When going through my second book I’m doing my best not to repeat the mistakes that I made with my first book. This is easy to say on the outside, but it’s a completely different scenario when embedded deep into the 90,000-word manuscript. 

To help pace the book I’m using scene cards. This is a chapter by chapter summary of what is happening to advance the story. This has helped me stand back and see the flow of the book itself. Are the characters doing what I want them to be doing when I want them to be doing it? Did Monica actually tell her husband (spoiler alert!) about the kiss from the guy at the conference?

At this point, one question for this manuscript is: how do I know when it’s ready for an editor? There isn’t a magic bell that rings when all the scenes are buttoned up nicely. Any time goals for publishing the book are self-induced. There isn’t a word count to strictly follow. There isn’t anyone even knocking on my door asking when the book will be ready. 

As with all other aspects of self-publishing, it’s up to me when I decide to send the manuscript to be picked over by an editor. 

I’ve gone through my book about five times, and there are some signs that are telling me that it’s ready to be viewed by another set of eyes. 

1. I’ve added all of my ‘tidbits.’ I keep a list on the side of things I want to add to the story. These are certain scenes that I think will enhance it, funny phrases to add, or even specific words that I want to use. 
2. My word count is much higher than my expected 82,000 mark. Yes, this was a self-made goal and one that kept me cringing every time I took a peek in the lower left-hand corner of my word document. With every edit came more words!
3. I’m flat-out tired of re-reading this manuscript! Don’t get me wrong, I like the book. But at this time certain scenes are running together. Once I have read the book I start over and can’t remember if certain instances have happened on page 35, or if I read that yesterday on page 75? 
4. This one is the clincher: I’m kind of at a stand-still. I’ve put everything into the book that I want and am at the point where when I edit I’m just changing words around. I’m not really changing anything with the structure. 

So yes, it’s ready! I’m just as anxious to send it off to the person who will color it full of red marks. It’s always shocking to see how many changes I need to make in my writing. But this is fine! It’s welcomed, in fact. After all, it’s what I’m paying for.