Writing a nonfiction book is a long and often challenging process. After you have spent months, or even years, researching, organizing, and writing it can be so tempting to rush the editing stage. But editing is the most important part of creating a clear, understandable, and interesting book. Nonfiction writers have to go beyond simple grammar checks and really focus on the factual accuracy, clarity, and tone of their works to make sure they land with their audience. Here is an editing checklist that will help any of you nonfiction writers polish and clean up your draft to create a smooth final book.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Message or Thesis

At the center of every nonfiction book is a message or thesis. Whether that is to inform, persuade, educate, or even entertain it is important to take the first editing step to check whether this central idea is clear from the beginning and consistently addressed throughout the writing. 

Some great questions to ask yourself to make sure your message or thesis is clear are:

  • Is the main idea or purpose of the book clearly stated or introduced within the first chapter or prologue? 
  • Does each of the chapters or sections relate to the main thesis or message and contribute to how it is explained? 
  • Is there any part of the book that strays away from the main topic or feels off-track? 

If any part of your book feels unnecessary, consider cutting it or revising it to make the connection to your thesis or message more clear. 

Fact-Check and Verify All Sources

In nonfiction writing, credibility is everything. One of the most important aspects of editing a nonfiction book is to make sure that all of the facts, references, and statistics are accurate. Having incorrect or misleading information within your book can damage your credibility as an author and lead to losing reader interest or trust. 

Some great fact-checking steps to follow are:

  • Double-check and research all names, dates, places, and figures.
  • Cross-reference any claims you make with reliable, up-to-date sources.
  • Make sure that any statistics you list are properly cited and are from trustworthy sources.
  • Be careful about using anecdotal evidence.

If your book has a lot of heavy research, hiring a fact-checker can be an excellent investment to avoid errors. Freelance fact-checkers can be found on sites like Reedsy, Upwork, or Fiverr. 

Assess Your Book’s Structure and Flow

A well-structured nonfiction book will flow with a logical progression of ideas. Each chapter within your book should serve a purpose and connect smoothly to the next chapter. 

Some things to consider when assessing your book’s flow and structure are:

  • Does the order of chapters or sections make sense? Sometimes rearranging content can improve the overall flow of the book. 
  • Are the transitions between chapters and ideas smooth, or do they feel choppy and abrupt? 
  • Have you divided long, complex chapters into manageable sections with subheadings to help the reader maintain interest and understanding? 
  • Are there any sections that could be condensed or expanded for clarity? 

Check for Consistency in Your Tone and Voice

The tone and voice of your nonfiction book play a big part in how your message will be understood by the reader. While your tone can vary depending on the subject (whether that be informal, academic, conversational, etc.) it should remain consistent throughout the entire book.

Some key points to review for tone and consistency are:

  • Is the tone of your book appropriate for your target audience? For example, a memoir can have a casual tone, while a business guide for classrooms would need a formal tone. 
  • Does your voice remain consistent, or does it shift around in ways that could confuse readers?
  • Are there sections where your tone may seem too authoritative or too informal for the subject matter of the book?

When editing, pay close attention to the places where your tone may have unintentionally shifted because of your emotion while writing. 

Evaluate Chapter Introductions and Conclusions

In nonfiction, each chapter needs to feel self-contained while contributing to the overall book or message. Strong introductions and conclusions are the key to succeeding in this structure. 

Some editing tips to remember when writing chapter introductions and conclusions are:

  • Does each chapter start with a clear introduction that sets up the topic or theme? 
  • Does the chapter end in a way that reinforces the key point or summarizes the key takeaways from the chapter?
  • Are there any weak or abrupt endings that leave the reader hanging? 

When editing, focus on making each chapter’s opening engaging and its ending satisfying to encourage the reader to continue through your book. 

Simplify Complex Information

Nonfiction books are often about complex topics and it is the author’s job to make these ideas accessible to readers. Overly technical language or convoluted explanations can make your audience put the book down or lose interest. 

To prevent this from happening keep the following in mind:

  • Are there sections where the language in your book becomes too technical or academic for your intended readers?
  • Have you explained the key terms and concepts clearly, especially for readers who may not be experts?
  • Have you broken down complex ideas into simpler terms or provided examples and analogies to help with reader understanding? 

When editing, look for opportunities to make concepts clearer without sacrificing depth or accuracy. 

Cut Out Redundant or Unnecessary Information

In the drafting stage, it is very common to write out more information and words than necessary, especially if you are trying to cover a topic comprehensively. Editing is the time for you to cut out any redundant, off-topic, or repetitive sections. 

Some great tips for trimming these sections are:

  • Are there any paragraphs, sections, or chapters that repeat the same ideas multiple times?
  • Does the book go off-topic at any point?
  • Can you streamline certain sections by cutting down wordy sentences or taking out unnecessary details?

Cutting unnecessary content will make your book neat and help with its overall flow.

Address Gaps or Missing Information

While cutting excess material is very important, it is equally important to make sure that your book is not missing key pieces of information. If you skip over important details your readers may feel lost or confused. 

Some steps to address missing information are:

  • Are there any sections where you may have glossed over important points or did not provide enough of an explanation? 
  • Have you addressed any counterarguments or objections to your main points? 
  • Are there any sections in your book that would benefit from adding extra examples, stories, or explanations? 

If there are any gaps in your book, consider whether you need to add more sections or expand certain sections for clarity. 

Review for Grammar, Punctuation, and Style

Even the most well-structured and informative book can lose credibility if it’s riddled with grammar mistakes. During the final stage of editing, focus on polishing the technical aspects of your writing. 

Things to watch out for during this editing stage are:

  • Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Consistency with style guides regarding things like capitalization, citation formatting, and italicization. These things will depend on what style you are choosing to write in, whether it is Associated Press, MLA, APA, Chicago Manual, etc. 
  • Consistent use of verb tenses. This is especially important when you are writing about historical events or personal stories. 

A thorough copy edit at this stage will help refine the overall professionalism of your book. 

Utilize Beta Readers to Get Feedback

Before submitting your book for publication, it is always a good idea to get outside opinions. Beta readers can offer great advice and information about how your audience will see your book. 

Make sure to ask your beta readers for feedback on:

  • Clarity: Were any parts of your book confusing or difficult to understand?
  • Engagement: Were your beta readers bored or losing interest at any point throughout their read?
  • Value: Did they feel like the book delivered them the thesis or message that it was supposed to?

While feedback from beta readers is subjective (and an optional step), it is an amazing opportunity to reveal any blind spots you may have missed during the editing process. 

Editing a nonfiction book is a process with many steps that goes far beyond simply fixing typos and grammar errors. It requires you, the author, to carefully check the structure, tone, factual accuracy, and flow of your book. By following this checklist, you will be able to better produce a well-organized, interesting, and credible book that will resonate with your readers.