An editor’s note, before the editing begins
By the time most authors finish writing, they’ve read their manuscript dozens of times—revised chapters, polished sentences, corrected grammar. Then it goes to an editor. Or an agent. Or a publisher.
But before you place it in someone else’s hands, one question is worth asking first.
Have you done everything only you can do?Â
An editor can improve your writing. A publisher can improve your book. But neither can decide who your ideal reader truly is, what success looks like for you, which opportunities you hope your book will create, or whose endorsement would strengthen your message.
Those are decisions only you can make—and the Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit is designed to help you make them before you move to the next stage of your publishing journey.
Over the next two weeks, you’ll evaluate your manuscript from four perspectives.
Rather than simply reading about publishing, you’ll actively audit your own manuscript—through proven exercises build from years of work as a ghostwriter, research and practice.
| Perpective One |
Perspective Two |
| Your Reader |
Your Goals |
| Clarify exactly who your ideal reader is and what they hope to gain—then evaluate whether your manuscript delivers that experience. |
Define what success means to you—for the book and the opportunities you hope it creates and ensure your manuscript supports it. |
| Perspective Three |
Perspective Four |
| Your Endorsers |
Your Next Steps |
| Identify endorsers who are a natural fit for your message, and strengthen your manuscript before you ever reach out to them. |
Finish with greater confidence in your manuscript and a clearer sense of what comes next in your publishing journey |
What’s included
→ 12 guided lessons + templates
→ Dear Reader & Dear Authors exercises
→ Bonus video training
→ Lifetime access, including future improvements and updates as the self-audit evolves.
| Is this the right fit for you? |
| This is a good fit if you…. |
Probably not the right fit if you…. |
- Have finished your manuscript and want one final opportunity to strengthen it before editing or publication.
- Want your book to speak clearly to your ideal reader.
- Hope your book accomplishes something beyond simply being published.
- Want to approach professional editing with more confidence and clarity.
- Are willing to thoughtfully evaluate your manuscript and make strategic changes.
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- Are just beginning to write your book.
- Are looking for someone else to evaluate your manuscript for you.
- Want detailed instruction on grammar, punctuation or writing craft.
- Aren’t interested in revising your manuscript before the next stage.
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When you finish, you’ll walk away with…
✓ A clearer understanding of exactly who you’re writing for.
✓ A stronger manuscript that better serves your ideal reader.
✓ Clearly defined goals and measurable objectives.
✓ A prioritized list of potential endorsers and a strategy for approaching them.
✓ Greater confidence that you’ve done everything only you can do before moving on.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I complete the Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit?
The ideal time is after you’ve finished writing but before you send it to a professional editor, literary agent, or publisher. At this stage, you’ve already said what you want to say—the self-audit helps you step back and evaluate whether your manuscript truly serves your readers, supports your goals, and creates the opportunities you hope it will.
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My manuscript is already finished. Will this still help?
Yes. Most authors spend a great deal of time improving how they communicate their ideas. This self-audit focuses on something different: ensuring you’re communicating the right ideas to the right readers in a way that supports your goals. Even authors who’ve revised multiple times often discover new opportunities through this process.
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Is this only useful for nonfiction?
No. While many examples come from nonfiction publishing, the underlying methodology applies equally well to fiction—it just takes a bit more imagination at times. While the Dear Reader exercise includes separate instructions for fiction and nonfiction, the other lessons ask more generic questions that can be applied to both fiction and nonfiction.
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Is this a writing or editing course?
No. This isn’t designed to teach grammar, punctuation or writing craft. It helps you evaluate your manuscript from a strategic perspective—asking questions only you, as the author, can answer—to strengthen it before it reaches a professional editor, agent or publisher.
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Is this a replacement for professional editing?
Not at all. Professional editing remains essential. This self-audit comes before it—so you often arrive at the editing stage with a stronger manuscript and a clearer sense of what you’re trying to accomplish.
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Will I receive feedback on my manuscript?
No. This is designed to help you evaluate and strengthen your manuscript independently.
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How much time should I expect to spend?
The self-audit unfolds over approximately two weeks, with a new lesson available each day—ten lessons plus two built-in reflection and catch-up days. Most lessons take 30—60 minutes, depending on your manuscript and how much revision you choose to do.
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Ready to strengthen your manuscript?
If you’ve finished your manuscript and want one final opportunity to strengthen it before placing it in someone else’s hands, the Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit is ready when you are. You’ll receive immediate access to the Welcome lesson and preparatory instructions, and your first guided lesson will be available first thing tomorrow morning.
Start Your Self-Audit Today – KSH 12, 500
