Editing One's Own Work

Here's a slogan- just do it.

In response to the question: how do you edit your own work?

Editing one's own work can be difficult, and often it is easier to edit somebody else's work. But self-editing is not only difficult, it is a necessary process with which a writer will struggle for his or her entire career. With that said, there are some significant ways to make self-editing much easier.

To start, type it up and save a copy under "first draft" or something equivalent. This copy should never be touched, for it is merely a snapshot of what the novel originally was, and if you end up getting rid of a part that ended up being necessary, you can go retrieve it.

After that is done, reread the novel, detach yourself, and start cutting out what is not necessary. This is difficult, as you may have spent so much of your precious time writing that part. Cut if it is not necessary for the novel's story. It will otherwise detract.

Next, go find a grammar Nazi, and ask them to edit your book for grammar. This is always better done by somebody else, unless you are a grammar Nazi, in which case, may I have your email? I should also note that grammar Nazi's are your friends. Keep them close, give them hugs, buy them Christmas gifts or chocolate, etc.

Next, when I edit, I read, and annotate. I ask questions, I read the novel or short out loud to myself, and if I trip up, I circle it. If something sounds off, I underline it. I suggest changes to myself. I analyze my own writing, and characters, to see if it comes across as I wan it. I note smilies and metaphors, and allusions to other literature. And then I add and subtract what needs to be added and subtracted.

And then?

Well, as far as I'm concerned, self editing is over. It's time to give it to your friends and fellow writers and ask them to edit it. And then you have to be a good judge. After your friends edit it, and give you back their copies, you must ask yourself if what they said was what you wanted to do. Use discretion.

Then repeat the self-editing process.

Until you are done.*

And that is how I self-edit. Good luck.

***You are never done with a novel or book or short. Done refers to when you send it in to an editor for even more editing.