Congrats, you’ve done it! You have completed the first draft of your book, which is a monumental achievement. After spending hours immersed in your characters, plot, and world, pouring your heart and soul onto the page, you have a full story in your hands. Now comes the next important step in the writing process: self-editing and revision. While writing is the most creative step, editing is where your work becomes polished and professional. It is where the rough edges are smoothed out, the plot holes are filled, and the pacing of the story is perfected.
For first-time authors, self-editing can be scary and exciting. You’re attached to the words you so carefully crafted in that first draft and the idea of changing or even cutting them can feel terrifying. But fear not, here is a guide through the basic principles and techniques of self-editing and revising your first draft. 

Take a Break and Get Some Distance from Your Work

The first step to self-editing is not diving right in, but stepping back. After completing your first draft, give yourself some time away from the book. This break could range from a few days to even months, depending on your schedule and how eager you are to start the editing process. This distance will allow you to return to your work with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot errors, plot holes, and weak sections. 

When you are too close to your work, it is sometimes easy to overlook inconsistencies or assume things make sense because you know what you meant to say. A break will offer you an amazing mental reset that will help you approach your book like a reader, not just a writer. 

Start with the Big Picture: Developmental Editing

Before you start getting into the fine details of your book like word choice and grammar, focus on the big picture. This stage is known as developmental or structural editing, and it looks at the plot, pacing, character development, and theme of your book. When developmental editing ask yourself these questions:

  • Plot and Structure: Does your story have a clear and understandable beginning, middle, and end? Are there any plot holes or inconsistencies? Does each scene move the plot forward, or are there unnecessary detours? 
  • Pacing: Does the pacing match the genre and story you are trying to tell? Are there sections that drag on or rush the story too quickly?
  • Characters: Are your characters well-developed and consistent throughout the story? Do they have clear motivations, and do they have character growth or a coherent character arc by the end of the book? 
  • Theme: Does your story have a main theme or message? Is it woven naturally into the story or does it feel fake and forced?

When developmental editing, take note of any major issues or sections that could need a complete rewrite. Be open to cutting entire chapters or scenes if they don’t serve a purpose in the overall story. At this stage, you may even need to rework your story structure or re-do some of the important plot points. 

Read more in-depth about each stage of the developmental editing process here. 

Scene-by-Scene Editing: Focus on Flow and Continuity

Once the overall structure of your book is solid, it is time to zoom in on each individual scene. In this editing phase, you will be focused on making sure the scenes come together to make a full story. When scene editing look for the following:

  • Scene Purpose: Does each scene have a clear impact or purpose in the story? Is each scene advancing the plot, revealing something about a character, or building tension? Scenes that don’t impact the story need to be either cut or redone. 
  • Continuity: Pay attention to the continuity of events, characters, and setting. Make sure that the timeline of your story makes sense and that there are no plot holes or plot points that contradict one another.
  • Transitions: How does each scene transition into the next? Abrupt shifts can confuse readers, so make sure that there is a logical flow between scenes. It is also important to keep the transitions exciting or intriguing to keep readers turning the pages. 
  • Show, Don’t Tell: Are you showing the reader what is happening through action, dialogue, and description, rather than simply telling them? Showing makes the readers more engaged in your book and allows them to experience the story more deeply. 

At this editing stage, it is helpful to use an outline or storyboard to track each scene’s purpose and plot progression. This helps make sure that your scenes are balanced and serve a purpose in the story.

Dialogue and Character Voice

Now that you have edited the structure and flow of your draft, focus on the dialogue and voice of your characters. Dialogue is a powerful tool that can reveal character traits, build relationships, and move the plot forward. But dialogue can easily become unrealistic or flat if not handled carefully.

  • Authenticity: Does each character’s dialogue sound individual and authentic to them? Do their words and voices reflect their background, personality, and motivations? Make sure that each character has a unique voice that doesn’t blend with the other characters. 
  • Subtext: Well-written dialogue often has layers of meaning that are deeper than what is directly being said. Are there places where you can add subtext and what the characters are not saying? 
  • Dialogue Tags: Be mindful of dialogue tags like “said”, “asked”, or “exclaimed”. Overusing complex or cliche dialogue tags (like “he growled angrily”) can be distracting and pull your reader out of the story. Simple tags like “said” often go unnoticed by readers, keeping the focus on the dialogue itself. 

Proofreading: Catching Typos and Grammar Mistakes

The final stage of self-editing is proofreading, where you check for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting mistakes. While this is the most detail-oriented editing stage, it is one of the most important parts of editing and it makes your book look professional. 

Here are some tips for proofreading effectively: 

  • Read Out Loud: Reading your work out loud helps you catch awkward phrasing, missing words, or run-on sentences that you might miss when reading in your head.
  • Use a Spellchecker, But Don’t Rely on It: Spellcheckers are helpful tools, but they do not catch everything and sometimes make mistakes. When proofreading make sure you double-check all homophones. Some great spellcheckers are:
  • Proof in Different Formats: Sometimes changing the format (like reading on a different screen or printing out your draft) can help you spot errors that you did not see before.

Know When to Seek Outside Help

When self-editing it is also important to realize when you may need outside help. After you’ve gone through your draft multiple times, consider giving your book to a beta reader or professional editor for feedback. Fresh eyes can catch any issues you may have overlooked, and professional editors are experts in book pacing, plot, and character development. 

Self-editing is such an important part of taking your draft and turning it into a polished book. By following these steps starting with the big picture and working your way down to the smaller details, you can turn your rough draft into a coherent, entertaining, and well-written book. Remember, editing is not just about fixing mistakes, it is about taking your story to the next level and making it into the best version of itself.