Greetings and welcome to another edition of Editor AMA! I asked my followers on Instagram if they had any questions for me about writing, editing, or publishing. Without further ado, let's explore the queries that have sparked your interest.
(Jump to a question by clicking the links below.)
What's the difference between an alpha reader, beta reader, and ARC reader?
Alpha readers, beta readers, and ARC readers each play different roles in the book-writing and publishing process. Here’s how they differ!
Alpha readers: These are the first people to read your book, often while it's still in a rough draft form. They provide feedback on the core elements of the story, such as plot, characters, and pacing. Their input helps guide revisions and can shape the direction of the book before you move on to further drafts. Alpha readers are typically close friends, fellow writers, or trusted individuals who understand your writing style.
Beta readers: These readers come in once the manuscript is more polished, often after one or two rounds of self-editing. Beta readers focus on providing feedback as regular readers might—pointing out confusing sections, character issues, or pacing problems. They help ensure the story is engaging and well-structured. Unlike alpha readers, they’re not as likely to be fellow writers and may represent your target audience.
ARC readers: ARC (Advance Reader Copy) readers receive a nearly finalized version of your book, usually before it’s officially released. Their role is to read the book in advance and, ideally, leave reviews or share their thoughts publicly. The purpose of ARC readers is to help generate buzz and early reviews to boost your book’s visibility upon launch.
Do I need to do anything to copyright my book?
Copyright exists the moment your words are created, which means you don't need to do anything. Whether you write using apps like Reedsy, Google Docs, or traditional software, you’re covered by the creation dates in your files. To document ownership, you can also mail a copy of your manuscript to yourself and keep it sealed—although this is more of a precaution than a legal necessity.
For stronger legal protection, you can register your copyright wherever is local to you. This gives you the right to seek statutory damages if someone copies your work. Think of it like insurance—optional, but useful if things go wrong. If you choose to do this, wait until after your editor finishes and your book is nearly ready for publication before registering. This ensures that your submitted work is as close to the final version as possible.
How can I turn my book into an audiobook?
Turning your book into an audiobook can be a straightforward process if you choose the right approach. You can either hire someone to narrate it for you, or take on the task yourself.
Many authors use services like ACX.com. ACX handles distribution across Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, and also connects you with narrators, allowing you to choose between:
Royalty share: No upfront costs, but you split the royalties with the narrator for the audiobook’s lifetime.
Pay upfront: You pay the narrator for their work, keeping all future royalties for yourself.
Narrators will work with you on pronunciations and edits, ensuring you get the exact voice and tone you want. It's a larger investment, but you can be more sure of the quality of the final product.
Or, if you'd prefer to record the audiobook yourself, you’ll need:
A quiet space to record
High-quality recording equipment
Recording and editing software
Plenty of water and patience!
This path might be more budget friendly (and allow you to reap more monetary benefits) but it will also take a lot more time, effort, and commitment on your part. Choose wisely!
What is a prologue for? How can I make sure readers don't skip it?
A prologue is a literary tool used to introduce important background details, characters, or pivotal events that will become relevant as the story progresses. It is not a place to infodump world-building details or character backstory.
To make sure readers don’t skip it, your prologue should be engaging, concise, and aligned with the rest of the novel.
Immediately engage the reader: Start with a compelling event or emotional moment to draw readers in from the first sentence.
Provide essential information: Offer key background details or context, but avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information upfront.
Maintain a consistent tone and style: Ensure the prologue’s tone fits with the rest of the book, even if the focus or perspective is different.
Keep it short: Limit the prologue to a snapshot that sparks curiosity without overstaying its welcome.
Should I inform readers that my novel is not professionally edited?
No, it’s not necessary to inform readers if your novel hasn’t been professionally edited. The only time you might want to mention this is when working with ARC (Advance Reader Copy) readers. ARCs are often “unproofed,” meaning they haven’t gone through the final proofreading or editing stages, so they may contain errors that won’t appear in the published version. Letting ARC readers know this helps them focus more on the story itself and less on any minor mistakes, ensuring that their reviews reflect the final product that wide readers will experience.
For general readers, though, it’s not expected that you disclose whether your book has been edited or not. Many indie authors choose to go without professional editing, and unless it impacts the quality of the story, it’s not something readers will usually focus on.
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