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Embrace the Editing Process

Edit your work. Everyone knows this, yet after working on a novel for years, it’s hard to re-read it dozens of times. The urge to send a book to your publisher or self-publish it can be strong, but please resist the impulse.

Manuscripts should undergo multiple levels of editing. A structural edit evaluates story arc, plot holes, character development, and other broader issues. A line edit elevates language, improves prose, and makes stylistic changes. A copy edit focuses on grammar, spelling, consistency, and other rule-following guidelines. The proofread is the final check for mistakes, from formatting to missing pages.

My editing iterations depend on my publication schedule and the complexities of each book, but I try to accomplish the following editing passes before I send a manuscript to a publisher. I confirm the plot is in four acts and includes most of the standard 15 story beats. I individually evaluate each POV character for character arc and language. Then I conduct a copy and line edit at the same time. Printing the manuscript and editing on white paper also makes mistakes jump off the page. I read the manuscript aloud to hear the music of the words, but if I’m short on time, I just speak the dialogue.

Software like ProWritingAid and AutoCrit can identify problems like overused words, repeated phrases, sentence length, etc. I run each of ProWritingAid’s 15 reports and always find additional problems. I don’t recommend accepting all the suggestions, so use your best judgment.

It’s difficult to find errors in our own work, because our minds read what it intended, not what is on the page. If you’re indie-published, please hire a human editor. Be aware that while editing is essential, it is possible to over-edit your story. If you endlessly tinker with your work, it may be an avoidance technique because you’re worried about launching the book into the world. Beta readers can let you know when your manuscript is ready for public consumption.