Whether you are writing a fiction or non-fiction book, if you want to publish a book that meets the industry standard, you need to follow the right process.
Most writers are always in a haste to write a book and get it published. Slow down, it is not a race. Taking shortcuts without following due process is a recipe for disaster.
Editors and publishers are important in ensuring the success of a book, no doubt. We also know that readers are an important part of the equation. They are the ones who would buy and read your book. If readers do not buy a published book, the author will not make sales.
However, there is a group of ‘expert readers’ who play an important role during a book’s pre-publication and post-publication stage. These professional readers help the author to ‘give birth’ to a book that will live to its full potential. While writing to publish, don’t skip this process. Make use of them if you are writing for the International audience.
There are four types of expert readers that will help you achieve massive success during your book writing project. They include:
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
After working on your first draft and revising it until you believe you are ready for another human eye to look at it and tell you what works and what doesn’t, the first person you let read your manuscript is your alpha reader. Your alpha reader is someone you trust, someone close to you, who won’t mind reading your not-so-polished manuscript and give you detailed feedback.
They will tell you where you need to improve the story/content. They will tell you the places/sections they feel are underdeveloped. Your alpha reader can even read your work as you write them if you permit them.
The feedback from the alpha reader will help you make your first big revision, do a spell check, reread for proper grammar and punctuation, check for continuity and make sure that your book is structured in the right way.
𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
Beta reading is an English term originally borrowed from the Information Technology Industry where beta testers try to identify problems in a piece of computer software before its official release.
When you’ve done several rewrites and polished every part of your manuscript, and you think the manuscript is in great shape, then it’s time for a beta reader to read your work. A beta reader could be your writer friend or a member of a writing group you belong to. They will read your manuscript and tell you what works and what doesn’t.
They will point out errors and inconsistencies and parts that they found to be weak. They will point out the issues that have become invisible to you during your several rounds of self-edits and revisions. Beta readers are kind souls who read manuscripts before they’re published. Their feedback will help you put the manuscript in the best shape possible.
𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
Proofreading is the last stage in the editing process. A Proofreader makes sure your book is as error-free as possible. They are the eagle-eyed inspectors who make sure that no spelling or grammar errors make it to the final version of your work. They check ‘the proof copy’ for typographical errors as well as look for layout and page number problems.
You need them when other types of editors have worked on your manuscript. They are the last set of editors to work on your manuscript before it gets published. They make sure your manuscript is 100 percent polished before getting published.
𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
An ARC (Advanced Review Copy) reader is a person who receives a pre-published copy of your book (usually after final editing, sometimes before proofreading). They are also referred to as ‘early reviewers’.
You can give ARC readers a free copy of your book in exchange for leaving an honest book review on popular online bookstores (typically Amazon and/Goodreads), magazines, newspapers, online blogs, or websites, before the book is printed for mass distribution.
These advanced copies allow them to read the book before its publication so that reviews can coincide with the book’s debut. These early reviews help to push up the sale of a book. An ARC reader may be an author, bookseller, librarian, book blogger, journalist, a social media influencer, a celebrity or a public figure.
When writing to publish, it is important to follow the process and do it right.
To your success,
Ifeadigo.
