Editing Tips

There is no great writing, only great rewriting.
Justice Brandeis

Whether you’re editing your own work or getting paid to edit for others, it’s important to stay on your toes. These tips are especially helpful if you’re writing fiction. However, many of the same issues arise in non-fiction, so many of these can be applied to your articles, as well as your novels.

Read it aloud.

Do you notice anything about the writing as you read it aloud?

Check the verb choices

Get rid of was, were, is, etc.

Check for sensory elements

Have you tapped into the five senses?

Check for run-on sentences

Don’t let your sentences run on forever. Use periods.

Kill off adverbs (-ly words)

Do you tend to overuse adverbs?

Check structure/length of paragraphs:

What is the “paragraph tendency” – long or short? The pacing of the story depends, at least in part, on the length of your paragraphs. In a literary piece, longer paragraphs might work. But in a fast-paced story, shorter, choppier paragraphs work best.

Check names for consistency:

If she’s Sue on page two, she’d better be Sue on page 222.

Word count

Have you done a final word count? What is it? Does this meet the editor’s specifications?

Double-check the “hook” (opening line/paragraph) for effectiveness.

Now that the “whole” story is written, is the hook as effective as it needs to be? Does it need to be beefed up?

Check the timeline

Eliminate prepositional phrases: Are they overused?

Cut the flab

Are there sections that don’t show conflict, advance the plot or show character motivations? Perhaps you should cut them.

Check for beginning, middle and end

Does the story have a clear beginning, middle and end?

Does the story arc/come full-circle?

Many people like to bring their story full-circle, returning (in some way) to where the story started. Has this been done? If so, does it work?

Check for symbolism

Have metaphors been used effectively?

Kill off clichés: They bug editors like the plague.

Are clichés overused?

Get rid of repetitious words

Do you notice a “pet” word? If so, eliminate to avoid repetition.

Check for ebb and flow

Does the story have a natural “flow” to it? Ups and downs?

Check the plot-line

Is the story well plotted with effective climax?

Get someone else to read your manuscript

Perhaps you have a writing buddy who would be willing to help.

Show, Don’t Tell!

Do you have a handle on the “Show, don’t tell” thing?

Check dialogue vs. narrative

Does the manuscript have a good balance?

Feel for Setting

Has the setting been established?

Character traits

Does the character have appropriate mannerisms, speech, clothing, hobbies, habits, attitude, humor, etc.?

Clear Ages

Are correct ages established?

Setting check

Is it clearly established?

Spell Check

Have you run it?

Grammar Check

Understand that it’s not always accurate or in line with what the editors will want. Refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (which you can find online). I also recommend Kathy Ide’s book, “P.U.G.S. – Punctuation, Usage, Grammar & Spelling.”

Check for good vs. evil

The good character can’t be all good and your bad character can’t be all bad

Reach a stopping point.

Editing could go on forever. There could always be a word in need of tweaking or a phrase in need of striking. But at some point, you must say, “Okay. This is it. The book is done.” After all, when the book sells, several editors will go through it again.