7 Things to do After You Have Finished Writing Your Book

Writing a book is a big undertaking, and if you have accomplished this task successfully, congratulations! You’re halfway through the curve. Yes, you heard it right – halfway. There’s still much more to do to get your book out there and make the audience buy it. 

From making your manuscript ready for publication to marketing it using the right channels, there are a lot of things included in the post-writing process. But don’t get overwhelmed just yet. Take a deep breath, relax for some days, and come back to follow the things mentioned below to make your book a sure hit. 

1. Take a Break – You Deserve it

It may sound counterintuitive, but that’s what bestselling authors do. After all, you have just spent weeks, months, or even years writing your book and have agonized over every word and sentence. You need to recharge your batteries before you can start thinking about editing and promoting your book. 

So, take a few days off and do something that you enjoy. Maybe take a trip or meet your family and friends. You can also spend quality time in nature by traveling alone to a destination you’ve always dreamt of. It will help you get relaxed and get back to your book with a fresh pair of eyes. 

2. Find a Literary Agent

A literary agent will help you land a book deal with a publisher and will also provide you with editors and proofreaders to review your work. If you are a novice writer and don’t know how to find a literary agent, don’t worry. We are here to help you through the whole process. 

The first thing you have to do is to do thorough research on all the available literary agents and agencies around you. You can also check agent listings on websites, databases, and community resources. After this, make a list of the ones that have caught your attention and start querying. 

This is done by sending a query letter to the literary agent. This query letter is a sort of more compact version of your book proposal. This one-page letter will contain everything about who you are and what your book is all about. Try to capture the agent’s attention by keeping it short and enticing. 

3. Self-Edit and Proofread Your Work

After you’ve written your book, the most important thing you’ll have to do is self-edit and proofread your manuscript. It may seem difficult to edit your own work, but no one better than you can understand the story plot and come up with suggestions. 

That’s why, in the first step, we recommend taking a break after you have finished writing your book. This will help you come back with fresh thoughts and catch mistakes you may have missed before. 

To get the best out of the self-editing and proofreading process, read your book out loud or use narrator software to listen to your book. When you are listening to your book, it’s easier to find typos and errors in the flow of your content. 

4. Hire a Professional Editor

No matter how well you think you’ve edited your book, there’s always going to be someone who can do a better job. A professional editor is an expert in their field and can catch all the typos, grammatical errors, and plot holes you might have missed. 

They’ll also give you constructive feedback on your book as a whole and help you make it the best it can be. However, it is important to find an editor who has relevant experience in your genre and the subject matter. It will make it easy for them to do the job quickly and more efficiently. 

5. Join Public Groups

Joining public groups is the best way to get your work in front of potential readers. You can join several public groups, but the most important thing is to find one that is relevant to your book. For example, if you have written a book about history, you should join a group that is interested in history. 

This way, you will be able to share your work with people who are already interested in the topic. You can also join groups that are specific to your genre or that are general book groups. Make sure to promote your work in these groups and ask for readers and others to give constructive feedback. 

It will help you make necessary changes to your book, and you’ll also be able to network with other writers to collaborate on other projects. 

6. Get Help from Beta Readers

Beta readers are an essential part of the writing process. They provide valuable feedback on your book that can help you make it the best it can be. To find beta readers who are actually helpful, you will have to research online groups of people who are already interested in the kind of book you have written. 

These people are more likely to be open to giving honest feedback. Of course, you can also take help from your friends and family, but they can only help to some extent. To find deep and constructive feedback, you’ll eventually have to find people who are crazy about your selected genre and have also read other books on the same subject. 

7. Organize Book Signings 

Book signings are a great way to connect with your readers, build up excitement for your book, and generate some early buzz. These events are where authors sell most of their books. But before you can start signing books, you’ll need to do some planning and preparation. 

First of all, pick the right time and place that will be convenient for your readers. For example, weekends are the best time you can attract maximum readers to your event. Also, make sure the venue is accessible and that you have enough space for all the attendees. 

Moreover, before you organize the event, make sure to let your fans know about it by promoting it on social media and through other marketing channels. You can also reach out to local media outlets to see if they’re interested in covering the event.