Writing Mistakes to Catch When Self Editing Your Book (with Examples)

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Self-editing your novel or book doesn't have to be a painstaking process. Learn how to self-edit and spot common writing mistakes to hone your editorial eye. Here I walk through five easy mistakes you can catch and fix when self-editing your manuscript. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to strengthening your story and preparing it for publication (if that is your goal).

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GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING/PUBLISHING:

SOME OF MY FAVORITE NOVELS:

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5 MISTAKES TO CATCH WHEN SELF-EDITING YOUR BOOK:
01:48 - Switching tenses
03:53 - Inconsistent POV
08:19 - Pet phrases
12:14 - Improper punctuation
16:30 - Lengthy paragraphs

ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey—whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.

Feel free to get in touch!

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[thatguyfromcetialphaV]

It's funny because I always begin speech with Well or So. It's a hard thing to break out of.

[brianhershon]

I am writing a historical novel. Your
tutorials are SO helpful I never miss them. Really appreciated.

[creatingwithlove]

There are a few other things that are relatively easy for you to catch in your self-editing but that can be absolute killers for story immersion:

- Timeline errors (events happening in a sequence that don't make sense, like a character dying September 20th but three weeks later it's Christmas Eve.)
- Continuity errors (a character that has fire red hair in chapter 3 but hair as black as pitch in chapter 19 and there's no explanation provided for the change in color)
- Backstory!!!! My friends, my friends - it is good for you to know the character's full backstory. It is not necessary for the reader to know backstory unless it has direct bearing on the sequence of events taking place in that moment. And, even then, find a subtle way to work in the details needed to provide the insights you want the reader to get.

[paulrobinson]

This video on editing is so refreshing. There are a lot of booktubers whose editing videos are simply which words to cut from your manuscript, and there are a lot of grammar videos which are more suited for those learning English. Here you have really hit the mark with self-editing, which editing programs, such as Grammarly and ProWriting Aid, which are excellent in themselves, are unlikely to catch such errors.
Keep up the great work.

[adaddinsane]

Thank you for knowing that paragraphs are a tool for anchoring the reader's position on the page - and not "a complete idea". As a magazine editor for 20 years, this was a crucial tool to help readers.

Using a computer to read-aloud is another very useful tool for self-editing, because you tend to read what you think is there, but a machine reads what is actually there.

[brindlebucker]

I enjoy your videos. I especially appreciate that your content is structured- not just personable rambling. You build and explain your points in a systematic way. The written examples are a very effective tool, and I hope you continue using them. I think it's always going to be tricky for you to find exactly the right tone to take. On authortube, the content-creators can be sarcastic, funny, ramble down tangents etc because 'I'm the author, and I'm cool!' But the editor is the one who has to give the cool author the hard news that their writing needs work. It must be a challenge to offer this sort of criticism in a way that is authoritative yet friendly and positive. I feel like you are striking a good balance. Keep it up.

[knghtmajic]

Stumbling across your channel was a pure miracle. I have two books published, but I know there is so much more I need to learn, and wish I could have found this channel two books ago. My version of Imposter Syndrome is really causing me to force my writing forward, which is not good at all. Thank you for your insight. It is greatly appreciated.

[kelseywood]

Another fabulous upload, thanks! I have been committing these literary sins for years because no one told me they were detrimental to my work. Now I know exactly what to look for when self editing.

[masonengel]

I’ve been trying to write down my “pet phrases” when I notice them (I used to use “slightly” like a maniac 😂). But I haven’t thought of checking my manuscript for too-meaty paragraphs. I do believe in the aesthetic power of white space on the page though, because it’s of course not solely aesthetic, so I’ll have to bear that in mind when I start my next editing project.

[Undidiridium_]

Times like these make me thankful for also writing fanfics. I started picking up on my pet phrases when I shifted from writing in one fandom to another and notice the certain description/words I liked to cling too. Although there is still a lot of it in my book but at least I'm more aware of it now

[michaelmontoya-oghq]

You reminded me of Hemingway editor. You and him have helped me so much. Thank you.

[brianmagazu]

lol to pet phrases exemplified in a scene about pets-- quality content

[markmarkel]

Your Video’s have some sound advice. I see most of your followers enjoy your comments.
Being older and having more life experiences. I find some of comments critical of authors. You seem to think reader to critical of authors. If that was truth a lot of books never get read.
I have read NY best sellers and have not been that impressed.
You have good knowledge of the industry. But you make sound like it’s a waste of time.
When your 50 maybe you can revisit these video’s.
I will finish my book and just like so many others follow the path of publication. It may not work.
It’ s nice to have you, Abby, Jena, Brandon, Jerry Jenkins for all the advice. U tube been great help to get me this far.
Thanks

[teodordumitrescu]

I am working on a historical novel, however it is in Romanian and for the local market. But these tips are really helpful.

[seankrug]

I really enjoy your videos. I’m about 75, 000 words into my first novel about Ancient Rome. Your tips have been super helpful. Thanks!!

[russellmarvin]

I really do appreciate your video on editing. I can see I need to go back and redo some of the book to include this editing suggestions.

[MyPickUp]

I really appreciate your videos and they have a lot of great information, but that background music is distracting. Thank you for the great advice.

[AoAnotherLady]

Just a thought -- in breaking down paragraphs, you might want to set your page and font size to that of a novel. Like 5"x8" with a Times font of 10. Then you get a real idea of how much space your paragraphs will take up on the page of a book, not on a sheet of letter-sized paper, which I believe is the general default for WP programs.

[robertnorok]

Seeing how I'm self-editing right now, this came at the right time. Thank you!

[IchNachtLiebe]

I'm self editing my first novel right now. I dont have the funds for a professional editor at this time (maybe I will for future novels).

Having people read my work has helped; Family, friends, beta readers. Especially when it comes to humor in the text. Trying to tell a joke that doesnt hit can often just be gutted. But, it is so hard to recognize a bit of humor that i think is a knee-slapping gem that other people just dont get because their humor is different. A poorly placed joke can ruin a chapter or scene and a second pair of eyes is essential.