1. When you are satisfied that you are done. Put it under your bed. One month minimum.

2. Pull it out and go from beginning to end marking it up. You will find stuff to fix.

3. Find three responsible first readers. Not your mom, spouse, girlfriend, but people who have no vested interest in your success or failure and have a critical eye. You can look for them while the book stews under your bed.

4. Unless you are a bonified writing genius, they will have things for you to work on...probably character or plot related, but grammar also.

5. Fix this stuff.

6. Join a critique group to get feedback from a wide-range of nutcases spread around the world who don't know you, but might be able to point out flaws in your book or tell you, "You are a bonified writing genius."

7. Fix based on the critiques.

8. Find an editor to beat the crap out of you over your story.

9. Fix what the editor identifies.

10. Find three new people to reread your book to give you input. You'll be amazed what they find.

11. Fix it.

12. Go forth and look for an agent, publisher, or self-publish.

Be at peace, unless you get additional feedback. As has been said, "No book is perfect, but they are perfectly good books." Timeframe: 6-12 months.

During the downtime, create a marketing plan and writing the next book. If an agent says, "You're a bonified writing genius," the next thing he'll ask, "Do you have anything else in the pipeline?" Surprise him.

-Rick Bylina

Words to follow.
Thanks, Rick.