Self-Editing for Indie Authors: 5 Top Tips

This is a guest post by author and editor Carrie Padgett with five great tips on self-editing for indie authors. Read on:

A couple of years ago, a friend recommended a book she thought I would love. She was right. It was witty and fresh and I loved it. Except it was riddled with typos and continuity issues. Honestly, I’d have chucked it against the wall if it wasn’t so darned entertaining. Not only was the book riddled with errors, one character’s name changed in the middle of the story. I kept flipping back to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Nope, Jim became John on page 157.

The book was indie published.

And poorly edited.

Why, why, why, I wondered, when editors are plentiful and good at their job, why would an author not use an editor?

I’m pretty sure I know the answer.

One of the big draws of indie publishing is that the author keeps more of the money pie. Instead of earning pennies for each book sale, the independent author makes a few bucks.

A badly behaved business principle is that you often have to spend money to make money.

You need to hire a graphic artist to get an attractive and enticing cover. Review copies cost money. Formatting. Amazon and Facebook ads. Goodreads giveaways. This list can go on. And on.

What about Editing?

You’re a good writer. You know how to turn out a compelling plot with engaging characters. And your word processing program will catch typos, so editing is something you can do yourself.

Right?

Well … maybe. And maybe not.

I’m a writer myself, and by the time a manuscript is “finished,” I may have gone over it ten or twelve times. Or more. I’ve tweaked the timeline. I’ve added a plot twist. Changed a character’s name or hair color. Those are the things that need to be checked by fresh eyes.

5 Top Self-Editing Tips for Indie Authors

I never recommend skimping on editing. Some editors charge by the page, the word, or the hour. As an editor, I quote a flat rate per hour, then offer to do ten pages (or one hour, whichever is less) for an estimate of the project’s cost. Your editor should be able to give you a rough estimate as well.

Still, there are things you can do yourself that will make your editor love you and will ultimately lower your costs.

1. Absolutely run your spellcheck feature. Just be aware that it’s not perfect and may recommend changes that will be wrong. So, use it with discernment.
2. Ask a trusted reader friend to be a beta reader for you. That’s someone who reads your manuscript and gives honest feedback about what worked and what didn’t work for them. These are also the readers who will point out Miranda’s eyes were blue on page 43 and green on page 136.
3. Invest in a good book on self-editing and read it. You may have heard terms such as “weasel words,” “head-hopping,” or “subtext,” and thought you knew knew their meaning only to discover you’d misunderstood the concepts. Renni Browne and Dave King’s Self-Editing for Fiction Writers is a classic reference for good reason. James Scott Bell’s Revision and Self-Editing for Publication is excellent as well.
4. Join a critique group, either online or in person. Meetup.com or your local library may be able to point you to authors in your area. Don’t commit, though, until you’ve visited a few times, received feedback, and determined the group fits your needs. You want a group with writers a bit more experienced than you, if possible.
5. Make (or find online) a self-editing checklist. Include such things as:
   • Did I ground the reader in the where and when of the story at the beginning of every chapter, but especially at the beginning of the book?
   • Did I introduce too many characters, too many names, all at once?
   • Did the timeline make sense? No one was pregnant for more than nine months, right?
   • Can words or phrases be cut to tighten the writing? I always look for was –ing constructs, because that’s a simple fix. Was running = ran. Was snoring = snored. I also search for started to. Don’t start to walk. Just walk.

Your Editor’s Turn

When your manuscript is as clean as you can make it, then it’s the editor’s turn. I promise you’ll be shocked at how many issues the editor will find, but you can then publish with confidence, knowing your book is the very best it can be.

That book I mentioned earlier? A traditional publisher picked it up and corrected all the typos and character name issues. And I’m certain an editor earned their paycheck that week.

—–

Carrie Padgett is a freelance writer and editor who reads with coffee in one hand and a highlighter in the other. She writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction with heart, humor, and hope.

Blog: www.carriepadgett.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarriePadgett

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterCarriePadgett/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Padgett/e/B00D8IQ55A