Editing is one of the biggest, most daunting parts of writing a book. It can feel overwhelming at first, but when you break it down into manageable steps, it becomes not just doable, but deeply rewarding. In this post, I’ll walk you through my editing process—from the first re-read after a draft, to working with alpha readers, and finally, to copy edits and polishing your prose.
Step 1: Take a Break and Re-Read
Once I finish a rough draft, I step away from it for at least a couple of weeks. Sometimes I focus on other projects, sometimes I just rest and recharge. The important thing is to put some distance between yourself and your story so you can come back with fresh eyes.
When you’re ready, print your manuscript double-spaced or read it on a paper-like device. Reading on paper helps many writers catch errors and improves reading comprehension. Keep a pen or highlighter handy and make notes as you go:
- Sections that drag or feel boring
- Plot holes
- Typos or clunky sentences
- Moments that feel stilted, gratuitous, or just “off”
Once you’ve gone through the manuscript, address each note directly. At this point, you now have what I would call your first draft.
Step 2: Bring in Outside Readers
You’re too close to your own story to catch everything. That’s why outside feedback is so important. If you have the budget, a professional developmental editor can provide invaluable insight into your story structure, characters, and pacing. Just be cautious with self-publishing service companies, as some may try to upsell unnecessary packages.
If you’re working on a tighter budget, consider:
- Friends or family who read in your genre
- Online communities for alpha/beta readers
- Manuscript swaps with fellow indie authors
Questions to Give Alpha Readers
Providing clear questions will help your readers give more useful feedback. Here are some of my favorites:
- Were there any sections you found confusing?
- Did anything make you want to put the book down?
- Did you feel bored at any point?
- How did you find the pacing of the novel?
- Did any characters fall flat for you?
- Did you notice any phrases repeated too often?
- Ask specific questions about sections you were unsure of yourself.
- How can I make this story stronger?
- What weaknesses did this story have?
- What was your favorite part?
- What did you love most?
- Do you have any other thoughts about this piece?
You don’t need to act on every note you receive, but if multiple readers point out the same issue, it’s something you should take seriously.
Step 3: The Overhaul
Once you’ve collected feedback, it’s time for the big edit. This often means restructuring scenes, rewriting chapters, and smoothing over rough transitions. Some authors essentially rewrite their entire book during this stage. Personally, I’d find that soul-crushing—but I do make sweeping changes where they’re needed.
I call this phase the overhaul. It’s where your book begins to take its final shape.
Step 4: Copy Editing
When the structure and content are solid, it’s time to refine the prose itself. Copy editing focuses on grammar, spelling, sentence flow, and word choice.
A few key tips that work for me:
- Read aloud. This helps you hear awkward rhythms, repetition, and overly long sentences.
- Decide on a language style. I’m Canadian, so I use a mix of UK and US spelling and measurements. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent.
- Watch for common pitfalls.
- Shifting tense (past vs. present)
- Inconsistent narrative voice (first person vs. third person)
- Improper dialogue formatting (here’s my favorite guide)
- Long, meandering sentences that could be cut in two
Crutch Words to Watch Out For
These weaken your prose and can usually be cut or replaced:
- Is, was, were
- Had
- Very/really
- Thing
- That
- Started to / began
- In order to
- Adverbs (-ly words)
And don’t forget to keep an eye out for pesky homonyms (bare/bear, alter/altar, tenant/tenet).
Step 5: Repetition
We all have words and phrases we overuse. For me, “their gorge rose” comes up far too often in my drafts. Watch for words or phrases repeated too often or very close together:
No: He trudged through the snow, snow falling from the trees. As he arrived, he stomped the snow from his boots.
Yes: He trudged through the thaw, brushing flakes from his shoulders before stomping his boots at the door.
Even subtle variety keeps your prose fresh.
Step 6: Spellcheck and Proofread
Finally, proofread your manuscript carefully. Use your word processor’s spellcheck, but don’t rely on it completely. If possible, hire a professional copy editor or a university student with strong writing experience. If not, one more careful re-read is your best option.
Some authors swear by reading their manuscript backwards to catch errors—though I’ll admit that’s not a method I have the patience for!
Final Thoughts
Editing is a long and sometimes exhausting process, but it’s where your book truly comes alive. Strengthen the structure, involve trusted readers, refine your prose, and proofread carefully.
By the end, you’ll have a manuscript that reflects the best of your story and your craft.
If you’d like to dive deeper into dialogue formatting, check out my favorite guide here. And if you want to see how all this plays out in practice, you can explore my books here.
Happy editing—and happy writing!