So you’ve typed “The End.” Congratulations! But before you send your masterpiece to an agent, editor, or beta reader, it’s time for one of the most crucial stages of writing: self-editing.
Editing your own work can feel daunting, but it’s also empowering. It helps you catch errors, tighten your prose, and polish your story until it shines. Here are some tried-and-true tips to help you tackle your next round of edits with confidence:
1. Take a Break Before You Edit
Give your brain time to forget what you wrote. Step away for a few days (or weeks if you can). When you return, you’ll see your manuscript with fresh eyes — making it easier to spot flaws and clunky sentences.
2. Read It Aloud
Your eyes can miss awkward phrasing, but your ears won’t. Reading your work aloud helps you hear rhythm, catch repeated words, and find sentences that don’t flow naturally.
3. Watch Out for Filler Words
We all have crutch words. Look for unnecessary words like just, really, very, that, or suddenly. These can usually be cut without changing the meaning — and your sentences will be sharper for it.
4. Focus on One Thing at a Time
Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to fix everything in one pass. Do multiple rounds: one for plot holes, one for character arcs, another for grammar, then one just for spelling and typos.
5. Trim Redundant Phrases
Be ruthless with repetitive ideas or lines that restate the obvious. For example, “He nodded his head.” (What else would he nod?) Cut “his head” — “He nodded.” is enough.
6. Check Dialogue Tags
Too many fancy tags (he exclaimed, she uttered) can be distracting. Stick with simple tags like said or asked — or remove them altogether when it’s clear who’s speaking.
7. Format Consistently
Make sure your formatting is clean and professional. Check for consistent fonts, paragraph spacing, indentations, and chapter headings.
8. Use Tech Tools (But Don’t Rely on Them Alone)
Tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Hemingway can help catch grammar slips and overly complex sentences. But remember: no software replaces your judgment or a human editor.
9. Get Feedback — Then Self-Edit Again
Before you hit “send,” consider having trusted beta readers take a look. Fresh perspectives catch what you missed. Once you get feedback, do another pass to tighten your manuscript even more.
Final Thoughts
Self-editing takes time, but it’s worth every minute. The cleaner your manuscript, the more likely your story will captivate readers — instead of distracting them with typos and tangents.
So grab your red pen (or track changes!) and get to work — your future readers will thank you for it.
Do you have a favorite self-editing trick? Share it in the comments — I’d love to hear what works for you!
If you’d like, I can adapt this into a newsletter, social post, or downloadable checklist too. Just say the word! 📚✨
