Self Editing Your Book: 4 Tips that ACTUALLY Work

Self editing your book is a common question from authors who want to write better books faster. Believe it or not, it is possible to self edit your book to get it super clean, and doing so correctly is one of the greatest fiction writing secrets.
In this video I offer 4 good writing tips to help you write better novels, and if you want, how to write a novel in one draft.
NOTE: I’m aware of the glare in my glasses issue and am working to resolve. My office is difficult to light as it’s a very small space so I’m experimenting and should have this issue resolved soon.
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[@fiery.mercaba]

#1. "0:55" -- "If you want a clean manuscript, start cleaning as you write, not during editing." #2. "1:48" -- "Fix problems immediately as they arise when you're writing. Don't let anything sit." # 3. "2:38" -- "Looping. As you're writing, cycle back throughout your manuscript every now and again, and be on the lookout for typos and errors...[L]ooping...keeps you intimate with the details....." Pro-tip for an alternative for the self-editing process: (a.) Develop a house style guide... Such a guide may include, for instance, what is the generally accepted way of rendering numerals in the text, e.g. "For numbers less than ten, you spell them out. For anything greater than ten, you use numerals" ("3:36"). (b.) "Share your style guide with your editor so that they know what your weaknesses are up front" ("4:43"). # 4. "4:57" -- "Be systematic so that this [matter of self-editing] is quick, painless, and easy." (a.) "Set a deadline..." ("5:08"). (b.) "Use Scrivener 3's Linguistic Focus feature [or a comparable program's similar offering, I suppose] to hone in on areas of weakness" ("5:28"). (c.) Edit on a different device than device used for initial writing ("5:46"). (d.) "Use your writing app's spell-checker...." ("6:09"). NOTE: BEWARE OF FALSE POSITIVES.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Wow, this is fantastic and sure to help others. Thanks for doing this!

[@fiery.mercaba]

You are welcome, Michael (@@AuthorLevelUp). To help you & others as well as I myself was indeed the goal, so I'm glad you like it & I'm sure as well it'll help others. 😉👍🏼 And, of course, your information herein was, & is, much appreciated by me. Thank you. 😉👍🏼 Be blessed, my friend.

[@lukeshedid650]

I found that I simply could not edit on my computer because I needed the visual aspect of a surface to make corrections on and plot out my ideas. So, I re-spaced my book (triple spaced) and printed it out at Office Depot for around 40 bucks with a nice cover. I've been editing for a week now and I'm happy.

[@bigphilly7345]

For me, writing all my college term papers the night before the due date helped me write clean.

[@warhorse2034]

Looping is a great tool. As a musician, I use the analogy of going into the recording studio and spending all day recording a song. Then you take a break, come back fresh the next day and it’s easier to catch mistakes than trying to edit with your ears still ringing 😜 I use this in the same way with writing. I loop back after it’s been a day or two or three and it gives me reader’s eyes.

[@haldanebdoyle]

Looping is useful for me as well, especially for keeping the broader story in context while you are drafting at the leading edge. It also works in reverse- often I notice places further back in the draft where I can add another touch of foreshadowing, an echo, or help reinforce themes, given the later sections are at least drafted. Some sources say to avoid any editing until the draft is complete to avoid getting stuck in a loop of endless editing that stops you finishing the draft. My perspective on this - if you would rather be editing than drafting then your story probably isn't that great.

[@Inkling777]

How about some videos on the novels you've written. Describe your ups and downs, including what worked and what didn't.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

I love this. I’ll do it soon!

[@deneco4]

@@AuthorLevelUp it's been 3 years. Anything?

[@JamesSaintRave]

THANK YOU!...for confirming NOT to depend on computer correction of writing other than word misspellings --I KNEW it was edging me on to put in too many commas.

[@YondaMoegi]

Thank you! I, too, like to do the writing well from the start, I don’t get satisfaction from the writing otherwise

[@SysterYster]

The first tip is funny because most people say the opposite. Don't edit as you go. But I would say it depends if you have trouble finishing or not. If you know you have a hard time getting to the end, maybe because you get stuck perfecting scenes, you probably shouldn't. But if you know you can finish your first draft without problems, then you'd probably save time if you do mini edits as you go. I edit as I write, if I spot something. But if I don't know the solution right now, I'll highlight it and get back to it later. I'm always inspired to write, so adding things later is not a problem.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Yep, it all boils down to “know thyself.”

[@sophiesbucher8021]

The style guide for editing is a very good tip! I will definitly use it. What I also use as a editing tip is to look if there is extra description needed or if I can cut things down a bit.

[@remingtonsloan8331]

Thanks man! Love the house style guide idea. Why didn't I think of that!

[@inklanois]

This is actually really good. Thank you.

[@DuluthTW]

Great advice. Thanks!

[@NtathuAllen]

Style guide is a great idea!

[@superyoohoo100]

Very good, sir!

[@sanityone649]

My top self-editing tip(s). Make sure your reader thinks your characters are doing what you think they are doing. Make sure that your characters have conversations instead of lecturing. Make sure that your POV actually interacts with the other characters...instead of only describing what they see. Make sure that your characters are where you think they are. Remove all exclamation points and rewrite your scene if it doesn't convey the excitement and emotion that caused you to end your sentences(s) with an exclamation point(s). Stop being generic...name things and places...even if you're writing a memoir. It may not have happened in the real life story that you're recounting...but please know that we readers will be much more interested in your story if you throw in a few names to tie in your landscapes, or tables, or lamps, or rocks...if they're big enough...or small enough, or significant enough...and on and on and on. Never underestimate how boring you can be without knowing it. Yeah, I know that you only asked for one tip...but there are a lot of things one must consider when editing/critiquing someone's work and especially your own. These are just "a few" that I look for--things I've learned over the years. And, there are plenty more...plenty more.

[@Writing4Jesus247]

I print my book, read it aloud, and sometimes act out scenes to make sure it's realistic. :)

[@SteveHovland]

Top tip. Read it out loud. Not just at the end.

[@ananyashah3171]

Thanks a lot for this video. Just a beginner planning to write a book.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Glad it was helpful! Best of luck!

[@user-hk8gp7ui6s]

You’re such a good speaker.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Well done! This is precisely what I need as I get ready to take a dive into fiction writing 👏😀👍

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Nice! You're making the jump, eh? Good luck, my friend! It's a totally different ballpark...

[@smokeymoment3124]

I edit as I write. I find that my stories are cleaner and more thoroughly written when I do it that way.

[@BlairPurvis]

I am a huge Autocrit fan. It is the best editing software I have found. It has done wonders for my manuscript. Hemingway App and Grammarly are good and a lot cheaper but lack so many features of the Autocrit subscription. The monthly fee is not cheap but you are not locked in for any length of time, so do a concentrated edit at the end of writing. It is really good to know how your text rates compared to other novels in a similar genre. The report recommendations to clean up the text actually makes sense and really improves the quality of your book.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thanks, Blair!

[@bigphilly7345]

Great video. I've been looping since I started writing at age 11. I was stunned to learn it's a real thing. In addition to DWS and you, Hemingway was a looper.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

We’re in good company then! ;)

[@rosec-g764]

"# 1: I just write the manuscript to get it down and out of my head."

[@SysterYster]

lol, I literally cannot read through my book in a day or three. It's too long, and I have too little time. I read through and fix maxium 1-3 pages on a normal workday, 1-3 chapters on a free day. Still, I have a pretty good pace for a full-time teacher writing in my free time. :P

[@JoleCannon]

I think since I've been doing some of these tips, I feel like I'm not editing right. I'm not finding as many issues as I feel I should. I fix as I go. I have Grammarly on so I catch the errors as they come up. I make a note and then the next day fix it before I start writing the next section of the novel. I completed my first draft a few days ago. Now, I'm just doing a few edits on each chapter (mostly story things. Like I put March in a sentence when it was April). I'm also trying to create more contractions. I come from an academic research background, so contractions were a no-no. Now, I'm focusing on those with other major issues I may run into. So, I hope I'm doing it right. I just finished editing Chapter 3 of 35. I think I can finish in a few weeks by doing a deep focus on two chapters a day. Then I'm going to send it to Beta readers. See what they say, make fixes that I need, and then send it off to a few indie publishers to see if I can get a book deal. My hope is to get an offer by November. We shall see.

[@zendragon1624]

I have been looping for years, and I didn't know that it was a thing. I would write my words in the morning, make notes about the thoughts that came into my head through the day, and did an edit pass that night after work. Great system, to me, and keeps me on the story. Then, at night, I would go to sleep thinking about the next chapter that I was going to write in the morning.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Yep, that’s text book looping. Works really well if you stay diligent. My issue is I get antsy near the end of the novel and I usually stop after the 80% mark. But if you can maintain momentum, that’s better. :)

[@KodyDGedge]

@@AuthorLevelUp Well, this made me feel a bit better to read. Currently around 80% done my novel and completely lost all momentum the last while. I have taken a break for a month or so to maintain a fresh mind as I wrote side projects; and now will be reading and editing from page 1 to end. Hopefully this gives me a new perspective to catch things I otherwise couldn't before when I was "In the heat of the moment" while writing. I have always been an edit as I write person, usually after every page or two, so it's cool to find out this is an actual process when I usually hear so many people disregard the method. Thanks for the great video - I'll be trying your strategy.

[@federatedrev]

My biggest challenge with editing is always trying to do too much at once. I think all of your tips can integrate with a philosophy of breaking this process up into manageable sections. It works especially well when you can keep a scene list or chapter list and put check marks next to things as you go, encouraging you with a sense of accomplishment.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Great idea. Good old checklists! They’re always helpful if you use ‘em!

[@chipwalter4490]

Hi Micheal can you please do a video on what the differences between a proof reader and a copy editor are?

[@entrepreneurcity3317]

Lord I need this 🧐😁

[@TheDorianTube]

After finishing, I usually get 5 days off before reading everything again. I discovered that it's easier to find issues once you've gone through that period of reset. Even my approach changes, often resulting in entire pages being scrapped.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

There’s no right or wrong way. I find that I always end up taking 2 weeks off after I finish a book. No idea why.

[@vincentkeith5259]

I've been slowly putting together a style guide. It started with numbers, and I've added various jargon and dates. I also have an unfortunately long list of common errors - for example: it doesn't matter if I wanted to write - through, though, thought, or tough - my fingers always type though. When I'm making serious progress, it's not uncommon for me to type who ever rather than whoever (or 30 other compound words) I have a list that I run through using search - I check each instance. Try not to feel bad if you miss a few - I had "though" instead of "through" in my first sentence - it was read by six different people and no one caught it. I finally noticed it after the book had been ready twice by at least two other people. One thing I'm learning to do is to keep better notes about my characters - It's very easy to toss in some offhand comment about them and then contradict that later if you didn't write it down on a character sheet. Don't be afraid to rewrite - I ended up gutting chapters 23-32 and 37-41. It was painful, but it made a huge improvement to Solar Storm: Homeward Bound. I'm definitely going to make use of a few of your tips - having the editor read it to me would have caught a lot of my errors before it to my grammar/spelling/style expert. I also love the tip about dialog - that's going to be very useful. Thanks - your efforts are appreciated.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thanks Vincent, and thank you for your tips. Sounds like you’ve got this down to a science!

[@vincentkeith5259]

LOL - hardly a science - I'm floundering around like most new writers - I have done a fair amount of technical writing so that helps with analyzing problems and finding solutions. It's one of the things I appreciate about your channel - it gets me thinking in ways that I haven't and then I can find new and often better solutions to my problems. Keep up the good work.

[@mikelmendizabal8177]

Very good video. From Basque Country: milesker.

[@Chastiny]

I like it the idea of looping. One thing I do is read my book out loud to a person. I catch way more errors when I have an audience.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Cool. Good tip! Definitely bring coffee and food when you read to another person! :)

[@Chastiny]

That’s a good idea. I’ll start feeding my captives lol. I’m joking food is the only way I can get some people to sit for a few minutes.

[@patrynaswritings7617]

Thanks how can we find adorable editors that edit well.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

What's your favorite self-editing tip?

[@gurutruecrimeguru1405]

People write on a phone?

[@chipwalter4490]

Go through your rough draft and do your best to sub-out the word "is" by using livelier words...(especially if writing in present tense) I call this "Is-Busting"

[@Cato229]

I do what you call looping each day where I re-read/trivially edit the previous day's work. Great tip about editing in a different place. I find printing has worked, but it wastes so much paper. I'm definitely going to try it on my phone.

[@KetogenicKim]

I think I must be a natural looper. I know I can be loopy 😄😅

[@AutumnAprodithe]

I use grammarly.

[@jessicachipps2159]

Sorry if this is a silly question but would you advice against or for using grammarly premium as a sole editor.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

i wouldn't use Grammarly as a sole editor. It's simply a last line of defense.

[@shawnanderson9822]

Hi my name os Shawnny Glass and all I know is writing but I don't know anything about self publishing or finding the right editor, can you help me?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

I just wrote a book that will help you: www.authorlevelup.com/150

[@ChristinaFonthes]

Brilliant video! I just wanted to ask, would you advise against pro-writing aid? Thanks!

[@AuthorLevelUp]

PWA is fantastic. It’s not a substitute for an editor but it can help catch some things your editor might miss.

[@ChristinaFonthes]

@@AuthorLevelUp Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I've actually found your other videos on PWA, Scrivener etc. Absolutely loving your style & content!!!

[@sumayaali1756]

After self editing, do you still need to send it to an editor?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Yes. Always.

[@sumayaali1756]

Any suggestions on where or how to locate a good editor?

[@wanjiruwaramaauthor4024]

I suppose I have to quit putting brackets or highlighting places that I need to come back to. Deadline? You are too organized.