Have you finished writing your book and are eager to share it with the world? Wait a moment! Before publishing, there’s an essential step that turns a good manuscript into a great one: self-editing.
This ultimate checklist on how to self-edit a book will help you ensure your book is polished, error-free, and ready to captivate readers.
Tip 1. Don’t edit while you write
Until your manuscript is complete, refrain from editing what you’ve written. Editing prematurely prolongs the writing process, and while still deeply involved in the book, you’ll miss many mistakes due to your close attachment.
If you’re a perfectionist and feel the need to edit as you go, limit your editing to completed sections. For instance, if you finish a chapter today, edit it tomorrow or the next day. However, avoid editing anything in the middle of a chapter.
Tip 2. Give the manuscript a rest for a while
As mentioned earlier, you can’t be objective about your manuscript while still too attached to it. Even if you’re eager to move forward with your publishing dreams, setting the book aside is crucial. Give it a rest for at least a week, but ideally for a month or longer.
In the meantime, focus on other activities like marketing or a hobby you enjoy. You must forget many details, character actions, and events in your book.
Tip 3. Read other books while you wait
How can you refresh your perspective? While letting your manuscript rest, read books by other authors, including different genres. Aim to read 5 to 10 books to take your mind off your work as much as possible.
This exposure to new writing styles, characters, and worlds will help you see your manuscript with fresh eyes when you return to it. This renewed perspective will make your self-editing more effective and attentive to details.
Tip 4. Decide on a style
Choose a style guide to follow when editing your manuscript. You can refer to popular guides like The Chicago Manual of Style or The Elements of Style or create your own. Consider the following:
- Will you use the Oxford comma?
- What format will you use for numbers?
- If you’re not a native English speaker, will you follow American or British English rules?
The more details you highlight and the rules you create, the more coherent the manuscript you get.
Tip 5. Come up with a glossary
Besides the style guide, create a glossary of names, titles, and terms used throughout your book. This list should include details like:
- Names and ages of characters
- Relationships between heroes
- Places and distances
- Artifacts and spells
- And more!
Even if you believe you remember everything, referring to the glossary during the editing process is wise. While you’re unlikely to forget details about the main characters, you might mix up the name of a minor character rarely mentioned.
Tip 6. Read reviews of similar books
Jenn dePaula shared a great tip on her Instagram for improving your book. She recommends finding books in your genre and target audience and then reading their three-star reviews.
Why three stars? These reviews are the most objective and often include constructive feedback. Readers might suggest strengthening the main character, adjusting the book’s pace, or cutting unnecessary descriptions.
Tip 7. Divide editing into stages
Avoid editing everything at once. Break the process into stages, each focused on a specific task. Start by fixing logic and plot holes, strengthening characters, and enhancing descriptions.
Save grammar and spelling for the final stage. Also, remember to do additional proofreading at the very end—it helps avoid typos and accidental errors.
Tip 8. Don’t be afraid to delete
If you love a scene or a turn of phrase, but it doesn’t move the story forward or slows down the pacing, it’s best to cut it. This can be tough, but it’s crucial for strengthening your book. Here are some things to check when deciding whether to cut something:
- Does it repeat information that’s already been established?
- Does it use overly flowery language or clichés?
- Does it distract from the main plot?
If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to cut it.
Sometimes, it’s hard to decide if something should go. Feedback from beta readers or a critique partner can help in these cases. Ultimately, the decision is yours. Just remember, don’t be afraid to be ruthless!
Tip 9. Get the basics in order
We mean to clean up the repetitive and more technical things, not the semantic and logical ones. For example, checking whether you use the right POV or tense everywhere. At this point, you should also fix the following:
- Use active voice instead of passive.
- Don’t tell: The sky was painted with vibrant hues of orange and pink as the sun set beyond the horizon.
- Tell: Vibrant hues of orange and pink painted the sky as the sun set beyond the horizon.
- Ensure that all dialogues are formatted correctly.
- Remove vague and subjective words, like maybe, some, really, simply, almost, etc.
- Replace weak words with strong ones.
- Don’t tell: She had to walk fast to catch the last bus of the evening.
- Tell: She had to dash to catch the last bus of the evening.
- Check whether all fonts, sizes, and formats are the same throughout the document.
Tip 10. Check your book in different formats
Different formats present a manuscript in various ways, helping you catch new mistakes with each read. That’s why it’s beneficial to review your book in different forms, such as:
- A document on your computer
- A manuscript in a layout design
- A printed manuscript
- An audio format – read the book aloud and listen when someone or a special software reads it.
Another tiny life hack is to read sentences from the end to the beginning.
Tip 11. Use helpful tools and software
Fortunately, today, authors can rely not only on their own eyes but also on special software. These tools allow you to correct the most common and gross mistakes. Here are some of them:
However, keep in mind that these programs cannot fix everything or may fix something that should not, depending on the context.
Tip 12. Accept imperfection
Indeed, you should aim for perfection, but remember that you are only human. Readers won’t be upset over a minor mistake if the book is excellent. If the story evokes solid emotions and provides fantastic experiences, errors don’t matter.
After all, you’re not a robot. Moreover, even books from the most reputable publishers have mistakes.
To wrap up
Self-editing your book may seem daunting, but with these twelve steps as your roadmap, you’ll be well on your way to a manuscript that shines.
Remember, don’t be afraid to be ruthless with your edits, and don’t strive for absolute perfection. Focus on creating a captivating story and a smooth reading experience, and your readers will thank you for it.
What are your personal life hacks for self-editing? Share them in the comments.
This was an excellent overview of how to edit a manuscript! I also found it helpful to outline main topics/themes/happenings of the book on different colored index cards. Each color represented an era of my memoir, which consists of my childhood, a year in Spain, a 5-year stint in DC, and then the rest of my life in Germany. The events were not in chronological order in the book so it was tough to get an overview of how many pages covered each era. The colors made it very clear and were a refreshing visual tool. I was then able to cut out sections that were too heavily represented.
We are glad it was useful 😊
Thank you for sharing this great tip!