{"id":20697,"date":"2021-06-29T06:12:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T06:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/?p=20697"},"modified":"2022-03-24T20:01:51","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T20:01:51","slug":"how-to-edit-a-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Edit a Book: The Ultimate 3-step Process to Perfect Your Novel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/\">Editing is<\/a> an essential part of crafting any story, whether you like it or not. However, there are countless ways to go about it, and you will need to find what works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, we have three essential steps that you should take, regardless of your approach to editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Wherever you are in your editing needs, we hope the <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">information on this site <\/a>will help. This is only one of a series of posts about editing. Enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"toc\">\nIn this article, you will learn:\n<ol>\n<li>Why you should edit your book<\/li>\n<li>Who should edit your book<\/li>\n<li>How to edit a book in three steps<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-should-you-edit-your-book\" data-level=\"2\">Should You Edit Your Book?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-outliners-vs-pantsers\" data-level=\"3\">Outliners vs. Pantsers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-you-should-edit-your-book\" data-level=\"3\">Why You Should Edit Your Book<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-who-edits-your-book\" data-level=\"2\">Who Edits Your Book?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-the-self-edit\" data-level=\"3\">The Self-edit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-beta-readers\" data-level=\"3\">Beta Readers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-professional-editors\" data-level=\"3\">Professional Editors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-before-you-start\" data-level=\"2\">Before You Start<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-take-a-break\" data-level=\"3\">Take a Break<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-steel-yourself\" data-level=\"3\">Steel Yourself<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-know-your-audience\" data-level=\"3\">Know Your Audience<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-take-notes-when-writing\" data-level=\"3\">Take Notes When Writing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-1-the-development-edit\" data-level=\"2\">Step 1: The Development Edit<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-plot\" data-level=\"3\">Plot<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-character\" data-level=\"3\">Character<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-pacing\" data-level=\"3\">Pacing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-setting-description\" data-level=\"3\">Setting\/Description<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-conflict\" data-level=\"3\">Conflict<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-theme\" data-level=\"3\">Theme<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-2-the-line-edit\" data-level=\"2\">Step 2: The Line Edit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-step-3-the-proofreading-edit\" data-level=\"2\">Step 3: The Proofreading Edit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-additional-editing-tips\" data-level=\"2\">Additional Editing Tips<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-read-your-book-out-loud\" data-level=\"3\">Read Your Book Out Loud<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-don-t-ask-friends-family-to-edit\" data-level=\"3\">Don\u2019t Ask Friends\/Family to Edit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-know-when-to-quit\" data-level=\"3\">Know When to Quit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-self-edit-vs-hired-professional\" data-level=\"2\">Self-edit vs. Hired Professional<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-you-edit-your-book\">Should You Edit Your Book?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The short answer is, <strong>yes<\/strong>, however, this is often a question that many authors (especially indie authors) secretly ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, editing can be a huge expense, and if you get the wrong editor, it can do you little good. Many authors (myself included) have wondered if there was a way to just\u2026get by without breaking the bank to<a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> hire an editor<\/a>, especially when just starting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll talk more about when and who should edit your book below, but understand that, while editing a book is essential, the question of \u201cshould you hire an editor\u201d is a completely different matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless, editing is still an essential process, even for those who hate it, but every author is different, and your most important task is to find what works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about some ways to identify what kind of an edit\/editor you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-outliners-vs-pantsers\">Outliners vs. Pantsers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In my experience, you can often tell if someone is an outliner or a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of their pants) based on whether they prefer the<a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/?s=pantsing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> outlining or the editing<\/a> process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are an <strong>outliner<\/strong>, chances are you likewise find editing to be a chore. That is certainly true for me. I am an outliner through and through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well the good news is that outliners often don\u2019t need as much editing. Critical elements of a book like plot structure, pacing, character development, and worldbuilding are all largely taken care of during the outlining stage. An edit will still be necessary, but it often deals with more superficial issues, and not deeply embedded plot problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a <strong>pantser,<\/strong> on the other hand, there\u2019s a good chance that you enjoy the editing process, because that\u2019s when you get to see your story really come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For pantsers, additional edits are often required to make the piece feel more cohesive. Large rewrites might be necessary. But hey, you get to skip the outlining and dive right into the writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-social-warfare-click-to-tweet social-warfare-admin-block\"><div class=\"sw-tweet-clear\"><\/div><a class=\"swp_CTT style1\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Whether+you%27re+an+outliner+or+a+pantser%2C+you+will+need+to+spend+time+editing.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/\" data-link=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Whether+you%27re+an+outliner+or+a+pantser%2C+you+will+need+to+spend+time+editing.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"sw-click-to-tweet\"><span class=\"sw-ctt-text\">Whether you're an outliner or a pantser, you will need to spend time editing.<\/span><span class=\"sw-ctt-btn\">Click To Tweet<i class=\"sw swp_twitter_icon\"><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Authors <em>tend<\/em> to lean one way or the other, and their inclinations often correspond with their writing process. Outliners spend more time at the start of their book, and less time in the edit. Likewise, pantsers spend less time at the beginning, and more at the end. It depends on your personal preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-you-should-edit-your-book\">Why You Should Edit Your Book<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you are a hardcore outliner, your book will still need significant edits if you want to impress readers and publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about why that is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Publishers can often tell within the first few pages if a manuscript is unpolished. Here are some things they will reject you for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Your book doesn\u2019t have a clear hook<\/li><li>Your setting and tone are undefined or in conflict<\/li><li>Your point of view or tense are inconsistent<\/li><li>You start with too much exposition<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re self-publishing, you might not feel like you need to impress a publisher, but readers will pick up on these things as well, though they might not be able to articulate why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if they read past the first few pages of your book, the following will also turn them off, and can lead to poor readership and bad reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Your book is full of redundancies<\/li><li>Your paragraphs are laced with punctuation errors and typos<\/li><li>You are overly wordy<\/li><li>Your characters feel \u201cflat\u201d<\/li><li>Your plot confuses the reader<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Any of these things will result in a poor reader experience, the exact thing you want to avoid. Editing is one great way to deliver the best possible experience to your reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"standard-cta testimonial\" id=\"cta-block_60a2bbb51823c\">\r\n    <div class=\"cta-inner row\">\r\n                    <div class=\"cta-media col-md-4\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"cta-media-inner\">\r\n                    \r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">                        \r\n                                                    <i class=\"fa fa-play\"><\/i>\r\n                        \r\n                                                    <div class=\"img-overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                        \r\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Atticus.png\" alt=\"Atticus - the #1 Book Writing and Formatting Software used by thousands of authors.\" height=\"1384\" width=\"2210\">\r\n                        \r\n                        <\/a>                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        \r\n        <div class=\"cta-body col-md-8\" style=\"text-align:center;\">  \r\n                            <a class=\"cta-heading\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\">\r\n                            <h3> Format Beautiful Professional Books<\/h3>\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                        \r\n            <p>Easy to use, and and full of amazing features, you can quickly turn your book into a professional book.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"offer-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Check It Out<\/a>        <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-edits-your-book\">Who Edits Your Book?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve established that editing your book is important. Now the question becomes, who does it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, there are three main options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Yourself<\/li><li>Your beta readers<\/li><li>A professional editor<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-self-edit\">The Self-edit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For a self-edit, you simply read through your own manuscript and make corrections and adjustments as you go along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the time, you should be doing at least some self-editing for every book, no matter what approach you take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are editing the book yourself, with no input from beta readers or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editors\/\">professional editors<\/a>, you need to make sure you do a thorough job. If you\u2019re by yourself, we would recommend revising at least 5-6 times, editing for a different element of your novel each time, and that suggested number is a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are using a professional editor and\/or beta readers, you may still need to run through your manuscript 1-3 times, but their involvement can significantly reduce the number of edits you will need to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-beta-readers\">Beta Readers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Beta readers can be a valuable asset to your editing process, because (unlike yourself or your editor) they are members of your target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beta readers can help you find a lot of issues that you might have missed or ignored. They\u2019re particularly good for identifying problems with characters, plot inconsistencies, dialogue, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The downside to beta readers is that they can\u2019t always articulate why there is a problem, and many of the comments they make might be based on a personal preference. But, if more than one beta reader tells you that they don\u2019t like a particular character or scene, it\u2019s worth looking very closely at that part of your story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-professional-editors\">Professional Editors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The gold standard for book editing is, of course, a professional book editor. Finding<a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> a good book editing service<\/a> can be a task unto itself, but they usually fall under one of three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Development Editors:<\/strong> These are editors that will look at the overall structure of your story. They will tackle big problems with your plot, characters, setting, etc. They usually don\u2019t deal with the nitty-gritty details or the specific wording of your paragraphs. Developmental editing can be really effective for pantsers, or for outliners who really want to do a thorough polish of their story.<\/li><li><strong>Line Editors:<\/strong> These editors will look at your manuscript on a more sentence by sentence level, ensuring that your text avoids redundancies, overly flowery language, repetitive words, etc.<\/li><li><strong>Copy editors\/Proofreaders: <\/strong>You will often see these two terms refer to the same thing, though they are different, but the general idea is that this person(s) reviews your manuscript for grammar, typos, special formatting, and other smaller details. By the time you've completed your<a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/copy-editing\/\"> copy editing<\/a>, your manuscript should be mostly finished already.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Some editors will do more than one of these edits for you, usually for an additional price. Or you could find a separate editor for each step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, if you\u2019re editing the book yourself, it\u2019s worth noting that these three types of edits correspond with our three-step process to edit your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-before-you-start\">Before You Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you plan to edit your book yourself or have help, there are a few steps I recommend you take to help you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-take-a-break\">Take a Break<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s face it, you just finished a book, you\u2019re tired, you\u2019ve been immersed in this world for a long time. If you edit immediately, you will not have the fresh perspective that you need to edit efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How long should you leave your manuscript?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That depends on you and your goals. Some authors, like Stephen King, will wait a good six weeks or more before returning to the manuscript. I know some authors that will go ahead and write another book while they wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For others, you might need only a day or two. But the point is, you need some time to unwind and, in the words of Master Yoda, \u201cunlearn what you have learned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking a break will help you come back to the story with fresh eyes. We guarantee that you will discover new things about your story that you would not have found otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-steel-yourself\">Steel Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Editing can sometimes require a thick skin, especially when you\u2019re working with editors and beta readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019ve worked with a story long enough to write a book, it\u2019s completely normal to build up an attachment to it. All so an editor can tear it to shreds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can hurt. A lot. But remember one thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>An editor\u2019s job is to make your book better.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once more for those in the back&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-social-warfare-click-to-tweet social-warfare-admin-block\"><div class=\"sw-tweet-clear\"><\/div><a class=\"swp_CTT style1\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=An+editor%E2%80%99s+job+is+to+make+your+book+better.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/\" data-link=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=An+editor%E2%80%99s+job+is+to+make+your+book+better.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-edit-a-book\/\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"sw-click-to-tweet\"><span class=\"sw-ctt-text\">An editor\u2019s job is to make your book better.<\/span><span class=\"sw-ctt-btn\">Click To Tweet<i class=\"sw swp_twitter_icon\"><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Their comments <em>are not<\/em> a reflection of you, quite the opposite. They are there to help you be a better version of yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beta readers are the same way. Don\u2019t take offense when one or more of them didn\u2019t like a particular scene, but don\u2019t shrug it off either. Chances are, if more than one beta reader made the same comment, you have a problem with your story that needs fixing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-know-your-audience\">Know Your Audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It goes without saying that you should know the genre and its audience before you even start writing your book. However, sometimes things can change during the writing process, and you may decide it better suits a different audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time you start editing, you <em>must<\/em> know that audience inside and out, because many of the edits you make will depend on who you\u2019re talking to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-take-notes-when-writing\">Take Notes When Writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One useful tip is to jot down, as you\u2019re writing, anything you think you will need to go back and fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps a lot to keep your focus on the writing, so you\u2019re not constantly going back and editing. It also keeps you from forgetting important elements of your story that might need editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have these basic preparations squared away, it\u2019s time to dig into the three-step process to a perfectly polished novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-the-development-edit\"><span style=\"color:#f7782d\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Step 1<\/span>: The Development Edit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First up is the developmental pass. This is the edit that focuses primarily on big-picture issues. You\u2019ll look at the structure of your plot, the development of your characters, the pacing of the novel, and other similar issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you hire a developmental editor for you, they will do all of this in one pass, give you suggestions, and you can then make your edits based on those suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, if you are an outliner, a lot of these problems will be minimal, reducing the need for heavy developmental editing. For pantsers, you will likely have a lot of work to do at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you edit yourself, you\u2019ll want at least one readthrough of your book that focuses on the developmental issues. However, if you want to go the extra mile, you can focus on even more specific issues with each edit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I find that focusing on one specific type of issue helps me identify them better. You might want to focus on any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plot\">Plot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The plot is simply the events of your story. Some questions to ask yourself during your editing process include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Does my plot flow naturally and \u201cmake sense.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li><em>Does my plot follow a structure, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/heros-journey\/\">hero\u2019s journey<\/a>, the three-act structure, the seven-point structure, etc.?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Are all major plot threads addressed by the end?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Does the plot structure fit the genre?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Is the chronology consistent?<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Plot is important because it provides the basic vehicle for the rest of your story, so we recommend ensuring the plot is airtight before moving on to other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if there was one element that was at least equally important as the plot, it would be\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-character\">Character<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In almost all cases, you will want to have character development in your story. There are exceptions to this (Sherlock Holmes originally didn\u2019t have much development), and these exceptions are usually more plot-based.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But for the majority of our stories, we want to master the art of character development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that the growth of the character is often intrinsically linked with the progression of the plot, with one feeding the other and vice versa. That is why we don\u2019t really rank one above the other in importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some questions to ask yourself when editing to improve character:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Do your characters have flaws?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Do the main characters change by the end of the novel?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Are the characters proactive and competent in at least one thing?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Do the secondary characters serve a story purpose?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Do your characters want something?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Are your characters' backstories fleshed out well enough to not feel cookie-cutter?<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pacing\">Pacing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Often when we are writing a novel, we can overlook issues of pacing, because the writing process is (usually) a lot slower than the reading process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you begin the developmental edit, you will want to consider pacing. Depending on your genre, you may elect for a faster or slower pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Faster paced stories<\/strong> include horror, thriller, mystery, urban\/paranormal fantasies, some romance subgenres, and comedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Slower paced stories<\/strong> include those in epic fantasy, dramas, and historical fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But ultimately, you will have to know your specific niche, because some genres (like Fantasy, Sci-fi, and Romance) tend to <strong>vary in their pacing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some questions to ask yourself when pacing your novel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>How are your chapter and paragraph lengths on average? (longer for slower pacing, shorter for faster pacing)<\/em><\/li><li><em>Do you spend the right amount of time on description and worldbuilding?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Does each scene\/chapter include a hook for the next one?<\/em><\/li><li><em>What are your character\u2019s emotions surrounding what is happening in the plot? (Pro tip: the reader will often reflect what the character feels, so if they are feeling urgent, the reader will feel a sense of urgency, if they are feeling bored, so will the reader)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your editor and\/or beta readers will be a huge asset for identifying problems with your pacing. If several people mention that something feels \u201crushed\u201d or \u201cboring\u201d, you need to take a close look at your pacing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-setting-description\">Setting\/Description<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The setting is the world in which your story resides, whether made up or real. Authors tend to either have too much, or too little description of their setting, and will need to bulk up or prune accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some questions to ask yourself during the edit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Are you using all five senses to describe the scene, whenever possible?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Does the setting in each scene contribute to the story?<\/em><\/li><li><em>Do you have too much exposition? Can you better weave the world\u2019s description into the dialogue, action, character?<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conflict\">Conflict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The conflict is the fuel that drives your story. Without conflict, there would be no plot, no reason for a character to deviate from their day-to-day activities. That is why it is crucially important to make sure that <em>every scene<\/em> has some form of conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conflict can come from a variety of sources, and don\u2019t always have to be associated with the driving plot, it can come from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Characters having a disagreement<\/li><li>A harsh setting (blizzard, pouring rain, extreme heat, etc.)<\/li><li>The antagonist(s)<\/li><li>Internal, emotional\/psychological struggles<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And these are just a few examples. The point is, ask yourself with every scene you review, \u201care my characters coming across some kind of opposition?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do that, you\u2019ll create a story that no one will want to put down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-theme\">Theme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you developed the theme before you began writing, or discovered it through the process of writing, you want to make sure it is consistent and explored throughout your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My favorite definition of theme comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/mystorydoctor.com\/finding-your-theme-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Farland<\/a>. He says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cA theme is simply an intellectual argument-played out in the deeds, thoughts, and discussions of your characters-that throws light upon a topic that has real life implications for your characters.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>So as you\u2019re editing, look for ways to examine your theme from a variety of angles. If your characters are well written, none of them will have the same opinion on the same \u201cintellectual argument\u201d, providing ample opportunities to explore your theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-the-line-edit\"><span style=\"color:#f7782d\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Step 2<\/span>: The Line Edit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you are done with the developmental edit, it\u2019s time to move on to a more paragraph-by-paragraph level of editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By this point, you should be done with any major plot\/character\/setting revisions, and you\u2019re focusing a lot more on the actual language you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A line editor will be invaluable to you in this stage, as they will be able to find a lot more things to fix. Since you are used to your own writing style, you will likely have quirks and flaws in your style that you would not be able to identify without an outside perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While beta-readers can help with this, it\u2019s your line editor that will be able to help the most. That is why, if you can, we highly recommend a line editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless, here are some areas to watch out for during your line editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>\u201cBalanced\u201d paragraphs: <\/strong>Try to use paragraphs that have an appropriate mixture of long, short, and medium-length sentences, leaning shorter for fast-paced scenes, and longer for slower scenes.<\/li><li><strong>Repetition: <\/strong>Don\u2019t use the same word too many times.<\/li><li><strong>Unrealistic dialogue:<\/strong> Keep your dialogue consistent with the speaker and the time period. It\u2019s easy for dialogue to sound too modern for a historical setting, for example.<\/li><li><strong>Passive voice:<\/strong> The subject of your sentence should almost always perform the action. \u201cThe ball hit George in the face,\u201d sounds a lot better than \u201cGeorge was hit in the face by the ball.\u201d<\/li><li><strong>Redundancy:<\/strong> Check to make sure you don\u2019t give the same information more than once in a scene.<\/li><li><strong>Show, don\u2019t tell: <\/strong>This can be tricky for new writers, but overtime, and with practice, you\u2019ll begin to pick up on it. Saying that \u201cGeorge felt tired,\u201d is much less efficient when compared to, \u201cGeorge slumped in his chair, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes.\u201d<\/li><li><strong>Wordsmithing: <\/strong>Get your meaning across in as few words as possible. You can always trim more.<\/li><li><strong>Tense and <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/point-of-view\/\">point of view<\/a> (POV):<\/strong> Make sure you remain consistent with the tense (past tense, past participle, present, etc.) and your POV (third-person limited, third-person omniscient, first person, etc.). This is one of the biggest problems a line editor will uncover.<\/li><li><strong>Adverbs:<\/strong> Not all adverbs are bad, but you want to watch out for them. Look at each one and ask if there\u2019s a better way to say it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The line edit can be one of the more meticulous parts of the editing process, as you have to look very closely at each individual paragraph. That is why it can often be more rewarding to hire a line editor to do the bulk of the work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-the-proofreading-edit\"><span style=\"color:#f7782d\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Step 3<\/span>: The Proofreading Edit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is sometimes called copyediting or proofreading, and sometimes the <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/copy-editing\/\">copy edit<\/a> also overlaps with line editing. For simplicity\u2019s sake, we will refer to this step as the proofreading stage from this point on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proofread is the stage when you look for small mistakes in the grammar, typos, spelling, etc. It\u2019s the most technical of the edits, because it will have <em>nothing<\/em> to do with your story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is another stage where we <strong>highly <\/strong>recommend hiring an editor to help you, because by this time you\u2019ve probably stared at your manuscript so much that your eyes glance over little mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, if you can only afford to pay for one editor that I\u2019ve mentioned, make it the proofreader. It doesn\u2019t matter how good your story is, if it\u2019s full of errors and typos, you will draw the reader out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A reader might be willing to forgive you a small handful of mistakes, but if your manuscript is littered with them, it will almost certainly lead to bad reviews and poor sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you can\u2019t get an editor for whatever reason, we recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/best-proofreading-software\/\">using a software<\/a> like <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/prowritingaid-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prowriting Aid<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/grammarly-review-is-grammarly-good\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Grammarly<\/a> to help out. They will be much more efficient at helping you proofread your novel than the standard spellcheck included with Word or other writing programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GbX5h-X_SoA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-editing-tips\">Additional Editing Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If our three-step process isn\u2019t enough for you, here are some additional tips to perfect your editing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-read-your-book-out-loud\">Read Your Book Out Loud<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking the time to actually read the book out loud, or getting some software to do it for you, is a great way to identify errors, awkward sentences, and other inconsistencies that you might have missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-ask-friends-family-to-edit\">Don\u2019t Ask Friends\/Family to Edit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your friends can be a valuable resource for you, but not necessarily when it comes to editing your book. We only recommend that you lend your book to friends\/family if A) they are a regular reader of that genre, or B) they are a professional author\/editor. And if the latter is the case, you should probably pay them for their trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, your parents, your best friend, even your high school English teacher will not give you the advice you need to make your story better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-know-when-to-quit\">Know When to Quit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s entirely possible to obsess about a book for months, or even years. If you struggle with this, we present you with this hard truth from Leonardo da Vinci:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cArt is never finished, only abandoned.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, you need to move on to the next adventure. That is why we don\u2019t recommend more than 6-7 edits per book, and even that\u2019s only if you are editing yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, I wouldn\u2019t do more than three if I were hiring an editor. But I\u2019m an outliner, so it may differ for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-self-edit-vs-hired-professional\">Self-edit vs. Hired Professional<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So how to edit a book? Ultimately your budget, your experience, and the needs of your manuscript will determine who edits your novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever possible, we recommend a professional. All the self-editing in the world will not make up for all the blind spots we authors have when it comes to our own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially true if you are just starting out. I know I grew tremendously as a writer when I connected with a developmental editor. It was like having a writing coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, many of us authors start out with few funds to invest in an editor. If you simply can\u2019t afford an editor, try your best to round up some quality beta-readers, and spend the extra time to thoroughly edit your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will find that you can go from a decent writer to an amazing writer, simply by going the extra mile in your editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find additional resources to help with your editing here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-become-a-book-editor\/\">How to Become a Professional Book Editor<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/best-proofreading-software\/\">Best Proofreading Software<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-editors\/\">Master Guide to Selecting an Editor<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The editing process is complex, and there are many ways to approach it. In this article, we will teach you our formula on how to edit your book.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":20634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[3899],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Edit a Book: The Ultimate 3-step Process to Perfect Your Novel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The editing process is complex, and there are many ways to approach it. 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