The 3 Kinds of Editing Your Book Needs: Part 2 of Your 4-Step Roadmap to Writing a Great Book (Ep. 19)

The difference between a mediocre book and a compelling one is something most readers struggle to name but instinctively feel. It comes down to careful, often painstaking refinement—multiple rounds of clarifying, restructuring, and fine-tuning until your meaning is expressed with maximum precision and elegance.In Part 2 of my guide to writing a great book, I dive into phases 3 and 4, revising and publishing: the layers of refinement that transform a rough manuscript into a clear, cohesive, life-changing book.If you missed Part 1 on ideating and drafting, I highly recommend starting there first!In this episode, you’ll learn:The 3 “layers” of editing—and why each is essentialWhy some books “sound good” but still don’t workWhat developmental editors actually doWhat to look for in a professional editor (and red flags to avoid)What happens during proofreading, formatting, and book launch prepThe biggest mistakes first-time authors make during revision and publishingGreat books may begin with a burst of inspiration, but they’re built one intentional revision at a time.And they’re never written alone.Note: This guide is designed primarily for nonfiction authors, from prescriptive nonfiction like self-help and thought leadership to creative nonfiction like memoir. That said, many of the same phases and pitfalls apply to fiction as well, even if the specifics look a little different.Mentioned in this episode:Write a Must-Read by  AJ Harper The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing by Michael Harvey Hungry Authors by Liz Morrow and Ariel CurryHungry Authors podcastEditorial Freelancers Association Rates -- just keep in mind these are median rates and skew very low for quality work in my experience!Jane Friedman’s blog (click the “Topics” dropdown) Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum or find her free content on Substack hereFREE SELF-EDITING DOWNLOAD:  From Good to Great: Ten Tips to Write Like a ProEDITING: Learn more about my editing services and read testimonials at maraeller.com/editing and book a free consultation call with me here! BOOK COACHING: Learn more about Momentum Book Coaching and read testimonials at maraeller.com/book-coaching and book a free consult call here!Send me a text message with your questions or comments!___________________________________Come join the discussion!InstagramTikTokThreadsSubstackAnd visit my website to learn more about my editing services, book coaching, and upcoming courses.