Here’s a summary of what to watch out for when you edit your manuscript yourself. Next will be more information on how to find a professional editor.
Self-editing Step I: the bigger picture
Characters
- Are your characters’ actions credible?
- Do the characters’ actions move along the story?
- Are your characters’ motivations clear?
- Have the characters developed?
- Is your cast of characters balanced in terms of gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation?
Plot
- Does the pacing of the story work?
- Have you cut superfluous scenes or storylines, which slow down the story?
- Have you created suspense efficiently?
- Are there any plot holes?
- Is there tangible conflict?
- Is the resolution understandable and not too rushed?
- Have you resolved all subplots?
- Is your narrative act successfully executed?
- Have you used foreshadowing and other literary devices appropriately?
Other questions
- What was your authorial intention when you started out and what is it now? Have you expressed it in an appropriate manner?
- Have you brought out themes, motifs and symbols, which support your story?
- Have you made use of any other literary devices? Could you enhance your story with more literary devices or distinguish those you already used even more?
- Are you being continuous in everything, including, for example locations, character’s eye colour etc.?
Self-editing Step II: language
General narrative issues
- Do you switch between showing and telling mode appropriately?
- Are you true to the point of view from which you are writing?
- Are beginnings, endings and transitions between scenes appropriate and clear?
Language
- Have you cut too long sentences into two?
- Are your sentences clear?
- Have you replaced weak verbs with stronger ones?
- Have you replaced passive structures with active ones wherever possible?
- Have you replaced cliché phrases and metaphors?
- Have you cut all unnecessary adverbs and other superfluous words?
Self-editing Step III: proofread
Sentences
- Are your sentences clear?
- Do your sentences make sense grammatically?
- Are you using the correct tense at all times? (This can be especially tricky with flashbacks or when you give background information in general)
Vocabulary
- Does the vocabulary fit the voice of the character, the tone of the story, the formality of situation etc.?
- Have you cut repetitive words or replaced them with synonyms?
- Are you sure you haven’t misspelled similarly spelled or often confused words, such as it’s/its or there/their/they’re?
Punctuation
- Have you made all the commas, periods and semicolons in the right places?