Is My Book Good Enough to Be Published?
Here's the honest truth you've been searching for.
There is no one-size-fits-all “good enough” grading scale for books, but there are several points to consider if you’re trying to determine whether your book is "good enough" to be published.
A good book will have the following:
Exceptional writing quality
Originality
Plot development
Character development
Pacing
Dialogue
What makes a book "good" is ultimately subjective. One person might love a book that another person finds boring. In this article, we’ll help you self-assess your own work and help you select an honest critique partner. Plus, we’re sharing 10 important steps you can’t skip as a writer, and more.
Complete a Self-Assessment of Your Work
Before you publish your manuscript, it’s crucial to self-assess the quality of your own work. This is often challenging when you have already invested significant time and effort into your writing. However, an honest self-evaluation of your own work helps you ensure your book will meet agents’, editors’, and readers’ standards. Here are four questions that you can ask yourself:
Is my writing style clear and engaging enough for readers to remain interested?
Is my plot intriguing and well-paced? Does it drag at any points?
Do the characters have well-defined personalities? Can the readers relate to them?
Are the characters’ dialogues realistic and move the story forward, or do they feel forced and unnatural?
If you answer “no” to any of the above questions, you’ll want to revisit your work and revise it until you can answer “yes” to each question of your self-assessment.
Reworking your book is important step to writing a book. No successful author publishes their first draft. So, take your time with your revisions and rewrites to ensure that your manuscript is your best work and that it will meet readers’ expectations.
Why You Need an Honest Critique Partner
One of the best ways to improve your writing is to get feedback from another person. This activity not only helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses, but also helps you gain a new perspective and hear ideas that can make your story better. It’s important, however, to carefully choose a critique partner. You want someone who can provide honest and constructive feedback instead of simply telling you what you want to hear.
Find a partner who has a good grasp of the genre your story falls under, and who is willing and able to invest the time and effort needed to thoroughly review your work. Finally, you’ll want a critique partner who is supportive and encouraging but will also be honest and direct with you.
If you don’t have someone you can ask to provide feedback on your writing, turn to our Subscriber’s Chat and select the Beta Reader thread.
How to Be Open-Minded to Constructive Criticism
It’s challenging to receive feedback on your work, especially if it’s your first time sharing your writing. You may feel like your work is great because you’ve poured your heart and soul into it. You may be protective of your creation and defend it against other peoples’ thoughts. It's understandable to feel that way, but it’s also crucial to understand that constructive criticism helps you grow and improve your writing skills.
Approach feedback with an open mind and be willing to truly think through them and if they could better your story. Consider asking for feedback from multiple sources to gain a broader perspective on your work.
If multiple readers notice the same plot hole or something else in your story, you’re less likely to be defensive since the information came from more than one person. Then, you can make the necessary changes to enhance your story’s quality.
10 Steps You Simply Cannot Skip If You Want to Publish a Great Book
If you're serious about publishing a great book, there are certain steps you can't skip. You’ll want to:
Conduct market research to identify your book’s target audience
Develop a strong plot with clear themes and conflicts
Create well-developed characters who have unique personalities, motivations, and fears
Build a setting that enhances your story
Check that your pacing matches other successful books in the genre and keeps readers engaged
Produce realistic and engaging dialogue that fits each character and the setting
Incorporate beta readers and/or critique partners feedback to improve your story
Polish your manuscript during multiple rounds of revisions and editing
Ensure that your formatting is professional and consistent throughout your manuscript
Develop a strong marketing strategy to promote your book to potential readers
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, determining whether your book is good enough to be published is a highly subjective process. When you are honest with yourself, however, ask for and receive feedback from others, and don’t skip any steps in creating a great story, you can increase your chances of writing a great story.