Congrats on finishing your novel! Now comes the next big step—self-editing. These editing tips for writers will help you polish your story, whether you’re a first-time author or a seasoned pro. For new writers, the question is: How do you self-edit effectively? And for those who’ve been here before: How can you take your writing to the next level?
The answer is simple: editing. It’s your chance to improve, grow, and ensure your novel shines before reaching beta readers or editors. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
Here are 10 Essential Editing Tips for Writers:
Give Your Manuscript Time to Breathe
Letting your manuscript sit for a bit before diving into edits is one of the best editing tips for writers. How long you wait is up to you—whether it’s a couple of weeks, a few months, or more, it depends on your schedule. The big reason for waiting? It helps you avoid “book blindness”, which happens when you’ve spent so much time with your writing that you can’t spot mistakes anymore. Giving yourself some space lets you come back with fresh eyes, almost like you’re reading it for the first time. It’s one of those editing tips for writers that really makes a difference in catching things you might’ve missed.
Read It To Yourself Or With A Buddy
Ever notice how your writing sounds totally different when you read it out loud versus in your head? If you’ve tried it, you’ve already stumbled onto one of the best editing tips for writers. Reading aloud helps you catch weird phrases, awkward sentences, or spots where you missed a word. It’s especially helpful for dialogue. The best way to see if a conversation flows naturally is to read it with someone else, like you’re actors going through a script.
No partner? No problem! You can use your computer’s speech function to have it read your writing back to you. You can even adjust the voice and speed. And if all else fails, just read it aloud to yourself—you’ll be surprised at what you’ll catch!
Check Words With Multiple Meanings/Spellings
This editing tip for writers is self-explanatory. English can be tricky, even for native speakers—we all mess up sometimes. When we self-edit, we only catch about 75% of our grammar mistakes on average, which is why having an editor is super helpful in the long run. We’ve all been there with those confusing words that sound the same but are spelled a bunch of different ways. They always leave you wondering if you used the right one!
Here is a list of common problem words:
- a lot/alot
- weather/whether
- affect/effect
- can/may
- further/farther
- good/well
- i.e./e.g.
- into/in to
- it’s/its
- lay/lie
- less/fewer
- that/who
- their/they’re/there
- then/than
- who/whom
- your/you’re
The easiest way to fix these mistakes is to print out your manuscript and highlight any of these tricky words you spot. After that, go back through and double-check that you used the right one. If you’re not sure about a word, don’t hesitate to Google it or check one of your editing books. It’s always better to be sure!
Eliminate Your Crutch Words
Crutch words and phrases are those little extras we tend to overuse in our writing—fluff that sneaks in when we’re tired, unsure of what to say, or just not paying attention. Words like “always,” “right,” “just,” “maybe,” “very,” and so on. It’s a good idea to do a separate pass through your draft just to find and cut these out. They add unnecessary length to your work and can make your writing feel weaker. Plus, if you hire an editor, these words can drive up the editing cost! Want to dive deeper into crutch words? Check out this guide from Hubspot: So, Um, You Really Need to Stop Using These Crutch Words.
Scan For Awkward Spacing
Another thing to watch out for in your manuscript is awkward spacing, weird gaps, or messed-up formatting. These mistakes tend to happen when we pause mid-thought to research something or get a little too space-bar happy. One of the best editing tips for writers is to use the find-and-replace tool in Word—just type two spaces in “find” and one space in “replace,” then hit enter. It’s a quick way to tidy things up. If you’re not into that, you can always go through and delete the extra spaces manually.
Highlight Uncertain Punctuation
We’ve all been there—overusing commas, tossing in semicolons where they don’t belong, or getting creative with ellipses and extra apostrophes. We might think it makes our writing better or adds flair, especially with dialogue, but it’s actually a common mistake. One of the key editing tips for writers is to treat punctuation like a recipe: too much salt can ruin a batch of cookies, and the same goes for writing. Too much (or too little) punctuation can mess with the flow and hurt your chances of getting published.
The best way to avoid this? Go through your manuscript and circle any punctuation you’re unsure about. If you’re even slightly unsure, mark it. Then, look up the correct usage and make the changes. Taking the time to do this now will save you and your editor time later, and it’ll improve your writing overall.
Run Spell Check or Use Grammarly
When we’re writing, we’re not always thinking about whether every word is spelled perfectly—and that’s okay! But what’s not okay is leaving those simple mistakes for your editor to fix later. It’s easy to get “page blind” after staring at your document for too long, especially if you’ve read the same paragraph a hundred times.
Luckily, you don’t have to be a spelling whiz. That’s where tools like spell check or Grammarly come in handy. Using these tools makes sure you catch those easy-to-fix errors and keeps your editor from having to clean up basic mistakes.
Grab A Copy Of The Chicago Manual of Style
If you haven’t been published before, you’ll definitely want to get familiar with this. It’s the ultimate style guide for writing, often called the “publisher’s bible.” Editors reference it all the time in their notes and corrections, so if this is your first time hearing about it, it’s a good idea to grab a copy and check it out. It’ll help you understand why an editor made certain changes to your manuscript. Plus, if you’re thinking about becoming an editor or just want to level up your editing skills, this is the go-to resource! Ready to look for an editor but don’t know where to start? Hop on over to How To Find A Book Editor In 6 Easy Steps.
Play By The Formatting Rules
These days, if you want to get traditionally published, you have to follow the formatting rules. Even if you’re self-publishing, you’ll still have to stick to certain formatting guidelines. Publishers usually list these rules on their submissions page, and if you’re using Kindle Direct Publishing, they’ve got their own too. The rules might vary, but one thing’s for sure: if you don’t follow them, your book won’t get far.
That’s why it’s so important to double-check everything before submitting or hitting that publish button. Proper formatting makes your book easier to read and allows readers to focus on the story instead of fixing layout issues.
Here’s what to look for:
- Send your manuscript as a Word document unless stated otherwise (.doc or .docx).
- Use double-line spacing.
- Use a single space after periods.
- Only use 12 pt., black, Times New Roman font.
- Using tab to indent your paragraphs may not be necessary. Check with your publisher as it varies by genre.
- The first paragraph of any chapter, after a subheader, or following a bulleted or numbered list shouldn’t be indented.
- Use page breaks between chapters.
Beware Over-Editing
Self-editing is important, but don’t fall into the trap of over-editing. It’s a bit like walking a tightrope—you want to improve your writing without obsessing over perfection. The truth is, no one’s perfect, and that includes writers. That’s why we have editors and teams to help us polish our work. Don’t expect to catch every mistake yourself—it’s just not possible. Trying to perfect your writing on your own is like believing in Santa as an adult—sounds nice, but it’s not real.
So yes, self-editing is essential, but hiring an editor to catch the rest of your mistakes is key. A fresh set of eyes can make all the difference!
For more self-editing tips, check out How To Start Editing My Book: Beginner’s Guide and The 6 Types of Book Editing You Need To Know.
Self-editing can feel like a huge task, but it’s an essential step toward making your novel the best it can be. With these editing tips for writers, you now have the tools to approach this part of the process with confidence. Remember, editing is all about refining your work, not striving for perfection. Take your time, trust the process, and when you’re ready, don’t hesitate to bring in an editor for that extra polish. Writing is a journey, and each step—whether it’s drafting, editing, or revising—brings you closer to your finished masterpiece. Keep going, and happy editing!
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