Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

How many times can an author read the book for review before it is published?

Jeevan Gopalan

Jeevan wrote: "How many times can an author read the book for review before it is published?

Jeevan Gopalan"

No one can put a number to this question.

But there are numerous ways to get to a comfortable and satisfying final draft.

These are steps I take, but let me warn you, this is painstakingly meticulous:

1. I run my final copy (we'll call it "final" for now) through WordRake, one paragraph at a time until I get through the entire novel. Trust me, don't try to run the program more than one paragraph at a time. It's too much to take in if you rush this. And if you rush it, you'll make "new" mistakes.

2. Run your final copy through ProWritingAid. Use the same procedure as in #1 above.

3. Then through Grammarly.

NOTE: ProWritingAid and Grammarly will often disagree with each other, so make a choice and stick with it during this cycle. Also, don't have these two programs open at the same time. I find they will do funky things to your Word software. Both softwares have different pros and cons. ProWritingAid is GREAT for catching PASSIVE VOICE. Grammarly has a great love affair with commas.

DON'T be in a hurry during this process. Why? Because you can often find yourself accepting suggested changes that won't make sense later ... and your choices might change your meaning.

BE PREPARED to spend a week or two going through this process.

4. Have someone beta read it for you. Beta readers are different from ARC readers. A lot of people get this confused.

5. While the beta reader is reading your book, REST. You will need to rest to do the remaining steps efficiently.

6. If your beta reader suggests notable changes, make them. But be absolutely sure the changes you make shouldn't be threaded throughout the entire book. If they need to be for consistency, you better rest then read the manuscript one last time, and begin again with steps #1 - #3. If you don't, you'll kick yourself later.

7. Solicit ARC readers. At least three. Five are better. Tell them you expect a written review after they read the book. Be firm about this. They are of no help to you if they can't leave a review.

8. Have your ARC readers send you an email with the review after they read the book. THIS IS IMPORTANT. See #12 below.

9. KEEP those emails the ARC readers send you.

10. DOWNLOAD your book for publishing and check the formatting. Always check the formatting.

11. PUBLISH.

12. ASK the ARC readers to post their reviews. Send/Forward their EMAIL from step #9 with the requested review in it. They can cut and paste the review from the email you saved earlier.

13. SIT BACK and let her RIP.

You're done.

For now.

Not really.

Get busy with promotions. Reedsy has a list of the top promotion sites you can use. And don't ever stop promoting. Stick to your budget.

If you don't have any of the software programs I mentioned earlier, purchase them, or search the internet for "free" programs. You can also consider using the software programs I mentioned on a TRIAL basis.

Hope this helped.

Donna B. Comeaux
https://rb.gy/b7fwne