisions.
  • Does it feel like the right time?Trust your intuition after clarifying your mind. If your novel satisfies your revised standards, consider it ready for publication. Embrace the fear that arises, and remember the satisfaction of sharing your work with the world.
  1. The process of self-publishing books often requires editing, which can help improve the quality of the first draft and make it more appealing to potential readers, thereby increasing sales and positively impacting the success of the book.
  2. Recognizing that endless revisions might be a sign of self-imposed fear and procrastination can help authors transition from the initial draft towards the publication stage by seeking outside feedback and professional editing services.
  3. In the world of entertainment, books that are well-structured, engaging, and edited to a high standard stand a better chance of reaching a wider audience, ensuring that the author's creative work is not hindered by fear or perfectionism but instead shared with the world.

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