How to avoid the common mistakes of first-time authors, plus self-editing tips. Today's interview with Harry Dewulf will help improve your book. In publishing news, I discuss Bowker's report on ISBNs, a “Dry Spell” for New Novels on the Bestseller List from The Hot Sheet report, Publisher's Weekly report on a how-to-sell-nearly-a-half-million-copies-of-a-poetry-book.html">self-published poetry book selling half a million copies, and Kristine Kathryn Rusch's post on contract clauses for indie authors. In my personal update, this week marked my 5 year anniversary as an author-entrepreneur and I shared my lessons learned, plus an update on End of Days (and if you're a herpetologist, I want to hear from you!), and I mention the first positive reactions to my new course, How to Write a Novel. This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. Harry Dewulf is an editor and author of Edit Ready: or How to make your book as good as you can make it, before you send it to an editor. * On Harry's beginnings as an editor. * The different types of editing and why they're necessary. * Harry's definition of good writing. (It might surprise you). * The top three things often wrong with first novels. * Whether dictating a story helps us use other parts of our brain that might not be accessed by typing alone. * How to decide who your protagonist is. * Uncovering the story at the heart of a book using an objective lens. * Tips for making self-editing an easier process. You can find Harry at www.harrydewulf.com/creativepenn and on twitter @densewords Transcript of Interview with Harry Dewulf Joanna: Hi, everyone. I am Joanna Penn, from the TheCreativePenn.com. And today I am here with Harry Dewulf. Hi, Harry. Harry: Hello. Joanna: Just a little introduction. Harry is an editor and author of “Edit Ready” or “How to make your book as good as you can make it before you send it to an editor”, which is something that all authors need. Before we get into editing, Harry, tell us a bit more about you and your journey into writing and editing, and also, where you are in the world, because I know people will be interested. Harry: A lot of people want to become writers. In fact, a lot of people who are writers to be fair, have this romantic notion that they will eventually be able to sell up and move to France and write full time.