In [Part One](https://independentpublishing.com/developmental-editing-part-one), I broke down what developmental editing is, what a professional edit should include, and how to sanity-check pricing and scope. That part is comforting because it is mostly definitions and math. This part is different. Now you have to choose a person. You are about to hand over your draft and a […]
Writing a book takes forever. Publishing it costs real money. Then some authors make one quick decision that puts the investment of both time and money at risk: they skip developmental editing. Sometimes they assume spellcheck, Grammarly, or AI tools will catch the big stuff. Sometimes they hire the cheapest “developmental editor” they can find, […]
I recently spoke with an author who wanted to include full-color images in his black-and-white interior. He felt strongly that reproductions of a handful of famous paintings would help reinforce some of his points. Could we help him self-publish this book with his vision intact? Unfortunately, this is a common conundrum for independent authors. POD, […]
Your nonfiction book cover serves as the first impression readers have of your product. A great cover does more than grab attention – it tells a story about your authority to write on the topic and how well you understand your niche. As more people turn to self-publishing, staying relevant becomes even more crucial. You […]
As the British Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo first embarked on writing novels instead of poems, she soon realised that, unlike with poetry, she needed to think about story structure to give her books a sense of direction (Evaristo, 2021). Indeed, for a novel to work well and to keep readers’ attention, narrative structure is […]
You spent months pouring your heart and soul into your book. Now, it’s time to format it, find the perfect cover design and launch your story into the world. The costs of paying developmental editors, proofreaders, cover designers and interior formatting professionals can add up. Finding budget-friendly options can leave more funds for advertising or […]
My first inclination is to stop her, to reach out and fold my hand around the girl’s fingers. She’s holding a soft 2B pencil instead of the regular HB grade and she’s sketching while she should be writing. I am offering a guest workshop on creative writing in the final year at my former secondary […]
‘I spit in my hands…’ The sentence has been in my mind for a couple of days now. I am not sure what it wants from me. What does it want me to do with it? What does it want to be? I haven’t had the time to write anything properly in the past months. […]
Ever since I was little, I always dreamed about being an author. I read nonstop, planned my books, wrote short stories that became novels. I’ve looked for tips on character development, on plot twists, on keeping story stakes consistently. Do you know one thing I didn’t expect? That I would also have to learn graphic […]
‘Aren’t you scared to read from your work?’ one of my poetry students asked me during the break in a tutorial. Though usually confident, his voice sounded hesitant as if he was afraid to ask something too personal, disclose something that should remain hidden. We had just finished discussing One Art by Elizabeth Bishop, a […]
