Tag: Steps of the Novel Writing Process

Ask the Author

Ask the Author: What do you do with your first draft?

Mandy Webster

Dear Mandy,

I’m curious as to what other writers do when starting their second draft. Do you trash what you wrote in draft one and start totally from scratch? Or do you take some of what you wrote in the first draft and refine it? Or something else entirely? How does it work for you?

A first draft doesn’t have to be good. It just has to give you something to work with. The messy parts, the awkward scenes, the holes in the plot—they’re all part of the process. The magic happens when you give yourself permission to write badly enough to find the story.

Answer:
For me, the answer is pretty simple: I revise my first draft.

I know some writers who essentially start over when they reach the second draft. They might keep the basic idea, characters, or plot, but the actual manuscript gets tossed aside and they write the book again from the beginning. And honestly, I can see the appeal. Sometimes a first draft teaches you so much about the story that you realize the book you originally thought you were writing isn’t actually the book you want to write. But that’s not generally how I work.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

How to set prices and earn royalties on your independently published novel

Mandy Webster

Setting the right price for your independently published novel is crucial to maximizing your earnings while ensuring your book remains competitive in the market. The price you choose not only affects your royalties but also influences readers’ perceptions of your book’s value. Here’s how to make strategic pricing decisions and understand how royalties work.

An effective book pricing strategy will keep your novel affordable without devaluing your work.

Royalties are the payments you receive for each copy of your book sold. Unlike traditional publishing, where authors typically receive a small percentage of sales (usually 5-15%), independent authors keep a much larger share of their earnings—often 35-70% for ebooks and 40-60% for print books, depending on the publishing platform and pricing model. However, royalties are calculated after subtracting production costs, platform fees, and any distributor cuts.

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Beta readers vs. ARC readers: do you need both as an indie author?

Mandy Webster

For independent authors, feedback is invaluable. But when it comes to getting pre-publication opinions on your book, should you use beta readers, ARC readers, or both? While they serve different purposes, each plays a crucial role in refining and marketing your book before publication.

There is a major difference between a beta reader and an ARC reader.

What are beta readers?

Beta readers are early readers of your full manuscript draft. Think of them as workshop partners—people who help you shape your book before it reaches the final stages. They provide feedback that might lead to deep revisions, pointing out plot holes, character inconsistencies, pacing issues, or anything else that could improve the reading experience. Because of this, beta readers are typically used before the final proofreading stage, when there’s still time to make significant changes.

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Is it wrong to use AI for book covers? Here’s why the answer isn’t simple

Mandy Webster

If you’ve spent time in publishing spaces lately, you’ve probably seen the heated arguments over AI-generated book covers—and the moral panic that sometimes comes with them. The core of the opposition sounds reasonable: artists deserve to be paid. Many AI image generators are trained on existing artwork without permission. Some argue that using AI is stealing from creatives and eroding the value of real human labor. In this view, choosing an AI cover over hiring a professional designer is not just a budget decision—it’s an ethical failure.

To be considered a new, copyrightable work, a derivative work must be substantially different from the original and reflect the artist’s own creative input. Where should we draw the line when the “artist” is AI? Should accessibility be a consideration?

It’s also true that AI doesn’t yet create perfect, consistent, or always-usable art. Many covers made with AI look slick on a screen but fall apart in print. Designers bring not just visual skill but marketing savvy, genre expertise, and an understanding of composition that a prompt can’t replicate.

And yet, the conversation around AI art often lacks nuance.

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Book cover design for independent publishers: making your book stand out

Mandy Webster

They say not to judge a book by its cover—but when it comes to indie publishing, readers absolutely do. Your book cover is often the first—and sometimes only—chance to grab someone’s attention, so it needs to make an impact. Whether you’re working on a shoestring budget or ready to invest in professional help, understanding your options for book cover design is crucial. In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of designing your own cover, hiring a designer, or trading services to create a cover that does your story justice.

In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!

DIY book cover design

Designing your own book cover can be a cost-effective solution, but it requires a solid understanding of design principles. Many publishing platforms offer cover generators, but these tools are often limited and produce generic-looking covers. I used them for my first couple of books, but I quickly realized that I wanted to represent my work more professionally. If you choose to design your own cover, keep these key factors in mind:

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How to select the right independent publishing platform for your novel

Mandy Webster

Once you’ve finished writing your novel, the next big decision is choosing the right platform on which to publish it. With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best fit for your book. Before diving into the platform selection process, it’s crucial to define your publishing goals. Below are a few examples of goals you may wish to achieve.

In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!

Maximum reach: If you aim to reach a global audience and prioritize sales, platforms like Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble Publish are excellent choices.

Creative control: If you want complete control over your book’s design, formatting, and distribution, platforms like Lulu and IngramSpark offer more customization options.

Royalties: Consider the royalty rates offered by different platforms. Some platforms offer higher royalties, while others may have lower rates but provide additional services.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!, Memoir

How to write a memoir: Start with the theme, then build the story

Mandy Webster

If an autobiography tells the story of your whole life, a memoir zooms in on a specific piece of it. A memoir is a focused narrative built around a central theme or question, often rooted in transformation, struggle, identity, or insight. It’s not about everything that’s ever happened to you—it’s about what happened and why it matters.

Instead of telling an entire life story, a memoir zooms in on a particular “slice”—a specific period, theme, or experience that defined or transformed the author. Memoirs tend to be more literary and reflective, often prioritizing emotional truth and personal insight over comprehensive detail.

In my last blog post, we talked about how the basic steps of the novel writing process can be used to write a full autobiography. The same holds true for memoir—but with one crucial shift. With memoir, the first step isn’t structure. It’s theme. Let’s walk through how to find your theme and shape your memoir around it—one notecard at a time.

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Autobigraphy, Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

How to write an autobiography: Telling the full story of your life

Mandy Webster

We often hear “memoir” and “autobiography” used interchangeably, but they serve very different purposes. A memoir is a slice of life—a deep dive into a particular time, theme, or transformation. An autobiography, by contrast, is your full life story—from childhood through the present. It’s the comprehensive telling of who you are and how you became that person, meant to offer not just facts but also meaning.

An autobiography attempts to tell the full story of a person’s life, typically in chronological order. It starts at or near the beginning—childhood, family background—and proceeds through adulthood, covering major events, accomplishments, and lessons learned. Think of it as a wide-angle lens: an overview of a life from beginning to (almost) end.

In this post, we’ll look at how to write a true autobiography. And if you’ve been following my series on going back to basics and applying the steps of the novel writing process to your own work, you’ll be pleased to know the same steps apply here. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, the process of planning, structuring, drafting, and revising holds up. The main differences lie in where your material comes from—memory and research rather than imagination—and how you go about shaping your story.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!, Memoir

Memoir vs. autobiography: What’s the difference—and why it matters

Mandy Webster

If you’ve ever wondered what separates a memoir from an autobiography, you’re not alone—it all comes down to scope and storytelling style. When browsing the nonfiction shelves or choosing your next book club pick, you’ve likely seen the terms memoir and autobiography used almost interchangeably. While they both draw from real lives, these two forms of life writing are distinct in both structure and purpose. Understanding the difference isn’t just helpful for readers—it’s essential for writers, too.

While it’s common to write an autobiography in a formal or even academic tone, a memoir leaves more room for the imagination.

Autobiography: The Whole Life

An autobiography attempts to tell the full story of a person’s life, typically in chronological order. It starts at or near the beginning—childhood, family background—and proceeds through adulthood, covering major events, accomplishments, and lessons learned. Think of it as a wide-angle lens: an overview of a life from beginning to (almost) end.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

What are the steps for publishing your novel independently?

Mandy Webster

Independently publishing your novel offers unparalleled creative control and the opportunity to bring your story to readers on your terms. Unlike traditional publishing, where a publishing house manages editing, design, marketing, and distribution, independent publishing puts those responsibilities in your hands. This path allows you to set your own schedule, retain full rights to your work, and earn higher royalties per sale.

In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!

While it requires dedication and strategic planning, self-publishing is an empowering way to share your voice with the world. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the independent publishing process and launch your novel successfully.

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