Read Before You Submit
We really don’t like rejecting books. It makes the author sad. It makes us sad. It’s just not a good situation all around.
That’s why we’re extremely transparent about our evaluation process and endorsement criteria. We want to endorse your book. We want you to be a successful and happy author.
To improve your chances of receiving the Compulsion Reads Endorsement, we’ve listed some important Dos and Don’ts below. Some of these items may seem obvious or elementary, but we all have to start somewhere and even seasoned writers sometimes miss the basics.
Review the lists below carefully. Take the time to fully vet your manuscript. The single best thing you can do to improve your chances of receiving the indie book endorsement is to submit the strongest manuscript possible for our review.
Do
Writing
- Have a strong, clear and engaging plot
- Avoid stereotypical plot, characters, endings
- Write catchy, realistic dialogue that is consistent with each character’s personality
- Hook the readers at the end of each chapter
- Maintain a strong pace (keep the action moving) throughout the novel
- Write fresh, new, well-developed characters that come alive on the page
- Research all the aspects of the novel you are not an expert on; endeavor always for accuracy
- Make sure that every scene in your novel is relevant to the whole and moves the story forward
- Concentrate on writing active vs. passive sentences
- Concentrate on "showing" readers instead of "telling" readers
- Cut out info dumps, run-on sentences and every paragraph that does not move your story forward
Review/Editing
- Edit your manuscript thoroughly
- Search your manuscript for inconsistencies, plot holes, weak scenes, info dumps and lackluster characters and then fix them
- Join a serious critique group or writers group and request feedback
- Critique the work of others
- Listen to the feedback you receive with an open mind
- Be ready and willing to make large changes to your manuscript
- Be ready and willing to revise your manuscript multiple times
- Put every chapter, every scene, every sentence and every word under the microscope and ask yourself if it’s the best it can be
- Hire a professional copyeditor to correct grammar and punctuation errors
- Consider hiring an editor or book doctor if there are larger issues with your manuscript that you’re not sure how to fix
Submission
Don’t
Writing
- Skimp on character development
- Fill the beginning of your novel with long explanations and info dumps
- Let the plot slow, lag, make unnecessary detours
- Fall back or depend on stereotypical characters, plot points or endings
- Skip or write around necessary research
- Allow your readers to be confused about anything by the end of the book (unless they’re supposed to be confused)
- Accept weak or passive writing
- Be boring
- Forsake clarity
- Tell the reader instead of showing the reader
Review/Editing
- Write one draft and think it’s done
- Do one quick review and think it’s done
- Have your mother or close friends and family be your only reviewers
- Argue with your critique group and take offense at their suggestions
- Refuse to make any changes to your manuscripts no matter how many people mention the same issue
- Believe that you can copyedit your own manuscript
- Have people review your manuscript who are not serious writers or readers
- Be boring
- Forsake clarity
- Give up because you don’t want to go in and make large-scale edits
Submission
- Ignore the Compulsion Reads submission guidelines
- Submit a manuscript that has not already been thoroughly critiqued, reviewed and vetted by others and received positive feedback
- Submit your first draft, your second draft or any "draft"
