After endless hours of writing, you finally finished your first manuscript. You did it! Many writers are thrilled by the achievement of completing something they have been working on for so long. That’s a feat that deserves to be celebrated. You laugh, you cry, and then you think: what’s next? 

Every author encounters this question when they finish their first manuscript. Not many are aware of the next step in the journey. Do you get an agent first or send it to a copyeditor? Turning your manuscript into a book can be a long process, especially if this is your first one. Where do you go from here? The truth is, there is no singular path forward—and there’s likely a whole section at your local bookstore on the subject. 

Here are a few of those books that we absolutely recommend.  

Common Mistakes Authors Make by Eva Marie Emerson 

This is a great book to start with to flesh your manuscript further. It’s an easy guide that takes you through the journey of common first draft mistakes. A problem many authors run into while editing their drafts is identifying where their content may be lacking. That may be through a lack of descriptions or too much dialogue. The guide is here to assist you with making your writing stronger, fixing any grammatical errors, and understanding your voice. Great for both fiction and non-fiction stories, this is a crucial starter book to begin tidying up your manuscript.  

The Last Draft: A Novelist’s Guide to Revision by Sandra Scofield

Broken into easy-to-read sections, this guidebook takes you through the stages of developing character agency, narrative structure, and forming stronger themes. Many authors struggle to find the best way to clean up plot-holes and ensure their storyline is concise. Maybe you love a section but realize it doesn’t fit in the story, do you delete it or rework it? Everyone writes differently so there isn’t one formula that will solve this issue. The guidebook is here to provide thought-provoking questions that’ll help you on your revision journey. Each section walks you through the process of editing with insightful tips until you reach the last draft.  

Publishing 101 by Jane Friedman

Your edits are complete, and your manuscript is ready for the next stage, how do you move forward? Publishing 101 is a helpful guide that provides insight to the workings of publishing, especially if you know very little of what goes on behind the scenes. Inside you’ll find helpful tips in searching for agents, creating effective marketing strategies, and deciding which route of publishing you’d like to take. Whether that be regular publishing, self-publishing, or indie publishing. The purpose of the book is to provide a clear understanding of how to publish and find which one best fits your needs.  

Successful Self-Publishing: How to self-publish and market your book in ebook and print (Books for Writers) 2nd Edition by Joanna Penn

If you think self-publishing is an avenue you want to explore but don’t know how to get there, Successful Self-Publishing will provide a more in-depth view of the process. The purpose of the guide is preparing you for what the self-publishing journey is like, for print and e-books. It’ll discuss everything you need to know about self-publishing, so you’re prepared for what’s ahead. The book is a great tool when forming an understanding in book formatting, marketing principals, and going over the cost of printing your own work. No avenue is left unexplored, giving you a transparent view of what to expect.  

Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript Third Edition by Writer’s Digest

You may decide sending your book to a publishing company is something you’re interested in. It can be intimidating sending out your work to a company especially if you’re not sure of what they look for. This updated guide provides valuable information you need to know before sending out copies. From creating cover letters to formatting your manuscript, it walks you through the important elements of a good submission that will give your work a professional appearance. They include sample letters and formats to use as a helpful resource to optimize the best ways of getting your story noticed.  

Greenlight Your Book by Brooke Warner

You want to try going to an indie publisher. There is plenty of stigma in the publishing world when it comes to the best platform to use. The industry is changing, and authors have more freedom to decide what route is best for their books. Warner shares her knowledge of independent publishing companies, the status quo when it comes to the industry, and the best practices to get your book to grow. This friendly guidebook will help you discover the ins-and-outs of publishing and provides helpful notes.