I have completed one hard copy edit of my novel, including major revisions and a few cuts. I am now twenty pages shy of completing a second edit, which had proven to be much easier with less mistakes and more smooth sentences. Now, I am ready to progress to the next step, which could be any of the following:
- Send a query letter to agents or publishers that do not require an agent;
- Send a query letter with three sample chapters to an agent or publishers that do not require an agent;
- Run to the self publishing house to publish their work right away;
- Send it to a freelance editor who, for around $300, will critique the writer’s work;
- Edit, edit, and edit some more until the story has morphed into something else;
- Send it to beta readers;
- Stuff the story in a trunk and forget about it, because it will never be good enough anyway.
(Whenever a semi-colon is used, an angel loses its wings. Believe me, I feel very guilty right now).
I have thought long and hard about what my next move is. I do not care to self publish, and I am not interested in a freelance editor, because I believe money flows to the writer, not away. I have completely revised my story, as well as completed at least two rounds of editing, with the help of my critique group. I think it would be foolish to stuff my manuscript into a trunk and forget about it, because I truly believe it is a good story. Finally, I do not want to go straight to publishers, even if they do accept work without an agent.
Well, that leaves numbers one and six. My first order of business is to send my story to beta readers. Two of the people who have accepted to be readers are bookworms who read just about every genre out there. I want their opinions as readers. In other words, if they read the first few pages while in the bookstore, would they buy it? Once they stared reading, were they be inclined to read further?
While my manuscript is with readers, I will research agents in the thriller genre. I will also learn how to construct a proper query letter. I can’t wait to read Noah Lukeman’s EBook, How to Write a Great Query Letter. Finally, after my readers have given me their feedback, I will decide if anything needs to be revised.
That’s it for now. Happy writing!
