How to self-edit your non-fiction book

Editors always talk about the importance of self-editing. But it's not just about catching typos and spelling errors. Sure, that’s part of it, but it’s not the full picture. Self-editing goes much deeper. It involves analysing, rearranging, rewriting, correcting and, often, killing your darlings. And it should be a part of every writer’s process.

But how do you do it – and when? Well, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to self-editing, but certain best practices can improve your writing and prepare it for the next stage of the editorial process.

So if you’re writing a non-fiction book or you’ve just finished, I'll show you why you should self-edit, how to do it effectively and when it’s time to seek a professional editor.

What is self-editing?

Self-editing is the act of revising your writing to clarify ideas, improve its structure and eliminate errors. While some authors do this while they write, others do it at the end – or both. (For more on this topic, see Should you write now and edit later?). The main purpose of self-editing is to monitor the following:

• Have you met your writing goals?

• Is your argument/content clear and easy to follow?

• Will the writing resonate with your ideal readers?

• Are there any mechanical errors that could distract readers?

As you can see, most of these questions focus on the reader. This isn't accidental. The reader is your greatest ally and advocate (or enemy, if you’re not careful), so you need to keep their needs in mind. In a lecture delivered at Columbia University, Zadie Smith said, ‘The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer.’

Why should you self-edit before hiring an editor?

Most people think that it’s an editor’s job to whip your manuscript into shape, which is true, but if it's incomplete, poorly written or disorganised, it can make the editor’s job harder – and more expensive. You may need two or more rounds to weed out different problems, adding to the time commitment.

However, if you self-edit beforehand (and not just once), your editor can focus on deeper, more nuanced issues. Plus, the pages will be cleaner and easier to interact with, and you won’t feel as overwhelmed when you review the corrections.

The five pillars of non-fiction self-editing

There are many ways to approach self-editing, but I like to break it down into five key areas, ranging from big-picture issues to grammar and spelling errors. If possible, go through these one by one and address any issues as they come up.

1. Structure

Think of your book's structure as a roadmap for readers. You need to provide a clear path from A to B. While you can meander a little, it’s important to steer your readers safely back. With that in mind, consider the following:

• Do your chapters flow logically?

• Should any chapters be rearranged or deleted?

• Are the chapter titles descriptive?

• Do your chapter titles and headings reflect the content?

• Are there enough subheadings, boxes or bullet lists to make the writing easy to digest?

• Do readers need extras to get more out of your book, like a glossary, downloads or a checklist?

2. Content

As you analyse the book's structure, you're likely to find content issues, such as superfluous passages or content gaps. Where appropriate, delete or cut back ideas that don’t serve your argument, and make sure you've got enough case studies, quotes or evidence to back your claims.

Also, look out for repetition. Books are often written over months or years and authors can forget what they’ve already discussed. Scan the chapters for ideas or topics that have already been introduced.

And while you’re at it, double-check quotes and any facts, such as names, dates and places. It’s easy to get those details muddled when you’re in the thick of the writing process.

3. Style and voice

Many authors focus on content and pay little attention to style and voice, but it’s something that can set you apart from competitors.

As a general rule, style is how the story is told. For example, is the writing journalistic or does it use narrative elements? Voice is the author’s attitude and personality. For example, is it light or authoritative? (Remember Mark Manson’s expletive-packed prose in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck?) That said, style and voice can overlap, so don’t get too bogged down by these definitions.

As you go through your manuscript, pay attention to style and voice and make sure they’re consistent throughout. Here are some questions to guide you:

• How would you describe your style (e.g. expository, narrative, persuasive)?

• How would you describe your voice (e.g. opinionated, playful, nurturing)?

• Have you strayed into other styles or voices?

• How can you steer things back in the right direction?

Next, check to see if you’ve fallen into common language traps:

• Is your writing too wordy?

• Is your language too flowery?

• Do you use a lot of clichés?

• Have you used a lot of jargon?

Too much waffle, hackneyed phrases and jargon can confuse, slow down or lose readers, so keep these elements in check or eliminate them.

Lastly, pay attention to word choice. Have you used simple words over complex ones? For example, 'count' is simpler than 'enumerate' and 'harmful' is simpler than 'deleterious'. If you’re writing for a general audience, accessible language minimises friction and creates a smoother reading experience. Simplicity and authenticity are key!

Of course, if your audience is more sophisticated or specialist, you can get away with industry jargon and more complex vocabulary – but don't overdo it.

4. Grammar

Now it’s time to get granular (or should I say ‘grammular’). Take a look at your sentences and ask yourself if they're easy to read. If you get out of breath when you read them out loud, shorten the sentences or split them into two.

Also, vary sentence length. Too many short, staccato sentences can jar with readers. And too many long ones can test their concentration!

Next, check for clarity. Are you using active voice? For example, compare ‘John was confused by the turn of events’ with ‘The turn of events confused John’. One makes John the subject; the other makes him the object. Both are correct, but the first is more immediate and easier to understand.

And what about punctuation? While you can’t be expected to know all the rules, use commas where you might have natural breaks, for example, after introductory clauses. And correct any comma splices that may confuse readers.

5. Spelling

Your inbuilt spellcheck will flag any unusual spellings, but don’t accept recommendations without checking the context first. If you’re using a lot of names, places or technical vocabulary, keep a list of these and then use Find and Replace to make sure they’re always spelled correctly.

In fact, you could start a style sheet that not only includes spellings but also style preferences, such as serial commas, title case (capitals) for headings and numbers as figures. Copyeditors also create style sheets, but your list will ensure your preferences are retained and respected.

Another thing to look out for is commonly confused words. That is, words that sound the same but mean something different, for example, ‘loath’ vs. ‘loathe’, ‘breath’ vs. ‘breathe’ or ‘affect’ vs. ‘effect’. Your editor will pick these up too, but it helps to weed out any obvious ones yourself.

When do you know it’s time to stop self-editing?

You may need one round of self-editing, or three. It all depends on how quickly you work, how much self-editing you’ve done before and what shape your manuscript is in. Ideally, you should leave a few days or weeks between each round. You’ll always find something new when your eyes and brain have had a rest.

So when should you pull stumps? When your last round yields few corrections, or when you can’t bear to look at the manuscript anymore! It can be tempting to keep going, but excessive self-editing can be just as bad as not self-editing at all. You may end up fixing things that were perfectly fine. Or introducing a new idea that completely derails the book.

Why can't I publish after I've self-edited my book?

No matter how much time you invest in self-editing, it isn't enough to get your book publication-ready. Error fatigue, blind spots and being too close to the book mean you won’t pick up everything. You still need a copyeditor to flag outstanding errors and inconsistencies, and then a proofreader to correct anything that slipped through (and they will slip through!).

Top tip: Just because you've finished self-editing, doesn't mean your manuscript is ready for a copyeditor. If you want to minimise costs further and make the editing process smoother, see How to prepare your manuscript for an editor (non-fiction edition).

Summing up: How to self-edit your non-fiction book

Self-editing is a crucial part of the writing process, and it can’t be rushed or outsourced. By reviewing the five pillars of self-editing – structure, content, style and voice, grammar and spelling – you can sharpen your writing, reduce costs and make the copyediting process smoother.

If you’ve gone as far as you can with self-editing and you’re ready for a professional copyeditor, I can help. Get in touch through my contact form or request a sample edit.