Finally, your dream came true: after long months of writing, your book is done. The next step is finding a professional editor to give your masterpiece a final review before it gets to the bookstore shelves. Even if this is not your first book, it is natural to feel nervous about shipping your dearest offspring to an editor. Will everything be okay without you?

The editing process takes time and it might be extremely hard for young writers to bear it. Biting your nails and walking nervously around your room are common reactions to have. However, there are some better ideas about what to do during the editing period. Check them out below.

Think about the book launch

Both traditional and self-publishing is a serious business. A book launch is a more complicated process than just distributing your masterpiece to the shops. To make your book noticed and what is more – desired, you need to have a plan. Make deep research about what is a book launch, read the materials and come up with a strategy. You will see that it takes a lot of time and work to get everything prepared properly. So let the book launch be your main concern during the editing process. First, you will be doing something useful and valuable. Second, this will distract you from your nervous thoughts.

Think about social media representation

This might be the first step in your launch planning. You can always start with your own social media pages and think how to make the world know about your book. Pay attention to every aspect of self-presentation. This doesn’t end on your biography and reflections about the main concepts you have written about. Think about the visual elements of your pages, such as colors, photos, and design. By the way, having a professionally made portrait is a must, so take care of this aspect before your book is launched.

If you don’t have illustrations till this moment, you may be not sure about the overall style you need to follow. At least, you should think of it and start experimenting. This will save your time and keep you distracted.

Don’t irritate your editor with any new changes

The worst thing you can do is trying to improve your book after sending it to an editor. If you are going to irritate your editor with messages that you want to change something, then the process will take significantly more time. What is more, this is not something professional writers do! You did your job, now let the editor do his/her job. Just wait until you receive it back and you will have an opportunity to do your own edits if needed.

Still, keep in touch with your editor

Avoiding any superfluous movements is crucial, but it doesn’t mean that you have to disappear from the scene at all. Check your email regularly since your editor will send some remarks to you. You need to be attentive to messages and respond as soon as you can. Of course, it is not a big deal if you cannot answer at once, your editor won’t be mad at you, because everybody has a life. At the same time, long delays will put the results off.

You can write messages to your editor, but only in case of need. It is normal to make contact and ask about the progress when you don’t get any messages for weeks. However, you don’t have to do it every day even if you are feeling anxious. You have to trust your editor.

Work on your new draft

To stop thinking about your previous book, you have to start something new. Hopefully, you are not too tired after the daunting process of work you have already done. Well, if you are not, then you can at least start thinking about some ideas and planning a new draft. If you feel that you have no ideas at this moment, then try free writing or even composing the second part of your previous work.

Write a blog and guest posts

If you have a personal blog, you need to use it as a promotional platform for yourself as an author. Everything is quite simple here – you can post various teasers, cover samples, and your personal thoughts. However, you shouldn’t stop here. Try finding online resources that your potential readers might be interested in and propose writing a guest post there. Make sure that you read the writing guidelines and rules first. Contact a blog platform owner and ask for instructions if you cannot see them on the site. And there are two main things to remember – make your article engaging and smart and make sure that a platform is relevant.

Read books

When writers are not writing, they should be reading. What is more, there must be a mountain of books to read, because you didn’t have too much time for them during the writing process. Books provide writers with inspiration, new ideas, and techniques, so you should stick to them and devote hours to reading.

Find a writing group

Now you are a really experienced writer. You have grown as a professional, so why don’t you share your knowledge with others? Find a writing group and become a part of it. You can try yourself as a critic or mentor for a person, who is less profound than you. This is a beneficial decision for both of you since he or she will receive valuable advice and guidance, while you will reflect on your knowledge deeper.

Take the online course you have been dreaming of

There are so many large resources, where amazing online courses are located. Now you have plenty of time and it means that you can learn something new! Maybe, you want to make your writing skills even better? Or maybe you want to learn something that will help you promote and sell your books? Then you have to choose something like SEO, blogging, marketing, and other related niches.

Just have a rest

You did a great job and must be tired. So maybe the best option for you is to have a good rest. Even if writing is your main passion and you cannot imagine your life without it, sometimes it may drain you completely. When you are feeling that your previous project sucked all energy from your mind and body, then you should put away everything related to it. You need a break.

If traveling, hiking, camping or anything like that makes you inspired and boosts your spirit, then go for it. Working hard is great, but you need to stay healthy and uplifted to continue your amazing activity as a writer.

Now you know what to do when you are waiting for an editing process to end. We understand that this is quite thrilling, but try not to get too anxious about it. You did your best and there is no need to worry now. Just prepare yourself for the next steps of the process, like launching, promotion, and presentation. If you don’t feel like doing this right now, then read something, communicate with other writers, set about self-education, or simply visit beautiful places.

BIO

Jennifer Pauli graduated from Corvinus School of Management and finished the faculty of Journalism at Corvinus University of Budapest. Currently, she is an editor, business writer, and copywriter, working with  well-known companies, blogs, and personalities. Follow her on Twitter, G+ and read the personal blog.