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I Finished My Manuscript--Now What? Book Spotlight

Jane S. Daly • May 23, 2023

Today I welcome author Jane Daly as she shares about her latest release, Broken. She has also generously offered a print book giveaway.


There’s nothing more satisfying than typing the words The End. If you’ve labored through the novel writing process – the inciting incident, the sagging middle, the point of no return, and the satisfying ending, you know what a relief it is to get that huge weight off your shoulders.


Having recently finished writing my seventh book (five published), I describe it as like giving birth to a nineteen-pound baby. Many times along the way, I’ve said ‘I hate this story. I hate these characters and the plot is full of holes.’


Am I the only one who feels like this?


I’ve felt the same writing the two nonfiction books. Once I’m done, I don’t ever want to see the manuscript again. Can you relate?


In the past thirteen years of writing, here are three things I’ve learned to do after the words The End:

1.     Take a breath and give yourself a pat on the back. You did something ninety percent of your writing peers will not do – finish. Buy that extra-large $8 Pumpkin Spice Latte. Get the double scoop ice cream cone. If you really want to get crazy, buy a new pair of shoes.

2.     Don’t touch the manuscript for at least two weeks! Not that your book will magically become a bestseller in those two weeks; but your manuscript needs time to rest. Your characters need to spend some quality time away from you. You must let the words percolate and marinate. I promise it won’t deteriorate while you’re away from each other.

3.     Learn how to edit. Once you’re ready to dive back into the story, this is when the real work begins. If you’ve read Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott, you know what she says about the first draft – which is something I can’t repeat in a Christian newsletter. Your first draft will be awful. Trust me on this. There are several great books on self-editing, a few of which I’ve listed below. *


After I’ve been immersed in the story for weeks and months, and I come up for air, it’s time to do the dreaded editing. Some of you may love to edit, but I am not one of those anomalies.


When you go back to your manuscript, you’ll see it with fresh eyes. Plot holes will be plugged. Scenes will become more descriptive. Everything will become clearer. Think about it as taking a 30,000-foot view of your book.


To help you edit, read through your entire manuscript and make notes of holes, mistakes, etc. For instance, did your main character have blue eyes in chapter 1 and brown eyes in chapter 10? Did you call the antagonist Tyler early in the story and Dylan later on? As you read, utilize the ‘add comment’ button in the ‘review’ section of the document. Or if you’re old school, have a pad of paper at the ready to jot down what errors you find. I find it helpful to read the manuscript out loud. I usually work through my manuscript four times. You may not need as many pass-throughs as I do, but I find errors each time.


Now that you’ve finished writing and editing, you are on your way to publication!


Giveaway: Leave a comment and your cleverly-disguised email address, and we will randomly choose one winner (US only) to receive a print copy of Broken. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com

 

Some helpful books on editing:

*Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Brown and Dave King

*Editing Secrets of Bestselling Authors, Kathy Ide

*Revision and Self Editing for Publication, James Scott Bell

 

About Jane:

Jane loves coffee, purple pens, and her hubby of 46 years, not necessarily in that order. After a career in banking, Jane is living her dream of traveling the lower 48 states in her motor home, affectionately known as Rigsby. When she isn't hunched over her computer, she can be found wandering around in whatever campground she's in, talking to folks and listening for ideas for future books.


She's the author of two nonfiction books and three novels with a fourth coming in November of this year. You can follow her journey by going to her website:

https://www.janesdaly.com

https://www.facebook.com/janedalyspeakerandauthor

https://twitter.com/JaneDal26031324

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13593382.Jane_Daly

 

https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Story-Redemption-Jane-Daly-ebook/dp/B0B3V4WQR6 

 

A Peek inside Broken:


Worst. Night. Ever. She stank like the inside of a Porta-Potty; human misery baked to perfection in ninety-degree heat. Spending a night in jail will do that.

Jinxi Lansing shoved open the door to the Sacramento City Courthouse and squinted in the August morning. She gingerly crossed the concrete porch, careful of the stiletto-grabbing cracks in the pavement. No wonder they were called ankle-breakers.

She heaved a deep sigh as a group of women in heavy makeup crowded through the door. Everyone wanted outta there. Including her.

A couple of the women bumped her off balance.

“Geez, am I invisible?” Jinxi muttered with a curse. She tugged the hot-pink mini skirt to cover what needed to be covered—at least in broad daylight.

Plan A—she’d collect her backpack from the bus station locker, change out of these ridiculous clothes, and grab a shower at the YWCA.

Plan B—if the Y was full, she’d—

Bam!

A cop with his head down, texting, nearly bowled her over. Stupid jerk.

“My bad. Didn’t see you.” He held out a hand as she lost her balance and regained it.

He looked her up and down, but not in a creepy way. Weird, considering how she was dressed.

“What’re you looking at?” Jinxi demanded, hand on her hip.

“Sorry.”

She flicked her fingers at him. “Move along. Nothing to see here.” Maybe he wouldn’t bust her for telling a cop to get lost.

She gave him a full dose of the stink eye when he didn't move. What the—why was he still staring? He didn’t look creepy. More like some guy on a TV cop show. Dark buzzed hair, the shadow of a beard—all clean-cut and American. Still, his cop stare creeped her out.

He spoke at last. “You hungry?”

“Why do you care?” He was trying to trap her like the cop last night.

“I’m heading up the street to grab some breakfast. You look like you could use something to eat after … you know.” He waved an arm in the general direction of the jail.

 

 


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