Helpful tips when self-editing

Although I strongly believe that writers should either seek out a critique partner or editor to help improve their manuscripts, here are a few tips I’d like to share with you when self-editing.

The number one top on my list when mentoring writers is to check your work. Don’t rely on spell checker alone, do ewe get my meaning? Words may be spelled correctly but not in the context you intended.

Go over each sentence for clarity. You may know what you’re saying but is it clear to the reader? This is where a good critique partner or editor can help you out. A second pair of eyes is crucial. For example, think back to your school days, to that teacher who taught but really didn't know 'how' to teach. Everything she said was a mystery to you because she explained things in a puzzle-like way, omitting things crucial to a better understanding of that lesson. She knew what she was talking about, but the class didn't!

Another trick I use is I open my own personal CHECKLIST file and note any common mistakes or misspelled words in each of my manuscripts while in the editing stage. This helps me improve and not duplicate those errors. With time I finally delete the ones that are now implanted in my head forever.

Step away from your manuscript after you’ve been editing for a while. What happens is that you begin to rush your edits, tired sitting by the computer, and you speed read at some point but don’t realize it because you’ve read that passage over and over again – that’s when mistakes and oversights happen. As an editor I’ve experienced this with my own manuscripts and curse myself when my critique partners hand back my manuscript with red markings – two instead of too, bye instead of buy – simple mistakes I should have picked up on but didn’t because I was speed reading.

During one of the editing rounds, read your book out loud. You’ll be amazed how you pick up on sentences that read awkward but sound okay in your head. While reading, try to imagine your target audience. Again, you will be amazed how many clarifications and edits you will need to do when you are reading to your pretend audience. For some odd reason, while focusing on your audience you realize what you’ve omitted to offer them a fully fleshed out story according to that genre’s needs.

My last round of edits begins at the very last page of my manuscript. That’s right, the last page. What this does it allows you to actually read words and sentences without worrying about the plot and story progress. This is usually done to ascertain I didn’t miss eliminating any passive sentences. One powerful word beats three or four mundane passive ones.

I won't go into the boring tip about eliminating as many 'was', 'that', 'began to' passive tone--okay, I guess I sort of did--but these are elementary stuff every writer, beginner or seasoned, should know by now.

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