Are you self-publishing? I am!
My first novel is now in the hands of copy editors and should be up soon, too.
I didn't use an editor. It seems I have enough writing skill that I could serve as an editor for others. 😊
I know the kind of toil it takes to produce a really good novel. People have no idea the blood, swear, and tears!
For me, at least, it involves almost no effort. I sit down, imagine the characters, and they take on a life of their own. In my first novel, I had a plotline sketched out, but the characters decided things were going to unfold differently. It was quite breathtaking.
Yes, self publishing is the way to go these days. I was a professional writer back in the day with an agent (scripts). When I picked up the pen again recently I saw how dramatically the publishing industry has changed. Self publishing is the right path. Disadvantage is there is so MUCH bad writing out there now because anyone can self publish.
When I hired an editor for my book, I opted for a developmental edit rather than a copy edit. In the end it wound up including a copy edit anyway, but was also very helpful with things like pacing and clarity.
When it came time to publish, I had no idea how to get reviews beforehand or afterward. Do you have any tips for this? I’m currently finishing up the sequel and it’s in the hands of a beta reader. After that I’ll be hiring an editor.