Quality is supposed to be a subjective subject. Everyone has their own standards on what they feel writing should be and the rules that govern. I am no different. As an Indie author, I purposefully spend lots of time going over my manuscripts for errors in grammar, punctuation, and many other issues before I prepare for publication. And there is a reason for that. I want my work to be the best quality it could possibly be.
As a reader, I have, all to often, come across a book that is poorly written. I am not ashamed to say that there have been books I refused to continue with and thrown away. Not donated. THROWN AWAY! They were horribly written. And unfortunately, the book came from a traditional publishing agency. I am not sure if the standards are slipping for traditional publishing. Yet, I find more and more the inadequacies of proper grammar and thoughtless writing.
That is probably why I strive to maintain a certain quality in my work. It creates a better experience for the reader. And one that hopefully doesn't push someone to throw my work away.
If you are new to writing and seeking a platform through Indie publishing, here are a few tips.
1. Run your manuscript through a checker. Grammarly has a free program that points to obvious issues. You can also pay to check more in-depth issues. I used this program in college, and continue to use it with my writing.
2. Read. Read. Read. Over and over. Do not read your manuscript once. Reading it multiple times points out different areas that contain issues.
3. Find an alpha/beta reader group. Other people catch what we cannot.
4. Let the manuscript sit. Wait a few days and view it with new eyes.
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