Writing a story, article, or essay is just the first part of the journey. Once the words are on the page, the next and often most crucial step is editing. Editing is where a good piece of writing can be transformed into something truly polished and impactful. Self-editing, in particular, is an art that requires a careful eye, patience, and a willingness to improve your work, even if it means cutting out parts you initially loved. Mastering self-editing will not only elevate your work but will also help you grow as a writer. Here are some essential self-editing tips to help you refine your writing like a pro.
Take a Break Before You Edit
Once you’ve completed your first draft, it’s tempting to jump right in and start editing. However, one of the best things you can do is step away from your work for a while. Taking a break allows you to return to your writing with fresh eyes and a more objective perspective. When you’re too close to your work, it’s easy to miss mistakes or overlook areas that need improvement.
Whether it’s a few hours, a day, or even a week, giving yourself some distance from your draft will make it easier to spot awkward phrasing, inconsistencies, or structural issues. You’ll be more prepared to make the tough decisions necessary to improve your piece.
Start With Big Picture Issues
When you first begin editing, resist the urge to focus on spelling and grammar. Instead, start by addressing big-picture elements, such as structure, pacing, and overall flow. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the story or argument have a clear direction?
- Are there parts that feel unnecessary or redundant?
- Is there a logical progression of ideas?
- Does each scene or paragraph serve a purpose?
Look at the broader strokes of your writing before diving into smaller details. This approach helps you avoid wasting time perfecting sentences that may ultimately need to be cut or rewritten. Structural edits can be challenging because they often involve moving entire sections, deleting scenes, or even reimagining character arcs or arguments. However, tackling these big changes early on will make the rest of the editing process much smoother.
Cut Out the Fluff
One of the most common issues with early drafts is wordiness. Writers often use extra words or overly elaborate sentences that can bog down the reader and dilute the impact of the writing. A crucial aspect of self-editing is learning to identify and cut out this unnecessary fluff.
Look for sentences or phrases that can be condensed without losing meaning. Words like “really,” “very,” “somewhat,” and “just” often add little value and can be removed. Instead of writing, “She was very tired,” write, “She was exhausted.” Removing these filler words will make your writing stronger, clearer, and more direct.
Another trick is to eliminate redundant phrases. For example, “At this point in time” can simply become “Now.” These small changes add up and help create a tighter, more engaging piece of writing.
Read Your Work Aloud
Reading your work aloud is one of the most effective self-editing techniques available. When you read silently, your brain tends to fill in the gaps and correct errors without you even noticing. Reading aloud forces you to slow down and pay closer attention to each word. This technique makes it easier to catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and grammatical errors that might otherwise slip through the cracks.
Hearing your words spoken also allows you to evaluate the rhythm and flow of your writing. Do the sentences have a natural cadence? Are there areas where you stumble or get stuck? These moments are often signs that a sentence needs reworking. If something doesn’t sound quite right when read aloud, it likely won’t read smoothly for your audience either.
Focus on Sentence Variety
Good writing has a rhythm to it, and sentence variety is key to maintaining that rhythm. Too many sentences of the same length or structure can make your writing monotonous and tedious to read. As you edit, pay attention to the types of sentences you’re using.
Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones. Short sentences add impact and can emphasize a point, while longer sentences provide detail and context. Varying your sentence structure keeps readers engaged and prevents the writing from becoming too predictable.
For example, instead of writing several short, choppy sentences in a row like, “She walked to the store. It was raining. She bought some bread,” try combining or expanding them: “Despite the rain, she walked to the store, her shoes splashing through puddles as she made her way to buy some bread.” The latter example provides more detail and creates a smoother, more engaging reading experience.
Be Ruthless With Your Darlings
One of the most famous pieces of writing advice is “kill your darlings,” a phrase attributed to William Faulkner. It refers to the idea of cutting even the parts of your writing that you love if they don’t serve the story or the overall piece. This can be one of the hardest parts of self-editing because it requires letting go of sentences or passages that you may be particularly proud of.
However, if a section doesn’t move the story forward, doesn’t fit with the overall tone, or simply adds unnecessary length, it needs to go. Self-editing is about prioritizing the reader’s experience over your attachment to specific words or phrases. If a “darling” doesn’t work, cut it—you can always save it in a separate document for future use if you can’t bear to part with it completely.
Watch Out for Repetition
Repetition is a common issue in early drafts. Writers often repeat ideas, phrases, or even specific words without realizing it. While repetition can be a powerful literary device when used intentionally, unintentional repetition weakens the impact of your writing and can bore your readers.
As you edit, keep an eye out for repeated words or concepts. If you notice that you’re using the same adjective multiple times in a paragraph or that you’re reiterating the same point without adding new value, make the necessary cuts or find a different way to express the idea. Repetition can easily be avoided by varying your language and being mindful of what you’ve already conveyed.
Check for Consistency
Consistency is key to maintaining a professional piece of writing. This includes consistency in tense, point of view, character details, and even formatting. Switching from past to present tense or from first-person to third-person narrative can confuse readers and make your writing feel disjointed. When self-editing, go through your work to make sure that your choices are consistent throughout.
Character details are another important element to keep consistent. If you mention early in the story that a character has blue eyes, make sure they don’t suddenly have green eyes later on. Keep a separate document with character notes if necessary to track details like appearance, habits, and background information.
Polish Your Dialogue
Dialogue can be one of the most challenging aspects of writing to get right, and it’s often an area that requires significant editing. Good dialogue should sound natural, but also serve a purpose—whether that’s revealing character, advancing the plot, or providing necessary information.
As you edit, read your dialogue out loud and ask yourself if it sounds like something someone would realistically say. Look for places where your dialogue may be too formal or stilted, and remove unnecessary small talk that doesn’t add to the story. Also, make sure each character has a distinct voice. Characters should not all sound the same; their speech should reflect their personalities, backgrounds, and motivations.
Proofread for Grammar and Punctuation
Once you’ve worked through the big-picture edits and polished your prose, it’s time to focus on the finer details: grammar, punctuation, and spelling. These small errors can distract readers and take away from the professionalism of your writing. Using tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid can help catch mistakes, but it’s also important to proofread manually. Automated tools can miss context-specific errors, and nothing beats a careful human eye for catching subtle mistakes.
One useful trick is to change the font or format of your document before proofreading. This change can make your writing look unfamiliar, helping you spot errors that you might have overlooked when reading in the same format over and over. Another helpful strategy is to proofread backward—reading each sentence in reverse order prevents your brain from filling in gaps and helps you focus on individual words and punctuation.
Know When to Stop
Self-editing can be an ongoing process, but it’s important to recognize when it’s time to stop. Perfection is an unattainable goal, and at some point, you need to let your work go. Endless tinkering can lead to over-editing, which risks stripping away the original voice and energy of your writing. Once you’ve addressed the big-picture issues, refined your prose, and proofread for errors, it’s time to consider your work done.
Trust yourself and your instincts. If you’ve put in the time to edit carefully and thoughtfully, your work is likely in great shape. Mastering self-editing takes practice, but by following these strategies, you can develop the skills needed to take your writing to the next level. Self-editing not only improves your current project but also helps you grow as a writer, making each new piece better than the last.
