Part Three

So you’ve checked the order of information presented in your book and taken a look to make sure you haven’t left anything else out. Here are a few more ideas for saving money on the editing of your business book:

Top Tip #3: Have You Assumed Greater Knowledge on the Part of Your Reader Than is Reasonable?

We call those little slips of intention “presuppositions” and I quite often see them creep into the work of an author I’m editing. When we are immersed in a subject day-in, day-out, it’s easy to assume that what we know is what everyone else knows. The fact is, we are familiar with an awful lot that can’t fit into the scope of an average book and we often don’t stop to question whether everyone is going to get what we’re saying. Go through your manuscript and check every page to see if you’ve explained everything that might need explaining. Stay away from the jargon commonly used in your field, as well as acronyms that should be spelled out and, often, explained.

Top Tip #4: Have You Told Enough Stories?

Stories are the most powerful way to teach and they also engage audience attention better than any other technique out there. It’s far more interesting for your readers to read a story about an experience you or someone you know had than to sift through a recitation of facts. Enchant us with real life!

Top Tip #5: Have You Positioned Yourself as an Expert in Your Field?

Your book is a premier marketing tool that gives you the opportunity to showcase your capabilities and your willingness to provide clients with outstanding service. Make sure you sew into your text some subtle examples of how you serve your clients. You don’t have to be bold. And you do need to be honest. But above all, make sure you give your readers a reason to respect what you have to tell us.

There’s a lot more that goes into making sure a manuscript is in tip-top form but following these initial checkpoints is a good place to start! I meet many authors who have laboured over their book manuscript only to realize there was so much more to the task of bringing it up to snuff than they had ever thought possible. It’s always wise to hire an editor to go over your material before you send it off to your self-publisher or hunt for an agent. Your reputation is at stake.

If you would like to discuss how I might contribute to your publishing success I’d be honored if you’d get in touch. Books and literacy are passions of mine and I would love to put the results of a decades-long writing career to work for your success. You can email me directly at susan@crossmancommunications.com. Let’s start moving you towards the success that’s waiting for you just around the next bend in the road!