Are you determined to land an agent, sign a book contract, and celebrate that happy day when your book sits on the "best seller" table at Barnes and Noble? Once upon a time, I opened the virtual doors of my Publishing Wizard office. My goal was to help author wannabees resolve issues that prevented them from experiencing their "Barnes and Noble moment."
As expected, frustrated writers beat a path to my door, clutching partial or completed manuscripts in one hand, broken hearts in the other.
Surprisingly, every one of them asked the same question. "Why don't industry professionals (agents, acquisition editors and/or publishers) recognize my work as a "sure thing" for next year's best-seller list?"
Even more surprising was my discovery that, regardless of the diversity of their projects, these writers shared a common problem: they failed to pay attention to writing mechanic errors.
Today (twenty years later), unpublished authors continue to arrive at my virtual office, asking the same question which results in the same answer regarding writing mechanic errors.
EXCEPT now, I offer frustrated writers a tool that wasn't available before. "Self-Edit Like a Pro" shares tips and techniques that help writers identify, revise, and remove basic writing mechanic errors from their work before they begin the submission process.
This book is the result of my 35 years in the publishing biz as an author, publisher, and acquisitions editor. Over and over and over, I reviewed projects containing writing mechanic mistakes that waved "red flags" and identified wet-behind-the-ears writers.
Then, as now, error-infested manuscripts become "reject bait" to agents and publishers because of the cost and effort required to make them publication worthy. Non-acceptance of manuscripts is a business decision. It's never personal, even though it may feel that way to writers when their work is rejected.
So, what are writing mechanics? (For sure, they're not the folks who repair your car.) The term refers to the basic rules of grammar and language usage. The most common writing mechanic errors include non-descriptive adjectives, trite adverbs, misplaced modifiers, run-together sentences, and weak verbs that begin with "was" and end with "ing."
The tips and techniques in "Self-Edit Like a Pro" will help you find the "worst of the worst," and revise them out of your work. This is key to maturing your manuscript so it becomes publication worthy. (Also included in the book is the #1 success protocol used by ALL published authors.)
Incredible as it may seem, for less than the cost of a nutritionally-deficit-fast-food meal, you can learn to mature your work from "rookie" to "pro" to "published."
Just image how you'll feel on that magical day when you walk into Barnes and Noble. There's your book, flying off the "best seller" table. Selling like hotcakes! Kaching! Kaching!
You can make this happen. So, what are you waiting for? Order the book and get yourself going!
TESTIMONIALS
"After reading 'Self-Edit like a Pro, ' I return to my work in progress, once again to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a renewed sense of readiness. Molli's book not only identifies the most inauspicious adversaries I face, but also gives me the tools to defeat the words capable of destroying my manuscript." Samantha Charles, author of "Redemption: a Parson's Gap Story."
"Self-Edit Like a Pro" is a delightful little book of inspiration, how-to, and don't-do. Easy to read and beautifully crafted, every wannabe novelist should read this. You can bet I'll recommend it to my critique group." David Edmonds, leader of Tarpon Springs, Florida, FWA critique group.
About the Author: Since 1980, I've edited books, acquired manuscripts, written articles, published books, designed projects, presented keynotes, and led workshops for industry giants and national associations including TIME-LIFE, Better Homes and Gardens, HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Workman, Beyond Words, UCLA, the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and the ABA (American Booksellers Association).
35 years of experience in the business have given me a unique perspective about how to navigate the publishing maze, polish manuscripts to become books . . . and empower writers to become authors.
Now, as The Publishing Wizard, I help writers prepare digital-and-device-friendly email submission packets that effectively introduce them and their work to agents, acquisition editors, or publishers.
If you need assistance with any aspect of your writing journey, contact me at www.getpublishednow.biz. I'll help you achieve the dreams of your heart: agent, publisher, and shelf space at Barnes and Noble.
Regardless of how you pursue your goal of getting published . . .
May the words be with you!
