G R MATTHEWS
How can I help your book?
About me:
I am a traditionally published author (Seven Deaths of an Empire from Rebellion) and have self-published many others. I've had my books edited and know how nervous it can feel to get that manuscript feedback and those 'corrections' back.
I've also taught Creative Writing and hold a BSc (Hons) Geography (useful for knowing how maps work and how places should be/feel) and a Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing (OU). Right now, I am studying for an industry-recognised qualification in proofreading. I also wrote for Fantasy-Faction.com and was a judge on five SPFBOs, including leading the team on two occasions.
About you:
In front of you, or in the forefront of your mind, is the book you've been working on for months, years, or decades. Your blood, sweat, tears, and time have all gone into its creation, and as you typed 'The End', a massive sense of relief swept through you. Perhaps you shed a tear (Admission 1: I'm not ashamed to admit that I did when I finished my first trilogy), and it was followed by a cold finger of fear running up your spine.
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Ignore that fear for the moment. Revel in the fact that you've just done something that less than 1% of the population ever manages: you've written a whole book! I, for one, am really proud of you, and I'm happy for you. So, take a moment and let it all sink in.
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OK? Good.
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Let's deal with the fears: is it good enough? Is it all correct? Will people read it, (and the big one) What do I do next? And this is where I might be able to help.
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Well, you've got a choice. In fact, you have lots of choices (which is also scary).
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That's a lovely flow chart, but how does it help you?
Excellent question!
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If you choose the traditional route, I wish you the utmost success! It's hard, and it comes down to persistence, lots of work, a thick skin, and having created a good query letter, a great synopsis, and those first 10,000 words, so carefully and lovingly crafted, to excite and draw the attention of your favourite agent. If you have, they will request the full manuscript, so I would definitely suggest that it is finished and ready. (Admission 2: I hadn't finished mine when I got the interest of a publisher and agent. I have never written so much, so quickly.)
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As I said above, you don't need your book to be edited to hook an agent and secure representation. It might help your book if it has been, but it doesn't need it. They do not expect the book to be perfect, just to intrigue and interest them and for them to see the promise and potential.
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If you choose the Indie or self-publishing route, I really wish you the utmost success! It is all down to you now. Your book has to stand out from the crowd with a great cover and with great prose. Expectations of self-published books have grown exponentially over time, and they have to be as good as, if not better than, traditionally published books. Unfair, maybe, but what might be forgiven in a traditionally published book may not in an self-published one.
So, back to the start, how can I help you?
In the order they should be done, or take place, I can:
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Proofread (or proofedit) your manuscript (I'll explain both in a moment)
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Format it for Kindle and paperback.
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Make sure your book is finished, edited, and proofread. Once they're done, it can be formatted, or it'll have to be done again, meaning more expense for you.
Book formatting:
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I will get your book into the right format for Kindle (.epub) and paperback (.pdf) with chapter art and full-page images (should you desire).
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All you would need to do then would be upload it the KDP dashboard.
Proofread or Proofedit:
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I will proofread your completed manuscript looking for typos, mispelled words, and grammatical errors. I will return a WORD document with the changes/corrections marked clearly and concisely for you to act on (or not; the choice is yours – it is your book).
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A proofedit will involve a deeper read for the flow language across sentences and paragraphs. As this involves more changes to the text, it might take longer and cost a little more.