Here's How To Edit Your Book Manuscript Like a Pro

If you are reading this blog post then your book is almost complete – the theme selected, the style consistent, and the plot somewhat structured. Once the manuscript for your novel has been completed, the seemingly enormous task of editing your book manuscript lies ahead.  

Making sure that the essence of your story remains the same while all mistakes and inconsistencies are sought out is an important task. However, it can also be an extremely daunting one.

Breaking this task into manageable steps helps you work consistently on your manuscript.

Here, I will be giving a few steps that can provide purpose and direction to the editing of your novel. 

Let The Story Rest  

In his book On Writing, Stephen King mentions how he leaves his finished work in a drawer for six weeks before reviewing it. This is a practice I highly encourage you to pick up!  

Taking time away from your manuscript can help you approach it with a fresh perspective. This helps establish a patient form of editing, which will ensure that nothing is looked over. Moreover, the stress of working on your manuscript must be shed before you get into the more objective task of editing. 

In other words, since we are reading the same things repeatedly, our brains will likely miss inevitable mistakes because we become immune to the minor details. 

Have you heard of the term “nose blind?” It’s when you smell an odor, usually a bad one, so often that the smell no longer bothers you.

It’s the same thing for your writing.

Your writing can seem reasonable, even if it isn’t wholly polished up.

Take a break, a few days or even several weeks, and then return to your piece. It will seem like you are looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes.

Do a Cursory Read 

After time away from your finished work, read through your manuscript thoroughly without editing anything.  

Mark places that need edits – this will help you while editing by making noticeable changes clear. Anything you have missed will stick out when you improve in detail.  

This read-through helps determine whether there are inconsistencies in the plot and enables you to see the structure of your novel.

Make a Plan 

Before getting into the editing process, make a list detailing what you want to work on.

The previously mentioned cursory read will help you plan what the finished product will be. Concerns like resolving inconsistencies, removing unnecessary repetition, checking for grammar, organizing your chapters, and more should be part of your plan.  

Cover as much as possible but use the list as a general goal for your editing process. 

Organize Your Chapters 

If your novel is written in sections or chapters, by now, you should have an idea of how you want it to be structured.

Before any edits, make sure the various parts of your novel are organized according to your vision. This can be done during the cursory read while you make a specific plan on how you will edit.

If you feel like there are gaps or extra material, this is the time to note that. You can work out the ideal structure for you during the editing process. 

Read your Novel Aloud 

When getting into the editing process, try to read your work out loud to notice the flow of the writing so that it sounds consistent in the reader’s mind.

If you are not comfortable reading your novel yourself, perhaps you can have someone read it to you. Or you can use software, which most writing editors now have built in.  

This will also help slow you down, making it easier to notice minor mistakes, and sentences that sound clunky or too long can be altered to make them more pleasant to read.  

Rhythm and meter are essential parts to notice when reading your story aloud. Try to focus on how the words sound.

Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Does my story flow well?

• Are there parts that seem confusing?

• Jumbled?

• Do I get stuck anywhere when I read it?

• Does the plot sound forced?

• Do the characters sound forced?

• How is the pacing?

• Etc.

Once you read the story out loud, make notes of any mistakes.

Set a Deadline

Once the general work regarding figuring out what needs to be changed is done, try to set a deadline for your work. The specific deadline is up to you.  You might want to put it for one week or several weeks.

No matter what specific number of days you choose, give yourself enough time and consider your other responsibilities to set a realistic date.

Please do not punish yourself for going over the deadline but use it as a motivation to finish your editing work within a certain period.

It can also help you find someone who can help you stay consistent and productive.

This can be a writing buddy, a partner, or even someone you hire! (I have heard of authors hiring freelancer motivators for this reason).

Whatever works best for you!  

Check out Editing Manuals & Grammar Checkers

There are multiple manuals online available for authors to get advice from.  

A famous source is The Chicago Manual of Style. There, you can find accessible sources to help format your editing process more efficiently.

You can also run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure you haven’t missed anything. Various other tools help with grammar and organization, so it never hurts to look around for what enables you to become a better writer.

These tools will also often help with syntax, punctuation, and double spaces.

Re-do if Necessary 

After finishing your manuscript, do not think of it as a completed work.  

Do not be afraid to make significant changes if you believe it will help the story or the theme. Radical changes shouldn’t be avoided and can continually improve good writing.

Ruminating what you have written will give you essential insight into how well your novel presents itself.

Some of the questions you might ask yourself are:

• Are essential questions left answered? If not, then is it on purpose?

• For non-fiction – are the details in an understandable chronology?

• If not – is it easy to follow?

Do not be afraid to take out whole chunks of writing if it does not contribute to the larger flow of the novel. I am a fan of scaling down than up when writing, especially when editing.  

Be Wary of Common Grammatical Mistakes 

It is often easy to overlook mistakes like “too/to” or “you’re/your” as well as “affect/effect.” Again, when you read the exact words repeatedly, your brain will sometimes autocorrect them.

Even the authors with the most impressive command of language can sometimes use the wrong than or then.  

Pay close attention to your writing so that grammatical mistakes like these do not escape unedited.

As mentioned previously, reading aloud can be of great help when you want to slow down and focus on each word individually.

Remember – patience and concentration on details are important aspects of editing. 

Keep Track of Your Characters and Theme 

Although consistency has been mentioned previously, it is essential to make sure that the growth of your characters is outlined well and that your theme is consistent throughout.

Example questions include:

• Do your characters exhibit certain traits – do you make sure those traits are apparent?

• Do they grow out of bad behaviors, or do those behaviors worsen?  

Make sure their path is as straightforward as you want it to be.

For non-fiction, make sure your narrative is consistent and based on reality. Check your references and confirm your findings before finalizing your work.

Avoid Cliches and Overused Metaphors 

Let’s think of some typical cliches:

• all that glitters is not gold

• all for one and one for all

• in the nick of time

• brave as a lion

• the calm before the storm

Phrases and sayings like this are what you want to take out of your novel when you find out you have used them.

Undoubtedly, the context matters, and there are ways to use cliches that make them a good part of the dialogue or narration.

However, look up various cliches that you might have used and weigh their value and worth in your work. Finding your voice beyond familiar tropes and cliches is essential to sound unique. 

Read Through the Edits You Made 

It may seem like no number of revisions will be enough at times. I have heard that the magic number of three; however, I will admit that some of my short stories have gone through twenty or more revisions!

Revisit your writing as much as you can, though keep in mind the number of revisions is up to you.

This is an opportunity to catch more mistakes, tailor the language to your liking, and rectify any remaining inconsistencies. Thus, you can edit that magic three times or several times over to make sure you catch everything.  

Show Your Work to Readers 

If there are people you can trust with an unfinished, raw pieces, then share your manuscript with them to read through and give their opinion.

Take that constructive opinion to make changes you think may work with your idea of the novel.  

It is just like testing audiences for movies – others must read your novel for you to have a less biased opinion of your manuscript. An outsider’s perspective can be a fresh outlook on what you have spent countless hours on. 

Follow Your Vision 

Throughout the tedious editing process; remember the ideas that motivated you to complete your work and keep your vision alive.

Work towards creating something you like as well. While the audience is an essential concern for an author that wishes to make a livelihood, your unique perspective and ideas are what will give your work a personality and individuality.

MORE WRITING ARTICLES YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING