Ask Your Editor: Launch Dates -- Don't jump too fast

This will be a short post, but it's super-important. If you are self-publishing, don't set a launch date for your book until the editing is completely finished.

I can't tell you the number of projects I've worked on where the writer has been in a rush to get the editing done because their launch is fast approaching. This is not the scenario you want for your book. You want to give your editor enough time to really work with your book. And once your editor has worked through it once, you need time to go over what the editor has done. And then you might want to (really should want to if you can afford it) send it back to your editor for proofreading.

It's exciting, this business of writing books. Now that self-publishing has been made so easy and has become so prevalent, everybody wants to do it, and that's cool. But if you're going to labor over a book, don't force it out into the sunshine before it's had time to be polished. You want it to shine once it gets there, don't you?

Write. Leave it alone for a while. Go back to it and revise it. Let some beta readers have a go at it. (Maybe beta readers would be a good post, yes?) Revise it again. Then hire an editor. Go over the editor's work. Hire a proofreader. Format it. Hire a cover designer. Create a website. Launch your baby into the world.

But please, don't rush the launch. There's no need. Your book will thank you. And so will your editor.