Book Editing Made Simple – A Short Guide

​Whether you are trying to get published or reviewing someone else’s work, knowing how to edit plays a huge role in how well the content is received. If you have to edit a book, it might seem very daunting and time consuming. To make things simpler, here’s a short guide on how to do it the easy way:

Edit in Chunks

​It can be very difficult to edit a book in one go. This makes it more likely for you to miss out on the errors. A good idea is to go by chapters when you are editing. You can also pay attention to other factors such as the outline of the story, scene setting, sentence structure and other factors. By editing in chunks you are more likely to pick up on any discrepancies in how the story flows.

Re-Read the Edits

​Once you have made the edits, don’t be so quick to turn in the book. Take a break for half an hour and then go to the start of the document. Re-read your edits to make sure that the changes you have made, add to the story. You might be removing redundant words or making sentences brief and readable but make sure that the plot or storyline doesn’t get sidetracked when you do so.

Question the Content 

​When you are editing, don’t just look at the spelling and grammar. Look at the story at large and ask yourself a few questions. Don’t know what to ask? The following can be a rough questionnaire for you to use:

• Does the plot make sense? – Books can have subplots which are supposed to add to the story. However, does your book about detectives and crime really need space dinosaurs?
• How believable are the characters? – Believable characters make a connection with the readers. Look at Harry Potter or even the odd Sherlock Holmes. There was a very human quality to them which the readers connected with.
• Is the sentence structure good? – Sentences that are too long can mar the readability. Make them too short and it gets annoying to read them. Try to make sure that they are well-balanced
• Are there any crutch words or phrases? – Crutch words and phrases are usually used repetitively by the writer. It is a good idea to try to substitute these phrases so as to avoid annoying the reader.

Get an Outsider’s Perspective 

​It’s a good idea to ask someone else to edit your work or re-read your edits. Many writers face difficulty in knowing what to cut out or what to keep. With an outsider’s perspective, they get a more objective outlook on the content and the mistakes in it.