8 Power Tips For Editing Your Novel

We get it. You don't want to do this. We can help. Credit: Wix.

Editing a manuscript is an essential part of the writing process and can be frustrating, even for seasoned authors. You can hire a professional editor, but they're expensive, and they are not magicians who can just turn any old pile of words into a New York Times bestseller, You still have to deliver a good manuscript.

Here are some tips to help you edit your work.

1. Take a break! Wait at least a few days after you've completed your draft. It's important to clear your mind before you begin editing. You'll return to your work fresh and more objective.

2. Read your manuscript out loud. Many authors haven't heard about this technique, but now you're in on the secret. If your manuscript has any awkward phrasing, poor-quality dialog, run-on sentences, or anything else that isn't quite right, you will become acutely aware of it when you read it out loud, in a way that you never would by just reading the words on paper. Listening to the words will also give you a sense of the rhythm and flow of your writing as readers will experience it.

3. Pay particular attention to the dialogue. Dialog is a crucial part of any fiction manuscript. The dialog must be natural and authentic—like a real conversation. Even if you've decided to ignore the advice to reading your entire book out loud, at least do it with the dialogue to ensure conversations flow smoothly and that the characters' voices are distinct. Make sure every word of the dialogue serves a purpose and either advances the plot or reveals something about the characters. Mercilessly cut any "fluff"—dialog that has no purpose and is just filler.

4. Start with a big-picture edit. Before you get into the nitty-gritty of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, take some time to focus on your manuscript's overall structure and flow. Consider things like pacing, character development, plot, and setting. Are there any scenes or chapters that feel unnecessary or out of place? Are your characters consistent and believable? Is the plot well-developed and logical? Make notes on what works and what doesn't, and revise accordingly.

5. Then do the nitty-gritty edit. Grammar, punctuation, spelling—it's all important and it will all get noticed by publishers, agents, and readers. Tip: use software such as Grammarly Premium, which will pick up every typo, punctuation error, and grammar or syntax issue, and recommend alternatives. You invested a huge amount of time and effort in your book; spend a few bucks on grammar software to tighten it up.

6. Don't be afraid to cut. A good rule of thumb is that the first five percent of word count reduction is easy and painless; the next five percent usually takes some work and causes heartache but is worth it. If your book is 90,000 words, do not stop editing until you've chopped at least 4,500 words, and try to push for 9,000. Cut, cut, and then keep cutting. The more you cut, the more your manuscript will be reduced to its essential core: the stuff that absolutely, positively must be there to tell your story. Everything else belongs in the bin. If you find it painless to cut ten percent of your word count, then the writing probably wasn't tight enough, and you should see if you can get to fifteen percent.

7. A thesaurus can be your friend, but don't overuse it. Thesauri are helpful tools for finding alternative, fresh ways to say things, but try not to lean too heavily on them. It's important to use your own voice and style, and it's okay to use a familiar word more than once. Substituting in obscure or complicated words can distract from your story.

8. Get feedback from beta readers. Beta readers can be anyone, such as friends or family, but ideally would be fiction authors or voracious readers. You can find beta readers online in beta groups (you'll be expected to reciprocate by reading others' works). Good betas provide honest, objective feedback and tell you things you didn't necessarily want to hear but need to hear. Betas are a must-have if you plan to submit your book to an agent or a publisher. Don't let an agent or publisher be the first person (other than you) to see your work.

Editing is where you turn your work into a polished jewel, and now that you know it's a manageable task, dig in!