Top 10 Lessons I learned from writing Backyard Dragons, my 11th self-published book, 2nd in a series of…3 or 4. Or maybe 6. We’ll see.
- High price editors who can take you on short notice are probably not worth it.
- When an editor either doesn’t ask or doesn’t say what they use upfront, always specify your preferred editing style (Chicago, AP, British, or otherwise) when handing over a manuscript.
- Selecting a release date three months in advance can be fraught with peril.
- Line editors should not be relied upon for content editing. They miss information while focusing on grammar.
- Good cover design is not hard, it’s just a matter of knowledge tempered by experience. A good eye helps a lot, as does a second opinion. So, it’s hard.
- I’ve been using certain commas wrong for at least 30 years.
- Always check the manuscript for ‘the the’ and ‘and and’.
- When an editor isn’t a member of the intended audience, take all their advice and commentary with a thousand grains of salt. Spoiler alert: adult men may not like this book that was written for young (in age and at heart) women.
- Readers unfamiliar with book 1 will generally be confused by the little things in book 2+ and there’s only so much I can do about that.
- I hate deadlines. (Just kidding, I already knew that.)
Backyard Dragons
