Before I wrote my first novel, I spent years working in television as a script coordinator. Some of the duties of a script coordinator are similar to that of a line editor. The script coordinator is the one that proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes, formats, structures, edits for consistency and echoes, and catches widows. With all of this experience, I considered not hiring a line editor. But since this was my first book, I wanted to ensure it was as close to perfect as it could be. I wanted a different pair of eyes on the manuscript, so I did end up hiring a line editor.
When I started budgeting all of the costs for independent publishing, I set aside some money to hire a line editor. I didn’t know the first thing about hiring a line editor, but I got a recommendation and checked out Reedsy.
Reedsy makes it pretty easy to find a line editor. My editor, Taylor, had a lot of experience with Middle Grade fiction and was incredibly communicative. She also really seemed to enjoy the book. When I asked her if it would be okay to mention her on Facebook, she responded saying she was so proud to have worked on Naughty Week. She’s a Middle Grade author, so it means a lot coming from her.
Taylor caught a few things in the manuscript that I didn’t see. She also made some comments and suggestions to help clarify certain things. For my first time hiring a line editor, I was very satisfied and would gladly work with her again.
I have started to ask for reviews for my book. Anyone that has bought the book and has reached out, I am requesting a review. Someone from my past emailed me yesterday with a glowing note about the book. He said he finished it and loved it. I responded graciously and asked him to kindly write me a review on Amazon.
Mom is spreading the book around. She told me she gave one to the Bethany Beach public library. She said she gave one to my sister-in-law to give to Lord Baltimore public school. She said her book club is going to read the book next month, right before Thanksgiving.
I saw that I sold three copies of the paperback yesterday. Mom is my best marketer. My cousin got married on Saturday, and Mom told anyone that would listen about my book. That might have generated those three sales.
I finished The Old Man and the Sea. It took about two weeks. That’s probably too long for a book that size. Nonetheless, I’ll head to the library today and pick out a new book. I might get something in Middle Grade to see if that helps motivate me to write more.
I’ve released the pressure on myself to write. The book I am writing is not as hook-y as Naughty Week. In terms of independent publishing, it’s a harder sell. But I think it’s still worth writing. It might find an audience one day.
My plan for that book is to put it on Kindle Unlimited and experiment with that service. I don’t necessarily need to go wide with that one unless I start to see real success with IngramSpark with Naughty Week.
Yesterday got better as it ran on. I knew that would happen from experience. It occurred to me (again) that the best thing is to live in the present. The past no longer exists. Memories are a part of the imagination. As much as I yearn to be happy again, happy like I was, that doesn’t exist anymore. I can only be happy now, in the present. It’s basically a choice. So, I ask myself, what do I have happening right now to be happy about? I have a few things, at least.
