So, You Wrote a Manuscript; Now What?

You’ve worked long and hard to complete your manuscript and now you’re
ready to publish. What should you do next?

First, consider your goals and target audience.

Did you take on the project:

because of a burning need to get your story written down primarily for family and friends so it won’t be forgotten over time?

to record stories that you made up for children and/or grandchildren—stories that will have sentimental meaning and rekindle happy memories for those who are close to you—something to leave as a remembrance of you long after you are gone?

because you had a compelling story that spilled out and you had no choice but to write it down, thinking that others may find it compelling also?

to share information or a story that will have special meaning and be appreciated by a niched audience or a narrow segment of the population?

to document research and/or explain concepts and theories to promote action or influence a change in perspective among as many readers as possible?

to entertain or capture the attention of a broad audience?

as an educational tool to help increase revenues in your business?

These are just some examples of goals authors may have. Your goals may be different. The important thing is to clearly identify your goals and your target audience, and then to personally take ownership for them because they drive your motivations that keep you moving your project forward. Remind yourself of your ultimate objectives daily. Tell your friends and family about your goals for your project. Stating your goals out loud and sharing them with those who care about you will make you more likely to succeed in meeting those goals. Others will ask you about your progress, and encourage you to stick with it.

Keep your goals and target audience at the forefront of your mind, as they will factor heavily into decisions you make about how to proceed with your project.

Next, answer some other fundamental questions for yourself.

Here are some other important considerations:

Are you sure the current version of your manuscript is really prepared exactly as you wish to publish it?

Will it bother you if others point out errors to you after it is in print and available to the public, or will you be okay with that?

How forgiving will your target audience be regarding errors in grammar, spelling, style, punctuation, content, citing references, and such?

Is it important that your finished product represent you well as a professional or be consistent with the particular image you wish to convey to others?

Are you open to receiving professional feedback from an experienced book editor as an assessment of the extent to which the current version of your manuscript is likely to achieve the goals you set for it?

Would you appreciate suggestions about ways to improve your manuscript further so it will better meet your goals for it and engage the target audience?

Are you willing and able to implement some suggested revisions that an editor may offer, even if it will take some additional work on your part to go through the process to produce a better book? Or, are you just ready to be done with this manuscript and not spend any more time on it?

Sometimes authors have already mentally and emotionally moved on from the project and just want to get the current manuscript published. Sometimes authors have health issues that make it hard for them to commit to dealing with editorial input that would lead to an improved manuscript. Sometimes authors don’t believe they have the time or money to invest in improving their manuscripts for publication.

Ultimately, these are all factors that can and should influence decisions about what steps to take next with your manuscript.

Having worked with many authors, I believe they all have at least one thing in common. Authors want a satisfying outcome in which they can take pride. They want to know that the investment of time, energy, and money has been worth it; the book is well prepared to engage the target audience and achieve the objectives set for the project.

Knowing what it will take to achieve that desirable level of publishing utopia is something each writer must determine for himself depending on his goals for the writing project and other relevant factors as discussed here.

So, with your manuscript in hand, as you contemplate your next move, I urge you to seek help in finding your best route toward publishing. But do so with your goals and target audience clearly in mind. Know your answers to the other fundamental considerations discussed above. Then, seek counsel from someone who wants to understand your goals and target audience—someone who asks you other basic questions that should factor into determining your next step. Many authors find an initial Editorial Analysis  to be a practical and cost effective way to obtain a professional book editor’s experienced and objective assessment and get valuable advice based on goals and target audiences.

If you are pondering your next move with your manuscript, I would be happy to consult with you and help you determine the right path toward publishing your book. Would an Editorial Analysis be helpful to you? Maybe. Let’s find out. You can reach me at cmadison@rjcom.com. Oh, and be prepared to answer some questions.

Last 5 posts by Carolyn Madison

• Did Your Editor Really Say That? - July 20th, 2010
• Is It Possible to Over Edit? - June 30th, 2010
• Don’t Be Too Easily Impressed with Your “Editor” - March 19th, 2010
• Is Your Manuscript Fit for Publishing? - January 14th, 2010
• Do You Need Plan B for Your Revision Process - September 20th, 2009