For authors who have already finished their manuscript

Before you hand your manuscript to an editor or publisher—have you done everything only you can do?

The Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit is a guided, step-by-step process that helps you strengthen your manuscript from the one perspective no editor or publisher can offer: your own.

Immediate access Lifetime updates Self-paced
Enroll for $97
12 guided lessons · unfolds over ~2 weeks · lifetime access
Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit
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?

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 built from years of work with Emerald Lake Books authors.

Perspective One

Your Reader

Clarify exactly who your ideal reader is and what they hope to gain—then evaluate whether your manuscript delivers that experience.

Perspective Two

Your Goals

Define what success means to you—for the book and the opportunities you hope it creates—and ensure your manuscript supports it.

Perspective Three

Your Endorsers

Identify endorsers who are a natural fit for your message, and strengthen your manuscript before you ever reach out to them.

Perspective Four

Your Next Steps

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 that walk you through the entire self-audit process.

✓

Proven strategic exercises from the Publish with Purpose methodology, including the Dear Reader and Dear Author letters.

✓

Bonus video training on key topics, with added insight and real examples.

✓

Lifetime access, including future improvements and updates as the self-audit evolves.

12 guided lessons + templatesIncluded
Dear Reader & Dear Author exercisesIncluded
Bonus video trainingIncluded
Lifetime access & updatesIncluded
Launch price$97
Start My Self-Audit — $97
Tara R. Alemany
Tara R. Alemany
Founder, Emerald Lake Books
Why I created this

More than fifteen years ago, I wrote my first business book with a simple goal: to help people understand what I did, answer their most common questions, and build relationships with prospective clients. I wanted it to become a communication tool that kept working long after I’d closed my laptop. It worked—and it changed how I think about books ever since.

That belief sparked the creation of the Publish with Purpose methodology we’ve developed at Emerald Lake Books, including the Dear Reader and Dear Author exercises, and the strategies we use to help authors think intentionally about positioning and endorsements. The Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit brings those ideas together into one guided process you can apply on your own, before you hand your manuscript to an editor, agent or publisher.

Is this the right fit for you?

This is a good 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.

Probably not the right fit if you…

  • 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.

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.

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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.

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.
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.
I’ve already completed The Art of Self-Editing Challenge. Will this still help me? +
Absolutely. The Art of Self-Editing Challenge helps you polish the manuscript itself. The Strategic Manuscript Self-Audit steps back to evaluate it from a broader perspective—your ideal reader, your goals, your endorsement strategy. Many authors benefit from completing both.
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.
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.
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.
Will I receive feedback on my manuscript? +
No. This is designed to help you evaluate and strengthen your manuscript independently. If you’d like another perspective, you’ll find optional opportunities throughout to schedule a discounted coaching call with Tara.
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.
Will I have lifetime access? +
Yes. Your purchase includes lifetime access, along with any future improvements and updates as the self-audit continues to evolve.
What if I decide to publish with Emerald Lake Books? +
Wonderful! Many authors complete this self-audit before submitting to Emerald Lake Books because it helps them present their strongest work. Completing it doesn’t guarantee acceptance—we review every submission to determine fit—but if you’d like to explore publishing with us, click here.

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.

$97
Start Your Self-Audit Today
Immediate access · Lifetime updates · Self-paced