You’ve finished your manuscript! You’ve polished and edited and rewritten it five times. You’re ready to publish, right?
Wrong. If you want to be a professional, hire a developmental editor. Yes, it costs money, but that investment will show you where the manuscript’s strengths are, and where there is still room for improvement.
A good developmental editor will look at characterization, plot, and setting to see if they’re consistent, credible, and cogent. A great developmental editor will look at your prose as well. I’ve published 11 novels, and I always use a developmental editor. I never leave home without one.
BTW, your spouse or mother or cousin does not qualify.
You can see all my Writing Lite tips thus far here on Pinterest.