You’ve finally done it. After countless early mornings or late nights—or, more likely, burning the candle at both ends—you’ve finished writing your book. It’s time to turn your manuscript over to an editor. But before you do so, one tiny and niggling question remains: is it any good?

As painful as it may be, it’s time to get some quality feedback. But don’t send it off to your mother, favorite aunt, or best friend. Chances are these people are well aware of all the sweat and tears that went into your book, and that will make them less than objective.

Instead, choose at lease two people for reviewing, one who knows the publishing field and another who doesn’t. The knowledgeable person will be able to give pointers on content. The other person can judge the book from the viewpoint of a casual reader or newcomer, detecting gaps and identifying areas requiring further explanation.

Remember: you’ve been living with this book for a long time and are, quite naturally, subjective in