Editing Masterclass: Polishing Your Manuscript to Perfection

Writing is discovering the story; editing is making that story decipherable to others. The first draft is entirely for you, but the revisions are strictly for your reader.

The Three Distinct Phases of Editing

Never try to fix commas while you are fixing plot holes. Proper editing requires distinct, compartmentalized phases:

• Developmental Editing: Looking at the macro level. Are the character arcs earned? Does the pacing sag in the middle? Is the climax satisfying and inevitable?

• Line Editing: Looking at the prose itself. Are the sentences melodic? Are you using active verbs? Are you showing rather than telling?

• Copy Editing: Looking at the rules. Grammar, syntax, consistency, and strict formatting.

The Power of Distance

Once you finish your manuscript, put it in a drawer for at least two weeks. Coming back with fresh eyes allows you to see the reality of what is on the page, rather than what you intended to put there.

Once polished, your book is ready for the next phase. See our guide on the Future of Digital Publishing for where to take your manuscript next.