When you're writing fiction, it can often feel like the end is always just beyond your grasp, but you will eventually reach the final stages of your eBook. As with any piece of writing, however, the process is far from finished, even after you type "The End." In fact, that may be where the real work begins, and it starts with you, as the indie author, taking a hard look at your own writing. Even more difficult than hearing from your editing team and beta readers, taking a critical look at your own work can be tough.
Be Your Own Critic
At a certain stage, your eBook will need a fresh set of eyes to edit and proofread your content. But before you take that step, you have to be your own editor, and an honest one at that. Be merciless. If you are bored, your reader will be too. Try reading sections aloud for a better idea of how they flow.
Listen to Other’s Criticisms
Once your eBook has been through a round or two of editing, ask a few beta readers to read the story. Listen to what they have to say, but don't take their criticisms personally. In the end, they will create a better piece of fiction and help hone your writing skills.
Keep Your Drafts
You will go through numerous edits and revisions when writing fiction, and while you might feel like deleting each "failed" version, it's actually helpful to rename the file with each major edit, so that you preserve each version of your story. The drafts may contain elements you want to insert elsewhere in the story, or those elements may even end up being inspiration for your next eBook.
Writing fiction is a monotonous process. And the story you started writing may not be the one you end up finishing, but the process itself will elevate your skill.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Writing Fiction series:
Writing FIction - Getting Started
Writing Fiction, Part 2: Construction of Your Story
Writing Fiction, Part 3: Choosing the Right Words
When you're writing fiction, it can often feel like the end is always just beyond your grasp, but you will eventually reach the final stages of your eBook. As with any piece of writing, however, the process is far from finished, even after you type "The End." In fact, that may be where the real work begins, and it starts with you, as the indie author, taking a hard look at your own writing. Even more difficult than hearing from your editing team and beta readers, taking a critical look at your own work can be tough.
Be Your Own Critic
At a certain stage, your eBook will need a fresh set of eyes to edit and proofread your content. But before you take that step, you have to be your own editor, and an honest one at that. Be merciless. If you are bored, your reader will be too. Try reading sections aloud for a better idea of how they flow.
Listen to Other’s Criticisms
Once your eBook has been through a round or two of editing, ask a few beta readers to read the story. Listen to what they have to say, but don't take their criticisms personally. In the end, they will create a better piece of fiction and help hone your writing skills.
Keep Your Drafts
You will go through numerous edits and revisions when writing fiction, and while you might feel like deleting each "failed" version, it's actually helpful to rename the file with each major edit, so that you preserve each version of your story. The drafts may contain elements you want to insert elsewhere in the story, or those elements may even end up being inspiration for your next eBook.
Writing fiction is a monotonous process. And the story you started writing may not be the one you end up finishing, but the process itself will elevate your skill.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Writing Fiction series:
Writing FIction - Getting Started
Writing Fiction, Part 2: Construction of Your Story
Writing Fiction, Part 3: Choosing the Right Words
