Let's Talk About Self-Editing

One of the most common questions we get from prospective self-published authors is this: What part of the publishing process can I do myself, and what should I hire someone to do for me? Although there are variables to every book and every author’s situation, we almost always encourage authors to hire a professional editor. 

But even though we’re big champions of hiring an editor, that doesn't mean we think there is no place for self-editing. Self-editing is an incredibly important part of the publishing process; it just shouldn’t (barring financial barriers or other reasons) be the only tool in your editorial toolbelt. So let’s dive into the concept of self-editing a bit more!

What Is Self-Editing?

As the name suggests, self-editing is the process of looking at your own work and editing it. That can be anything from catching typos all the way to doing major restructuring. Think of it as almost a literary equivalent to checking your math homework before you turn it in.

Why Should I self-Edit If I’m hiring An Editor?

It might seem like overkill to self-edit AND hire an editor, but it’s so important that you edit your own work before you hire someone to go over it for you. Essentially, before you pass your book along to an editor, you want your book to be in the best shape that you can get it yourself. That way, you and your editor can focus all of your energy on bringing your book up to the next level.

Does that mean your book needs to be perfect before you can send it to an editor? Absolutely not! But just like you would check your math homework before you turn it in to allow your teacher to call out any issues you missed, you want to check your manuscript before you bring in a professional. The editorial process is meant to be a collaboration, so that means when you send your manuscript to your editor, it’s in the best shape you can get it on your own.

How To Self-Edit

So how do you self-edit? As you would go through the editorial process with a professional editor, it’s easiest to break your self-editing process into similar steps. How you execute these steps will vary from person to person, but this basic structure will help you get started.

  1. Have a completed draft. Seriously. If you start editing your book before you finish it, you’ll never finish your book. Finish a draft, then go back to make changes and tweaks.

  2. As you begin this process, remember that you don’t have to read your book in one sitting! Make sure you’re keeping notes for yourself if there are thoughts or ideas you want to be sure you remember between editing sessions, but give yourself smaller, more attainable goals as you begin to read for edits and revisions.

  3. Re-read your book, focusing on big-picture issues. Is there a major plot point that gets abandoned or dropped? Does a character change who they are mid-book for reasons unrelated to the plot? Are major plot moments not fleshed out enough to have the emotional impact you want? Without worrying too much about awkward phrasing or minor grammatical errors, start making edits and tweaks to ensure the foundation of your story is solid!

    1. One great way to make sure plot points aren’t dropped is to use this phase to create a map of major plot points. Utilize whatever format works for you, be it a spreadsheet, a running Word document, or even Post-its on the wall. But having a visual representation of what is going on in your book will help keep everything straight as you edit.

  4. Next, focus on smaller-picture issues. Look for minor plot points or inconsistencies with a character. Additionally, focus on phrasing, how dialogue sounds, and the flow of the read. Does a conversation between characters sound stilted or unnatural? This is a great time to fix that! Is a paragraph overly wordy or clunky to read? Without worrying too much about making sure you’ve got your spelling and grammar perfect, begin working to smooth out those rough edges.

    1. If a section of text has a particularly clunky section of text, reading it aloud can not only help you figure out what you were trying to say, but it often can help you hear a solution to make the read a bit more smooth.

    2. Reading dialogue aloud can also really help in catching unnatural speech patterns.

  5. Proofread and fact-check! Put that final polish on the manuscript! Make sure to double-check (and cite) and sources or facts you’ve featured in your book, and, if your book is fantasy or science fiction, make sure you’re fact-checking things based on the rules of the universe you’ve created. And finally, give your book the best proofread you can to catch straggler spelling or grammar issues.

    1. If you are writing a book that has a lot of made-up places, species, or even unique names, create a style sheet that shows the correct spelling and capitalization of each term. This will not only help you stay consistent in spelling, but it will be beneficial to pass along to your editor as they work through your book.

    2. Even if you aren’t writing a book that has names and places that you invented yourself, a style sheet can be a helpful tool to pull together for your editor if you’re using occasional phrases in another language or featuring species, locations, or names that might be hard for the average person to spell properly.

  6. Remember that you can repeat a phase as many times as you need until you feel you’ve addressed that stage of the edit to the best of your ability.

What Is This Feeling?

Once you complete your self-editing journey, you might feel like you never want to read or think about your book again. And if you’ve never felt something like that before, it could concern you. However, I promise you that it’s normal! You’ve put a ton of work into writing and polishing your work, which takes a lot of basic effort and energy as well as a ton of emotional effort and energy. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer or that your book is bad. It means it’s time to call in the professionals—beta readers and/or an editor—to help get the book over the finish line and ready for querying or publication. It also means that it’s time to pat yourself on the back because you’ve just accomplished something major!

If you’re ready to start looking for readers or editors, we’re here to help! Schedule your free consultation and we’ll partner with you to make the best plan to get your book into the marketplace.

Kendall Davis