How to edit your book in 5 easy steps

It’s time to edit your book.

But where to start? It would be brilliant if you could dash off a first draft and – hey presto – your book is ready to publish. 

Sadly that’s not the case, although maybe it’s a good thing – it takes the pressure off writing when you know there will be several chances to improve it down the line.

The fact is that good editing is part of good writing. This post gives you a simple process for polishing your manuscript, whether it be for a self-help guide, a business book, or a memoir.

When to edit your book

When you’ve written your first chapter or chunk of text, it can be tempting to revise it before you go any further. That’s a bad idea, for two reasons:

• You’ll lose the momentum for keeping going with your book
• You won’t do a good job of editing if you haven’t written the whole book yet – you need to see it in its entirety to know what’s working and what isn’t

So keep on keeping on until you reach the end of the first draft of the whole book. Writing, then revising, then writing again, slows you down and can even demotivate you.

How to edit your book

When you have tens of thousands of words to knock into shape, it’s easy to get confused with where you’re up to or what you need to do next. So make life easier for yourself by taking it step by step.

Step 1: get ready
Give yourself at least a couple of weeks between finishing your first draft and starting the editing process. You need space to forget what you’ve written, so that you’re coming to it as if you were one of your readers.

The beauty of this is that you’ll experience surprises of all kinds, such as: ‘I’m a genius!’ and ‘What was I thinking?’ or even ‘Who wrote this sh*t?’ Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of these spontaneous reactions – not only are they a joy, but they also tell you what needs to change.

Next, print out your manuscript, numbering the pages and starting each chapter on a new one. I know, the trees – but when we read on a screen we skim the pages and don’t see all the things we need to.

And while you’re about it, allow yourself a sense of smug satisfaction when you see the pile of paper in front of you. Because it was you who created that – yes, you.

Your final job for this step is to get hold of some sticky notes, a pen, and some blank sheets of A4 paper. Write the name of each chapter across the top of a separate sheet; you’ll be sticking your notes below it.

Now find yourself a comfortable spot, away from your desk, to read your book.

Step 2: put your brain in gear
Go back to your original aim, topic, and target readership. Remind yourself why you’re writing this book, who it’s for, and what its gold is. What’s the point of your book? How will it benefit the world?

Jot your answers on a blank sheet of paper and keep it beside you as you edit – it will be your sense checker for whenever you feel unsure about something.

Step 3: edit for sense
You’ll need to set aside several hours for both this step and Step 5, and I suggest that you do them each in no more than two sessions per step. That way you’ll hold your whole book in your head as you read, which is essential for spotting gaps and repetitions.

In this step you’re editing not for style, but for content. Take one chapter at a time and, before you start reading it, note down brief answers to the following questions on your chapter sheets:

• What’s the purpose of this chapter?
• If my readers could take away only one point from it, what would it be?
• What do I want them to know and feel by the end?

Now read through, using the following pointers to guide you.

• Does anything in this chapter not serve the overall purpose? If not, cross it out or make a note to move it somewhere more useful by jotting a remark on a sticky note and placing it on your chapter sheet.
• Are your points ordered in a way that makes sense for your readers? If not, draw some arrows to re-order them.
• Have you included enough (or too much) information, given your readers’ level of knowledge?
• Have you referred to anything coming later or earlier in the book? If so, don’t try to find it now, but jot it down on a sticky note and place it on the relevant chapter sheet. You’ll use it to check for consistency later.
• Have you repeated stories or points from other chapters in a way that isn’t helpful? If you think you might have done, put them on your sticky notes and check later.
• If it occurs to you that new material needs to be added, write it on a blank sheet of paper and insert it into the relevant place in your manuscript.
• Do you need to do more research on an area? Could you add any case studies? If so, this goes on another sticky note.

Step 4: make your changes
Return to your computer and make the necessary changes, saving the chapters as a second draft. You can bin the sticky notes as you go along (woohoo!).

While you’re re-writing, stay alert for further changes that you need to make, but avoid worrying about how things are worded; you’re focusing on top-line flow of content here.

Step 5: edit for style
Print out your manuscript once more and find your comfy chair again. This time you’re focusing on what your book is like to read, rather than what it says.

To get a feel for that, read it aloud. It’s the only reliable way to gain an objective view of the rhythm of your writing, because when something snags for you it will also snag for your readers. Reading aloud is something that most authors don’t bother with, but when you do it you’ll see why it makes such a difference.

You can use the following as a checklist for making sure your book is a delight to read:

• Is it clear? Have you spotted any woolly phrases, or words that don’t add anything but are there for the sake of it? Do you have headings and sub-headings where appropriate?
• Is it a good read? Do you find your mind wandering? If so, your readers will be bored as well. Maybe your writing is too long-winded. Or could it do with a story, an interesting fact, or a touch of controversy to liven it up? Are you using metaphors and analogies to avoid a dry reading experience?
• Is it persuasive? Have you included:
• Evidence of your credibility and authority in your subject matter
• Stories
• Empathy
• Research, facts, and figures if they help to convince your readers
• Interactive exercises if appropriate
• An introduction that encourages people to read the book
• A conclusion that helps understanding and inspires your readers for the future

Use the same process for additions and corrections as for Step 3, then return to your computer and input your changes.

Give yourself a break and then re-read the entire manuscript one more time (on screen this time if you prefer), tweaking as you go along.

Finally, collapse in a heap/pour yourself a drink/go wild with excitement in whatever excessive way that works for you – you’ve earned it.

And that’s how you edit your book.