Quite possibly the most substantial writing task there is, how to write a book is also the primary task I aim to assist my customers with. My tips on writing a book for any author are to have your manuscript edited. A second opinion can assist you to locate errors you couldn’t possibly have seen yourself and put yourself into the reader’s shoes no matter how experienced or skilled a writer you are. What can also be of enormous value, is to receive advice from a developmental editor.

Writing a book is a developmental process. Of course, there may be writers who like to spontaneously create their masterpieces. That may come naturally to them. However, I believe even those writers would utilise some kind of process to organise their thoughts and organise their words into a manuscript. When it comes to the editing tools I use to assist any writer, it is important those tools are comprehensive enough to be able to assist that writer at any stage of the development of his or her manuscript, including the more formative stages.

A developmental editor will not only be across structural and copy editing tools and proofreading requirements, but may also possess knowledge of more comprehensive editing tools to help publish a book. These tools may include the tasks of shaping the book proposal, assessing its potential in the marketplace, how to write a thesis statement, among other developmental tasks which in my opinion complement and extend the scope of other traditional forms of editing. Check out my summary of Scott Norton’s developmental tips on writing a book.

Of course, the completion of any writing task is meritorious. This website is an ongoing writing project. The writing process that has made its achievement possible has involved editing. I have received assistance from a number of sources: reviews from an editing colleague (thanks Anne), feedback from a writer’s group (thanks to the guys and gals at Sandgate), pointers from marketing research (thanks to Wordtracker), and support from a professional organisation (Editors Queensland). Without this assistance, I simply could not have completed the task. Writing is a collaborative enterprise. You have my best wishes as you strive to complete your writing project whatever it may be.