Mastering the Art of Self-Editing: A Writer's Guide

As we write, Ideas jostle for attention in our minds, words haphazardly spill onto the page, looking more like a rough sketch and that's perfectly okay. Self-editing helps you identify and rectify errors and helps make the initial draft resemble more of a polished masterpiece. Here are a few things to note:

While reviewing your manuscript by yourself before seeking professional help, the first thing to do is to do nothing. After becoming so close to our work it is possible that we can no longer see its flaws.  Stepping back from our work, whether it's for a few hours, a few days, or even longer, allows us to see it with fresh eyes. Distance allows us to evaluate our work objectively and to make the necessary revisions with clarity and precision.

The dreaded advice to "kill your darlings." is a phrase that could cause writers to fear and for good reason. We put a lot into our writing, and the thought of cutting out our favourites can feel like betrayal, but the harsh truth is that sometimes, those darlings need to go and this doesn't have to be done with a heavy heart. It is advised to approach the editing process with a degree of detachment.

One of the best ways of catching clunky sentences and plot holes is reading your manuscript aloud as it forces you to slow down and pay closer attention to each word and sentence. You'll notice when a sentence doesn't flow smoothly, when the rhythm feels off, or when a word doesn't quite fit, things that you might not notice should you read silently.

Self-editing is reviewing different aspects of your novel, including language, structure, story, characters, and clarity. While all of this is important, over-editing is a thing and could lead to confusion and a loss of the original voice and message of your writing. Find a balance between making necessary improvements and preserving your unique style.

Editing is not a one-and-done deal - it's a refinement process so it helps to go through multiple rounds, focusing on different aspects each time. Depending on your needs, you might have to do different rounds of editing.

It is quite important to zoom in and focus on the nitty-gritty details that can make or break a piece of writing. These small but mighty tweaks can elevate your writing from good to great.