The End! Or Is It?
/
There is nothing like the feeling of typing “The End.” But I’ve found “The End” isn’t always the last step. When I’m at the point that I’m sure I’m done, here are the things that I look at.
Check the word count to make sure it fits within the guidelines for your genre.
Spellcheck the manuscript to ensure that you caught all the boo boos that came from editing or the last round of revisions.
Check the last paragraph of each chapter to make sure it encourages readers to keep reading. You don’t want to wrap up things so neatly that the reader decides that it’s a good stopping point.
Print a copy and proofread on paper. You’ll find more than you will proofing on your screen.
Read your dialog out loud to ensure that it doesn’t sound stilted. It should sound like a conversation.
When I think I’ve done my best, then it’s time for beta readers and my critique group. They are great for looking for plot holes or things that don’t make sense.
Look at your chapter lengths. They should be close page number-wise. You don’t usually want a three-page chapter and then a 25-page chapter.
What else would you add to my list?
