Whether you've got a few chapters or an almost finished draft, this is an amazing accomplishment! Many people think about writing a book but never get this far. You are a trooper, and you can feel great about the work you've put in.

But I know you're not satisfied. You're driven to do better—to finish this book, put it into the world, and feel proud of sharing your stories and knowledge.

You can tell your manuscript isn't there yet. Maybe it's not finished, but you feel lost and don't know what to write next. Perhaps it's technically complete, but you know it needs help—you're just not sure what help. You’re stuck in the weeds and can’t see what needs improving.

Are the chapters are in the right order? Are there too many personal stories? Do the ideas make sense? Are the commas in the right places?

You need fresh eyes on your writing. The good news is you have options!

You can do this yourself by following a few easy steps for a fresh perspective, or you can partner with a pro editor who can give you honest (but kind!) feedback. Either way, you can create an actionable plan to move forward fast and finally finish your book.

And man, will it be worth it! Because when you’re done, you will hold your book in your hands and know no one can ever take that accomplishment away.

You’ll gets emails from people who’ve read it and felt compelled to tell you your book changed them—their perspective, their plans, their life.

And it’ll change your life, too. You’ll have opportunities to speak on stage, to coach people in impactful ways, and create your own future.

1. First, tap into your own Insightful editing skills

You know your book best, and with the right approach, you can get out of the weeds, find a fresh perspective, and uncover invaluable insights to improve your writing.

Seriously, you can do this!

You're smart, you know your subject, and out of everyone on earth, you are the most dedicated to your book.

So, here's what you can do right now to come at your writing with fresh eyes. (And if you've done this already, keep reading!)

Push through 

Do as much as you can to the best of your ability. If this feels hard, it's because it is hard. But you can do hard things! Dig deep. Keep taking small steps through the swamplands of your manuscript. Remind yourself why you're doing this. Keep writing. Edit. Go again. You've got this.

You don't need to have completed your manuscript before getting insights from someone else, but you'll feel good knowing you've done everything you can to pull yourself out of the weeds first.

Take advantage of tech 

Use robot eyes. When you’ve stared at the book so long you’ve become word blind, bring in an AI grammar checker to look at your draft. I use and love ProWritingAid, which has free and paid versions available. It's not as epic as a human editor, but it'll see things you’ve missed, and provide a bunch of surprisingly insightful suggestions to improve your writing.

Be selective in choosing support

You might notice I haven’t recommended hauling in your friends to offer a fresh pair of eyes on your draft. This is for good reason! Some buddies are brilliant at pulling you out of the weeds, but it’s rare. And when it goes sideways, it can devastate your confidence.

Don’t jeopardizing the fragile new writer in you. Instead, be selective in who you turn to for support. Use your own skills, take advantage of more impartial tech, and trust professional editors.

2. Then, empower yourself with a little education

If you've done as much as you can on your own, then you're ready for an expert editor to pull you out of the weeds and act as your personal booster rocket, pushing you past the finish line with fireworks, confetti, and so many rave reviews!

But if you’re not already in the industry, editing can feel like a whole new world. It’s worth taking some time to learn about what type of editing you’d benefit from, how it works, and what it costs, so you can get the most from the experience.

Study the craft 

Take time away from your manuscript to read inspiring and insightful writing and editing books. Immersing yourself in craft books will help you understand what the hell editors are talking about when you do get chatting with them.

Check out my favorite writing and editing books here.

Discover when to hire an editor… and when you shouldn’t

People working on their first book often ask, "When should I hire an editor?" Here's the answer: Hire an editor when you've finished your book and made it as good as possible on your own (see the steps above).

If you haven't finished your book yet and are struggling to get to The End, you're not ready for an editor, but do not fear! There is help available for you. Find out more in this blog post.

And go here if you’re confused about editing services

If you've ever looked for editing services and found the whole thing confusing, you are not the problem. Editing services make zero sense. Zippo. Zilch. If you're confused about what type of book editing you need (or might need in the future), I'm not surprised. But it’s because the industry is stupid, not you. Find out why here.

3. FINALLY, KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING

If you gave me your email address on the last page, I'll send new blog posts with more free writing advice and inspiration direct to your inbox, so you can keep your energy and momentum going.

Or even, dare I say, give it a big ol’ booster rocket ride! Just wait and see what happens when you’re getting regular pep talks from someone who understands what you’re trying to do, and believes with all her heart that it matters. (That’s me, by the way. I’ll be there for you, cheering you on.)

If you skipped that step, that’s cool. But I want you to sign up below to get my regular emails with free writing advice and inspiration because I know you can do this book thing.

But I also know it’s hard to do on your own, and I want to be there for you. I wanna be the big ol’ rocket booster under your butt, pushing you (lovingly, of course) to do this beautiful, challenging, life-changing thing. Get the emails, and you’ll get the momentum to keep going.

Plus, you’ll enjoy some classic writing jokes like this gem:

What dinosaur is a writer's best friend?

A thesaurus.

let me introduce myself

I’m Liz Green, the editor, book coach, and ghostwriter behind Green Goose Writing. I’ve written 16 books, taught college writing classes, and edited countless manuscripts to help people tell their stories.

But those I work with don’t think of themselves as “real writers.” They’re everyday folks like you who want to write a book that will inspire others but are stuck trying to get the words on the page.

Maybe you're used to getting things done in other areas of your life, and you’re frustrated that, for some reason, your book just isn’t working. But you know now is the time to push through and do this.

And I love that. I love working with people who are stepping outside their wheelhouse, maybe feeling a bit scared or intimidated, but doing it anyway because they know they have something worth sharing. If that’s you, you’re my kind of person!

I am here to help you figure this thing out, finally write your book, and feel proud of sharing your words with the world.