Tag: book

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Book Editor

 

If you are wondering about hiring a book editor, you must be a passionate author looking to make a name for yourself. You might be working on a fiction novel, or maybe you are working on your memoir. Whatever the case, book editing is a crucial next step for every author. Even if you have completed your manuscript, you need editing to polish it furthermore.

Now, when it comes to book editing, there are two options. First, you can do it yourself, or second, you can opt for book editing services. Now, it is totally up to you whether you want to edit your manuscript for yourself or you want to hire third-party assistance to get it done. We suggest the latter, and allow us to make a case for it.

Why You Need A Professional Book Editor For Your Book’s Editing

It is better to get a professional editor to sift through your manuscript than do it yourself when it comes to manuscript editing. The reason is simple. When you produce a piece of literature, whatever the genre or nature of it may be, it’s hard to find flaws in it.

This is where a professional, third eye comes to play. A professional editor with credible experience will have a neutral outtake on your manuscript and be able to suggest or edit out flutter your eye may miss due to writing bias. As an author, you want your book/manuscript to be perfect, not just in grammar but in diction and flow as well.

Now, you need to be careful when hiring a professional editor. If you are reading this article, you know the title. We are going to be discussing seven mistakes you need to avoid as an author when hiring a book editor for your book. Let’s begin with the first one.

1 Make Sure He Is A Professional

The first order of business is to check whether the editor you are hiring is a professional or an amateur. Given that it’s your book that you have worked hard on, you would want safe hands to handle the editing. Now, there are two ways you can go about hiring safe, professional editors online. You can either go through the route of freelancers, or you can opt for a professional ghostwriting company.

When selecting someone to edit your manuscript, opting for a professional ghostwriting company is the best and safest option. Freelancers can be risky, and you don’t want to risk it when it comes to your hard work. Browse online and search for an online professional ghostwriting company and contact them. Discuss your needs, and get practical solutions. They are equipped to help authors with editing, writing, publishing, and marketing concerns.

2 Check What Type of Editing He Is Providing

When it comes to editing, there are a few types that you might be aware of. As an author, it is up to you to decide which type of editing you need for your book. The popular types of editing are line editing and developmental editing. Line editing refers to the type of editing that focuses on grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Developmental editing, on the other hand, refers to the in-depth editing of a manuscript that may change even the plot of your manuscript.

Now, it depends on you as an author to choose which type of editing you want for your book. Avoid opting for developmental editing if you don’t want your writer to alter your book’s story or plot. If you are just looking for polishing, a simple line editing will suffice for your manuscript.

3 Get Samples

Never hire someone before checking out their work. Whether you are hiring a professional editor or opting for book writing services, checking samples will allow you to judge their work, making it easier for you to select them. Since your manuscript will carry your name on it, you must not risk the quality of the work.

A professional editor or company, for that matter, will have a solid portfolio to show. Since you are going to be paying the bucks, it is important to be critical. Sift through different companies or professional editors’ portfolios and decide which one suits your needs best. When you are sure of the work, only then proceed to discuss your needs with them.

4 Check for Reviews

Another thing most authors forego is checking for reviews. This is the utmost important tip for all authors out there looking for editing services for their manuscripts. As an author, you have to understand that you are getting editing services online. It is easy to scam someone online, so the blame and risk lie on the buyers themselves.

Suppose you have selected a particular ghostwriting company; it is important to search online and find reviews and testimonies of others who have used services from the ghostwriting company. If there is no online presence of them apart from their website, move forward at your discretion. However, we suggest you opt for those services with positive reviews.

5 Make Sure You Sign a Contract

A good company will always make you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). NDA protects your right as an author by safeguarding your private information. Always make sure to sign an NDA before proceeding with the payment. Moreover, read the complete document carefully before signing.

6 Don’t Forego Your Copyright

Talking about NDA, another thing that is important for you is your copyright. As an author, having sole ownership is your right. Since you are the only one who has worked on the story, you don’t want to give away your copyright. Read any and every document before signing, and make sure you discuss that you will retain the 100% copyrights of your book.

7 Pay In Installments

Lastly, avoid making full payments. Most of the time, scammers take your money and run. To ensure there is trust involve, discuss the installment method with the company you are getting the services from. Pay in installments and only release the final payment when you are 100% satisfied with the work on your manuscript.

 

How much time does it take to write a children’s book?

What kind of resources do you need? How do you get started?

When writing a children’s story, it’s important to consider the age group you want to reach. The younger the audience, the simpler the language should be. On the other hand, older kids may require more complex vocabulary.

How to write a children’s book :

Children’s books are often written by professional writers who have experience in the field. They also tend to be longer than other types of stories. If you decide to write a children’s book, you’ll need to start with a good idea, then create a draft before submitting it to publishers or agents.

They come in various forms, such as picture books, chapter books, and nonfiction books. They also vary in terms of their genre. Some are aimed at young readers, while others are written for adults.

It is a type of literature designed to entertain and educate children. The main goal is to provide children with the knowledge and skills they need to become independent thinkers.

Let’s dig a little deeper :

1- Understand the Children’s, Book Market

Books for smaller children are, as you can see, significantly shorter. You don’t need to rhyme or even know an illustrator to write picture books (in fact, some agents prefer audiobook services writers to submit text minus any artwork, as they find it easier to match these with their illustrators later).

However, you must be able to create a story that will make adults and newborns experience all the feelings in a short amount of time. Writing picture books, in my opinion, is the most difficult of all of these to master – and also one of the most competitive.

Middle-grade books are popular now, and adults enjoy reading them (myself included). They can be darker, and the word count can be increased. You might be able to take a few more risks if the book’s heart is with the characters (more on that later).

2- Identity Your Best Idea :

Checking what’s already out there before investing all your time and energy into a book may seem obvious, but many authors fail to do so! This basic research will give you an idea of competing novels in under two minutes.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Type “children’s book” and a term that describes your novel on Google.
  • Look at the comparable book summary once you’ve located them.

Perhaps your narrative is unique because it includes a twist at the conclusion, written for a specific age group, or because your protagonist is accompanied by a supernatural guide such as a fairy or elf. Add one unique twist to set it apart from other books.

3- Invest Time In Reading :

Reading Contemporary children’s books is a great way to spend time with your kids. Reading everything that fits into your market is the greatest approach to getting to know it. Adults, too, can enjoy reading children’s novels. Children’s books have been some of the most delectable and amazing books I’ve ever read.

Don’t fall into the trap of rereading novels you liked as a kid. The market is always changing, and what was publishable a few years ago may no longer be marketable today. Keep a watch out for books this year, especially debuts (because you’ll hopefully be one of them soon!)

4- Get The Story Opens As Soon As Possible :

An unpublished children’s book fails to capture the attention of youngsters (and parents!) because they begin too slowly. If you’re writing a story about a child who joins the circus, they should do so on the first or second page.

Don’t go into detail regarding this child’s past. Don’t tell us what season it is or set the scene.

Bring the circus to town and train the child to be a clown, tightrope walker, or lion tamer as soon as feasible.

You have such a limited time to convey your narrative that you can’t afford to waste any. Don’t write at a tortoise’s speed because the pacing of children’s books is usually lightning fast.

5- Introduce Relatable Characters:

So, you’ve got your brilliant idea that will entice an agent, then a publisher, and finally a reader.

Would you like to keep them? After that, you’ll need to develop characters that kids can relate to.

The first rule is to consider their ages regarding the groups we discussed earlier. Typically, children enjoy reading about individuals a few years their senior.

Children are the principal protagonists in 90 percent of children’s novels. Animals and supernatural beings normally make up the remaining 10%, but they almost always speak and act like children in that age bracket. They’re rarely adults.

The second step is to consider the characteristics that youngsters of that age seek in a protagonist. Therefore this is usually bravery (but this does not imply that all characters must be sword-fighters; boldness can take many forms).

6- Outline The Major Problem :

Every character has a stumbling block. It could be a mystery, a person, or a lack of confidence. That is the difficulty they will be dealing with throughout the novel.

Here are the most common blunders new authors make when writing a children’s Book as it comes to their character’s main problems:

1- The main character solves the situation far too quickly

Make your character struggle and fail realistically. Before solving this problem, the main character should die at least three times, possibly as many as five times (if you’re writing for older children).

2- There aren’t any hurdles in the way.

The main character should encounter a variety of difficulties on their route to solving the challenge. Let a character overcome no more than one obstacle, and the situation is solved. The main character should lose certain pieces, his mother should call him for dinner, his friend should tell him it won’t work, rain, and so on to create a rocket ship to sail to space.

Conclusion :

Writing a children’s book is a great way to share your creativity and skills with kids.

Children’s stories are often written in rhyme or verse, and they tend to follow a particular structure. Therefore this means that you don’t need to worry too much about what genre you choose. Just pick something you enjoy reading and write from the heart.

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