How to Self-Edit Your Book Before Professional Editing

Read Time: 4 minutes

Introduction

Every great book goes through multiple rounds of refinement before it reaches readers. Behind every polished manuscript is an author who understands that writing is rewriting. Self-editing is the bridge between your first draft and a professional editor’s expertise—it’s where you shape raw ideas into compelling storytelling.

Whether you’re an aspiring novelist or a seasoned writer, learning how to self-edit effectively can save you time, money, and frustration in the professional editing process. More importantly, it ensures that your manuscript is in the best possible shape before it reaches an editor’s desk.

In this guide, you’ll learn proven self-editing techniques that professional writers and editors use, helping you fine-tune your manuscript so that when it’s time for professional book editing, the process is seamless and impactful.

Step 1: Read Your Manuscript Out Loud

Your brain processes text differently when you hear it rather than when you read it. Reading your manuscript aloud helps you identify awkward phrasing, unnatural dialogue, and missing words that your eyes might gloss over.

✅ How It Helps:

Reveals clunky sentences and run-on phrasing.
Helps you hear inconsistencies in tone and pacing.
Highlights repetitive words or phrases.

🎯 Pro Tip: Record yourself reading a few chapters and listen later with a fresh perspective. You’ll spot areas that need tightening almost instantly.

Step 2: Focus on Story Structure & Big-Picture Issues

Before diving into line edits, ensure your story structure is solid. No amount of grammar correction can save a manuscript with weak pacing, underdeveloped characters, or unresolved plotlines.

🔍 Ask Yourself:

Does my story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
Are there plot holes or inconsistencies?
Do my characters’ arcs evolve naturally?
Is the pacing engaging, or does the story drag?

📌 Expert Tip: If your story needs major restructuring, a Manuscript Evaluation can provide professional insight before investing in full editing services.

Step 3: Trim the Fat – Cut Unnecessary Words & Filler

Great writing is lean and purposeful. Every word should serve a function—whether it’s building tension, developing a character, or advancing the plot.

❌ Common Filler Words to Cut:

Very, really, just, that, actually, suddenly, completely.
Passive voice: Instead of “She was walking,” say “She walked.”
Over-explaining: Trust your reader. Instead of “She was angry and her fists clenched,” just say “Her fists clenched.”

✂️ Pro Tip: If a sentence still works without a word, cut it. A Line Editing service will fine-tune style and clarity, but this step puts you ahead of the game.

Step 4: Strengthen Dialogue for Authenticity

Dialogue should sound natural, yet purposeful. Readers should “hear” distinct voices for each character.

✅ Self-Editing Checklist for Dialogue:

Does each character have a unique voice?
Are conversations realistic without being mundane?
Have you removed unnecessary dialogue tags? (e.g., “he said, she exclaimed” when not needed)

💡 Pro Tip: Read dialogue sections aloud as if you were acting them out. If it feels stiff, rewrite.

Step 5: Check for Consistency

A single inconsistency can break reader immersion. This includes character traits, names, locations, and even small details like whether a character has blue eyes in one chapter and green in another.

🔍 Track Key Details:

Character names and descriptions.
Timeline and seasonal references.
Unique terms or world-building elements (especially for fantasy/sci-fi).

📌 Expert Tip: Keep a “story bible” where you document key details. This prevents continuity errors that could frustrate readers.

Step 6: Fix Grammar, Style, and Punctuation

Grammar mistakes and poor sentence construction can make even the best story difficult to read.

🔎 Common Grammar Mistakes to Catch:

Subject-verb agreement errors.
Misused commas and semicolons.
Homophones (their/they’re/there, your/you’re).

🎯 Pro Tip: While tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid help catch errors, Copy Editing by a professional editor ensures your manuscript is publication-ready.

Step 7: Take a Break & Review with Fresh Eyes

One of the best editing tricks is to step away from your manuscript before doing a final pass.

📌 Why It Works:

Distance helps you spot issues you previously missed.
You return with a fresh, unbiased perspective.
Errors, redundancies, and awkward phrasing become more obvious.

⏳ Pro Tip: Set your manuscript aside for at least 48 hours before doing a final review.

Step 8: Use Editing Tools Wisely

While no tool replaces a professional editor, AI-powered editing tools can help refine your manuscript before submission.

✅ Top Editing Tools:

Hemingway Editor – Highlights wordy sentences and passive voice.
Grammarly Premium – Checks for grammar, clarity, and tone.
Scrivener – Helps structure complex manuscripts.

🎯 Pro Tip: Don’t rely solely on software—human editors provide context and depth that AI cannot replicate.

Step 9: Final Proofreading

After multiple rounds of edits, it’s time for a final proofreading pass. This is where you catch lingering typos, formatting errors, and missing words.

🔍 What to Look For:

Spelling and punctuation errors.
Formatting inconsistencies.
Double spaces or missing words.

✏️ Pro Tip: Reading your manuscript backward (last sentence to first) forces you to focus on individual words, making typos easier to spot.

Step 10: Know When It’s Time for Professional Editing

Even after thorough self-editing, a professional editor is essential for refining your book to industry standards.

👩‍💻 Editing Options:

Developmental Editing – For structure, pacing, and big-picture feedback.
Line Editing – For style, flow, and readability.
Copy Editing – For grammar, syntax, and consistency.
Proofreading – The final polish before publishing.

📌 Expert Tip: Consider a sample edit before hiring an editor to ensure the right fit.

Conclusion

Self-editing is a powerful skill that elevates your manuscript before professional editing. By following these steps, you’ll catch errors, strengthen your writing, and make the editing process smoother and more cost-effective.

However, self-editing doesn’t replace professional editing—it enhances it. Ready to take your book to the next level? Booksola’s professional editing services ensure your manuscript is polished, engaging, and ready for publication.

📌 📞 Ready to elevate your manuscript? Contact Booksola’s team today and get your book professionally edited!