{"id":735,"date":"2023-05-12T16:08:51","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T16:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/?p=735"},"modified":"2024-08-12T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T15:34:55","slug":"self-editing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/self-editing\/","title":{"rendered":"7-Step Self-Editing Guide for Authors (Edit Like an Expert)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"735\" class=\"elementor elementor-735\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-488d5be elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"488d5be\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0fd5bb\" data-id=\"e0fd5bb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a16068c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a16068c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>If you\u2019ve spent some time in the author space, you may have come across the term self-editing, but are not quite sure what it means.<\/p><p>The truth is it\u2019s a much-overlooked part of writing that improves your book and anything you might write in the future.<\/p><p>So it\u2019s pretty essential that authors learn about it.<\/p><p>For that reason, we decided to work alongside\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/self-editing-authors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Richard Bradburn of Editorial.ie, and author of Self-Editing for Self-Publishers<\/a>, to create a complete guide for authors on how to self-edit their own work.<\/p><p>Without further ado, let\u2019s jump right into it!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-08d42c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"08d42c2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dfd5d0e\" data-id=\"dfd5d0e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2841409 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2841409\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mock-up-1024x743.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-736\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mock-up-1024x743.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mock-up-300x218.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mock-up-768x557.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mock-up.jpeg 1488w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4a89f26 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4a89f26\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7845d4\" data-id=\"e7845d4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b786d33 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"b786d33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:&quot;#related&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-arrow-right&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.13.1 - 11-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-table-of-contents .elementor-toc__header-title{color:var(--header-color)}.elementor-widget-table-of-contents.elementor-toc--collapsed .elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse,.elementor-widget-table-of-contents:not(.elementor-toc--collapsed) .elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand{display:none}.elementor-widget-table-of-contents .elementor-widget-container{min-height:var(--box-min-height);border:var(--box-border-width,1px) solid var(--box-border-color,#9da5ae);border-radius:var(--box-border-radius,3px);background-color:var(--box-background-color);transition:min-height .4s;overflow:hidden}.elementor-toc__header{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:var(--box-padding,20px);background-color:var(--header-background-color);border-bottom:var(--separator-width,1px) solid var(--box-border-color,#9da5ae)}.elementor-toc__header-title{font-size:18px;margin:0;color:var(--header-color)}.elementor-toc__toggle-button{cursor:pointer;display:inline-flex}.elementor-toc__toggle-button i{color:var(--toggle-button-color)}.elementor-toc__toggle-button svg{height:1em;width:1em;fill:var(--toggle-button-color)}.elementor-toc__spinner-container{text-align:center}.elementor-toc__spinner{font-size:2em}.elementor-toc__spinner.e-font-icon-svg{height:1em;width:1em}.elementor-toc__body{padding:var(--box-padding,20px);max-height:var(--toc-body-max-height);overflow-y:auto}.elementor-toc__body::-webkit-scrollbar{width:7px}.elementor-toc__body::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background-color:#babfc5;border-radius:10px}.elementor-toc__list-wrapper{list-style:none;padding:0}.elementor-toc__list-item{margin-bottom:.5em}.elementor-toc__list-item.elementor-item-active{font-weight:700}.elementor-toc__list-item .elementor-toc__list-wrapper{margin-top:.5em;margin-left:var(--nested-list-indent,1em)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text:hover{color:var(--item-text-hover-color);-webkit-text-decoration:var(--item-text-hover-decoration);text-decoration:var(--item-text-hover-decoration)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text.elementor-item-active{color:var(--item-text-active-color);-webkit-text-decoration:var(--item-text-active-decoration);text-decoration:var(--item-text-active-decoration)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper{display:flex;align-items:center}.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper:before,.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper i{margin-right:8px;color:var(--marker-color)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper svg{margin-right:8px;fill:var(--marker-color);height:var(--marker-size,.5em);width:var(--marker-size,.5em)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper i{font-size:var(--marker-size,.5em)}.elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper:before{font-size:var(--marker-size,1em)}.elementor-toc--content-ellipsis .elementor-toc__list-item-text{white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.elementor-toc__list-items--collapsible>.elementor-toc__list-wrapper>.elementor-toc__list-item>.elementor-toc__list-wrapper{display:none}.elementor-toc__heading-anchor{position:absolute}.elementor-toc__body .elementor-toc__list-item-text{color:var(--item-text-color);-webkit-text-decoration:var(--item-text-decoration);text-decoration:var(--item-text-decoration)}.elementor-toc__body .elementor-toc__list-item-text:hover{color:var(--item-text-hover-color);-webkit-text-decoration:var(--item-text-hover-decoration);text-decoration:var(--item-text-hover-decoration)}.elementor-toc__body .elementor-toc__list-item-text.elementor-item-active{color:var(--item-text-active-color);-webkit-text-decoration:var(--item-text-active-decoration);text-decoration:var(--item-text-active-decoration)}ol.elementor-toc__list-wrapper{counter-reset:item}ol.elementor-toc__list-wrapper .elementor-toc__list-item{counter-increment:item}ol.elementor-toc__list-wrapper .elementor-toc__list-item-text-wrapper:before{content:counters(item,\".\") \". \"}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__body\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-498df41 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"498df41\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a7c5fcf\" data-id=\"a7c5fcf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01fc788 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"01fc788\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is Self-Editing?\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7a16bbc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7a16bbc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d75dc95\" data-id=\"d75dc95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff1f3b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff1f3b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What you\u2019re trying to do is to<strong>\u00a0see your own work like a reader or<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>even more to the point, as an editor, agent or publisher will<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Self-editing is the process of looking at your own story as objectively as you can, seeing the flaws in it, revising and rewriting, and polishing it until it\u2019s as good as you can make it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0d1f40\" data-id=\"f0d1f40\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d9589a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0d9589a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"536\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SelfEdiitng-2.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-737\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SelfEdiitng-2.png 536w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SelfEdiitng-2-300x232.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c28f118 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c28f118\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b2670f\" data-id=\"4b2670f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd6fff2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd6fff2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound too hard\u2014what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p><p>The problem is that little word \u201cobjectively.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-93d4dcf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"93d4dcf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb91708\" data-id=\"cb91708\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bac3ab0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bac3ab0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You want to give yourself the ability to look at your book dispassionately and say to yourself, \u201cWell, that scene doesn\u2019t really work,\u201d or \u201cEven I\u2019m bored with this character.\u201d<\/p><p>Self-editing is the process of looking at your own story as objectively as you can, seeing the flaws in it, revising and rewriting, and polishing it until it\u2019s as good as you can make it.<\/p><p>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t sound too hard\u2014what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p><p>The problem is that little word \u201cobjectively.\u201d<\/p><p>What you\u2019re trying to do is to<strong>\u00a0see your own work like a reader or<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>even more to the point, as an editor, agent or publisher will<\/strong>.<\/p><p>You want to give yourself the ability to look at your book dispassionately and say to yourself, \u201cWell, that scene doesn\u2019t really work,\u201d or \u201cEven I\u2019m bored with this character.\u201d<\/p><p>Getting that objective distance from your own writing is a really difficult art to master, but without it, you\u2019ll never be able to see the flaws in your stories.<\/p><p>\u201cBut hang on, that\u2019s what editors are for, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p><p>Yes, that\u2019s true.<\/p><p>Editors are not involved in the writing of your book, so can look at it completely objectively.<\/p><p>They can see flaws that you can\u2019t, no matter how many times you read it, and even if you self-edit your own work really well, they will still see things that you missed.<\/p><p>But if you rely on editors to do all your editing, your editing costs are going to be high, and you will keep making the same mistakes in your own writing.<\/p><p>As we covered in our article on book\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/cost-to-publish-a-book\/\" data-wplink-edit=\"true\">publishing costs<\/a>, they can get pretty high, so we want to do anything we can to get it down.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7d100777 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7d100777\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a4a8da5\" data-id=\"5a4a8da5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77e6c66c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"77e6c66c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-964x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-955\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-964x1024.jpeg 964w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-282x300.jpeg 282w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-768x816.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3.jpeg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-14604f95\" data-id=\"14604f95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a3af779 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a3af779\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introducing: <br><strong>Booklinker Collections<\/strong><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fdddae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6fdddae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One landing page for all your books. 100% free.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6d5d827b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6d5d827b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2142a5ab\" data-id=\"2142a5ab\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76605139 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76605139\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One link for easy sharing of your books across your backmatter, websites, emails, and social media.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ea81655 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2ea81655\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/booklinker-collections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Check Out Collections<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f4a32a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f4a32a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0ba2888\" data-id=\"0ba2888\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ba0756 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ba0756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Self Edit<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a3aa564 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a3aa564\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-95448f7\" data-id=\"95448f7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f815baa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f815baa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Now that you understand why you\u2019d want to self-edit, before sending your book off to an editor, it\u2019s time to start self-editing.<\/p><p>The first question you probably have is:<\/p><p><strong>Can I save time and do it as I write?<\/strong><\/p><p>This is not recommended, as self-editing is best done after you\u2019ve finished the first complete draft of your book.<\/p><p>If you try and mix creativity (writing new scenes) and editing previous scenes, there\u2019s a great danger that you\u2019ll fall into the \u201ctwo steps forward and one back\u201d trap, where you never seem to be getting anywhere with your book and eventually might even succumb to writer\u2019s block.<\/p><p>Once you\u2019ve finished your book, the best thing you can do is try and forget about it for six months.<\/p><p>\u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p><p>We get it, that seems crazy. You\u2019re not forgetting about it completely. What you\u2019re trying to do is to get objective distance.<\/p><p>If the book is fresh in your mind, you will be full of the writing of it, borne along on the current of your own creativity.<\/p><p>For the next step of self-editing, you need to be an editor, remember, that an editor hasn\u2019t seen your book before.<\/p><p>You might think that you can\u2019t possibly forget your book, having put all that effort into it, and while it\u2019s true that you won\u2019t forget it completely, you\u2019d be surprised how different it seems to you if you are able to put it aside for even just a couple of months.<\/p><p>Some scenes that you thought were really gripping will feel a bit flat. One character that you only put in as an afterthought might seem a lot more memorable on second reading. You\u2019re beginning to see your book as others will.<\/p><p>\u201cBut I can\u2019t wait months. I want to write another ten books this year!\u201d<\/p><p>Well, there\u2019s nothing stopping you from writing another few books while you\u2019re waiting on this one.<\/p><p>In fact, that\u2019s often the best way to get some distance on your last book \u2013 write another. You\u2019ll be so wrapped up creatively in the new material that you\u2019ll speed up the process of getting some distance on the last book no end.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ecf24d3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ecf24d3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-62030ee\" data-id=\"62030ee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd38bf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd38bf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tips for Perspective Changes<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6b6ec59 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6b6ec59\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0bb5475\" data-id=\"0bb5475\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dde9850 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dde9850\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What you\u2019re trying to do is to make your surroundings different from your normal writing process. \u00a0<\/p><p>Below are some ways you can help change the perspective you have of your writing:<\/p><ul id=\"block-377d1c7a-e074-439b-8ed7-a824b77fa207\"><li>Change the font of the manuscript.<\/li><li>Edit it on a different computer<\/li><li>Change the orientation from portrait to landscape.<\/li><li>If possible, perhaps edit in a different room than your writing room.<\/li><li>Listening to your book using text-to-voice software, for a really different perspective.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Richard recommends a structured way of self-editing, mirroring the process that a book goes through at a traditional publisher.<\/p><p>They break down the work on a draft manuscript into structural (or developmental) editing and copy-editing.<\/p><p>This is a great way to go about it, as it\u2019s very difficult to get a clear perspective on which scenes are working, and which characters are pulling their narrative weight, if you\u2019re also, at the same time, checking that you\u2019ve punctuated all your dialogue correctly.<\/p><p>Professional editors don\u2019t do both of these tasks at the same time, for exactly this reason.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-00c069e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"00c069e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-56177f1\" data-id=\"56177f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7568b2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7568b2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Structural Editing\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2123732 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2123732\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-20bce6e\" data-id=\"20bce6e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f191bd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f191bd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In this first structural stage of self-editing, you\u2019re looking at:<\/p><p><strong>Plot problems<\/strong>: Continuity, plausibility, too much plot, or too little)<\/p><p><strong>Pacing:<\/strong>\u00a0Are there \u201cflat\u201d bits?<\/p><p><strong>Characters<\/strong>: Main character arcs properly defined, two-dimensional characters, minor characters taking up too much time and space)<\/p><p><strong>Technical writing:<\/strong> Issues like point-of-view, head-hopping, management of tense, filtering and description, and balance of dialogue, action, and exposition.<\/p><p>Does your book fit the expectations of the genre you\u2019re writing in?<\/p><p>Self-editing gets easier the more often you do it. Professional editors can cover all these issues at the same time.<\/p><p>If you\u2019re completely new to self-editing, it might be best to break it down into separate \u201cmissions\u201d, first looking at the plot, then the characters, and so on.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b14032 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b14032\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae94d6c\" data-id=\"ae94d6c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2694bc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2694bc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Copy Editing (AKA Line Editing)<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2522537 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2522537\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4b16d69\" data-id=\"4b16d69\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0c8ea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0c8ea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Next is the copy-editing (sometimes called line-editing) stage, where the focus is on the sentence level. The \u201cshape\u201d of your book, the characters, the scenes, and the plot, is pretty much final. Now you\u2019re polishing the prose.<\/p><p>Punctuation, especially around dialogue, is often a problem.<\/p><p>Common questions relating to punctuation and copy editing are:<\/p><ul><li>Double quotes or single?<\/li><li>Does the comma go inside or outside the quotes?<\/li><li>What happens when someone interrupts someone else?<\/li><li>What\u2019s the proper sentence structure<\/li><li>Are you using adverbs and adjectives correctly?<\/li><li>Are you using capitalization correctly?<\/li><li>Use of language<\/li><li>How to write numbers<\/li><li>How do you write telepathic communication?<\/li><li>What\u2019s maid-and-butler dialogue?<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-347929d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"347929d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d2e631\" data-id=\"4d2e631\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5336aa2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5336aa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Self-Editing Resources<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-01a6724 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"01a6724\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-051010a\" data-id=\"051010a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67f624a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67f624a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Next, Richard supplied some self-editing resources to help.<\/p><p>The original book on self-editing was \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Self-Editing-Fiction-Writers-Second-Yourself\/dp\/0060545690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Self-Editing for Fiction Writers<\/a>\u201d by Ronnie Browne and Dave King, which was the first book to treat self-editing as a separate discipline, worth studying in its own right.<\/p><p>It\u2019s still a great read, but is a bit long in the tooth now, predating the explosion of self-publishing by nearly a decade.<\/p><p>Richard felt there was room for an updated and more structured guide, so he wrote \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/self-editing-authors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Self-editing for Self-publishers<\/a>\u201d which goes through each step of the self-editing process outlined above, with copious examples, before-and-after edits, and a host of other useful resources like how to write a proper synopsis, which you\u2019ll need if you\u2019re ever going to submit to agents or publishers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8db01a3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8db01a3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fda3dce\" data-id=\"fda3dce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a50b2b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a50b2b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Self-Edit Over Hiring an Editor<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-02fda9d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"02fda9d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71dd6ba\" data-id=\"71dd6ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf09894 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cf09894\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ok, so now you see that self-editing is a lot of work, and are probably thinking, why bother doing it yourself over a professional editor?<\/p><p>While you can do that, you\u2019re ultimately paying that editor for their time, and if they\u2019re spending time going through the manuscript fixing all your punctuation, or trying to keep track of the fifty main characters you\u2019ve written into the book, then your editing fees are going to be large.<\/p><p>If you\u2019ve corrected most of the \u201cmechanical\u201d errors yourself, they\u2019ll have less to do, and what time they spend will be adding really good critique to your book, spotting things that you may have missed, improving the plot and characters even further, getting your book into really top shape to give it the best chance with agents of publishers, or the marketplace.<\/p><p>Additionally, by fixing a lot of your own writing issues, the chances are that you won\u2019t make those kinds of mistakes again, saving writing time and editing fees on new stories.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03bb88d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03bb88d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dbd1562\" data-id=\"dbd1562\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33849cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33849cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Self-Editing Checklist<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-39789f3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39789f3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-01fe141\" data-id=\"01fe141\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4613b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4613b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Make sure you finish your book first.<\/p><p>You don\u2019t want to be trying to edit it as you go along.<\/p><p>However scrappy you might think your first draft, it\u2019s more important to get to the end than try and fix things as you go along.<\/p><p>Below is a checklist to follow for self-editing your own book:<\/p><p>1. Put your draft away when you\u2019ve finished it. Give yourself some time apart from the book.<\/p><p>2. When you\u2019re ready to start self-editing, use a few formatting tricks to make it look and feel different to you. Change the font, the line spacing, and the orientation (portrait to landscape\/magnification). If you can, work in a different room, or on a different computer. Try audio.<\/p><p>3. If it\u2019s your first-time self-editing, a good manual on the subject by your elbow will keep you focused.<\/p><p>4. On your first pass through the manuscript, concentrate on big-picture issues, like whether the plot is convincing, the characters fully realized and empathetic, the pacing balanced, with a genre-appropriate mix of action and dialogue, and exposition.<\/p><p>5. In the second stage of self-editing, go through looking at the detailed level, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, language choices, adverb, and adjective use, capitalization etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dd4293 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dd4293\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0de5fd6\" data-id=\"0de5fd6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8096819 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8096819\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aad4ff2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aad4ff2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-976c797\" data-id=\"976c797\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7541802 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7541802\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cOne last question. If I\u2019ve done all this, do I need to bother with an editor at all? Can\u2019t I just publish the book as it is?\u201d<\/p><p>Good question!<\/p><p>The truth is that you\u2019ve brought the book to the point where it\u2019s the best you can make it on your own. That might be fine for some authors, but it\u2019s not the best that your book can be. For that, you will still need to have an editor look at it.<\/p><p>You will be surprised, even after all your hard work, how much you\u2019ve missed, or could improve upon.<\/p><p>But their fees will be much lower than if you hadn\u2019t bothered, you will be a much better writer, and you will have a book that you can truly stand by and be proud of.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6c558de8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6c558de8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-555379fc\" data-id=\"555379fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d108b30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3d108b30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-964x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-955\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-964x1024.jpeg 964w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-282x300.jpeg 282w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3-768x816.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/choice-screens-collections-white-e79aa2e3.jpeg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-45069262\" data-id=\"45069262\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b3da4c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4b3da4c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introducing: <br><strong>Booklinker Collections<\/strong><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22bce43b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22bce43b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One landing page for all your books. 100% free.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-254da678 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"254da678\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a435835\" data-id=\"7a435835\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-258180d7 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"258180d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One link for easy sharing of your books across your backmatter, websites, emails, and social media.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12260ae9 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"12260ae9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/booklinker-collections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Check Out Collections<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve spent some time in the author space, you may have come across the term self-editing, but are not quite sure what it means. The truth is it\u2019s a much-overlooked part of writing that improves your book and anything you might write in the future. So it\u2019s pretty essential that authors learn about it. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[36],"class_list":["post-735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-writing","author-richard-bradburn"],"authors":[{"term_id":36,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"richard-bradburn","display_name":"Richard Bradburn","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/richard-bradburn.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/richard-bradburn.jpeg"},"description":"\r\nRichard Bradburn is Managing Editor of editorial.ie, a literary consultancy based in south west Ireland with a global client list spanning four continents. He works primarily with fiction authors, helping them to realise their dreams of producing a top-quality book. Clients have gone on to self-publish best-sellers, secure agent representation, be traditionally published and be shortlisted for prestigious literary awards. He also works with a number of prestigious financial companies, government agencies and traditional publishing houses on various projects from marketing materials right through to book-length work.\r\nHe has been published in The Irish Times, Arts and Letters Daily, and wrote his own guide to self-editing, Self-editing for Self-publishers. He talks regularly at writer\u2019s conferences in the UK and Ireland on writing and editing.\r\n","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","facebook":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","linkedin":"","youtube":"","tiktok":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=735"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/booklinker.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}