by Elaina Lyons
My sequel is done. It’s been edited; it’s been in the hands of a beta reader. And now, it’s almost ready to go out into the world. Almost.
Before I can wash my hands of this latest installment of my series, I first have to do the little tedious things, like get a cover designed, get the text formatted, purchase my ISBNs (please buy them and don’t get the free ones), and copyright my manuscript.
So while the hard work of writing is finished, the harder work of getting it ready for the presses is only just beginning.
I think this is my least favorite part of being a writer. I kind of wish I could just write a book and it would magically publish itself, complete with proper formatting and a killer cover.
Alas, a girl can dream.
All this to say, there’s so much more to writing than just writing. And as much as you might want to, you can’t skip this part of the process.
How the story looks and what the cover looks like are just as important as the content itself. Why? Well, think of it like lasagna. The meal might be delicious, but if the plate is dirty and the food is cold, the taste won’t really matter. Just like we eat with our eyes first, we choose what to read based on first impressions. Most of us actually do judge a book by its cover.
So don’t skimp on your cover and formatting! Make sure you have a cover that grabs your audience’s attention and won’t let go. Without this, your readers won’t make it past the first page, and all that hard work of writing will have been for naught.
Getting a book published is a process and, unfortunately, we can’t skip any parts. So get to work! Your readers are waiting.
Grab your copy of “The Love You Know” here.
If you’re an indie author and you’d like to guest post on this blog, email me!
elainalyons.com 
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