How to Self-Edit a Novel

There are a few things an author can do to self-edit a novel and tighten up a manuscript, even if they are intending to use an editor. It may well reduce the time an editor needs to spend on a manuscript (which, in turn, may reduce the fee), but, more importantly, it’s likely to result in a better standard of editing. If an editor is not tangled up with spaces and indents, they are more likely to spot higher-level concerns and make more detailed suggestions.

Formatting (probably the most productive way to self-edit a novel)

• make your manuscript double spaced
• use Times New Roman, font size 12
• delete all double spaces (replace with single space, even after a full stop/period)
• delete all tabs
• indent entire document to 1” margin
• justify the document to the left
• use a page break between each chapter (ctrl-enter will give you a page break on a PC) – never use multiple paragraph returns to force a new page!
• if you know how to use Word Styles, apply a style to each chapter heading

Quick checks

• run your manuscript through a spell-checker – it will pick up the worst offenders
• do not run your manuscript through Grammarly. Many of the suggestions made by Grammarly are not right! You will be wasting your time trying to work out which suggestions to apply, and it will increase the editing time if an editor has to undo all your changes!

Punctuation

• does every paragraph end in a full stop/period?
• is every full stop/period followed by a capital letter?
• have you used single quotes or double quotes consistently? It doesn’t matter which you choose, so long as it’s consistent.
• check your use of it’s – this word only means it is. It is NEVER possessive!
• is there punctuation at the end of every piece of dialogue, inside the final speech marks?

Dialogue

• does the dialogue for a new speaker start on a new line? (It should!)
• have you used sensible dialogue tags? (Preference is for said!)
• where there are only two people speaking, have you said who is speaking on every line? (This is not necessary, the reader can work it out if you throw in an occasional name.)
• have you put a comma in front of a name when someone is being addressed? For example “Nice to meet you, David.” (This is a vocative comma, and it’s important!)

Consistency

• are all your characters’ names spelled consistently throughout the book?
• did you change a character’s name at any point? Is the old name still there somewhere?

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Of course, if you’d rather not take these steps to self-edit a novel, then that’s absolutely fine. I address each of these points as I work my way through a manuscript. For further information on prices, or to receive a detailed quote, please get in touch.