How to Self Edit Your Book

Self-editing your non-fiction book is a great way to polish your prose into a diamond. Self-editing is not in the place of professional editing though. These five tips for self-editing your non-fiction book are in addition to hiring a developmental editor, copy editor and proofreader. Writing a great book is not fast nor is it easy, but when you follow these tips for editing your book, you'll create a book that you'll be proud of for the rest of your life.

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[Spillers]

I use Google docs which has a read out loud add on. You can use that to also hear how it sounds.

[Drathaar]

Not editing while writing is the hardest habit to break. I'm still not perfect at it, those squiggly lines drive me crazy! Instead of reading it out loud myself, I use the Word function and have Word read it to me. The boring machine voice helps me hear the bad stuff better. Oh, and decaf, please. I can't have caffeine anymore 😥

[k.williams]

I loved the tip to not edit while you writing it and at some point you do have to stop editting and get it publish. All tips were great. Oh and the tip about walking away from the book for awhile then revisit with fresh eyes I loved. Thanks for sharing the steps of editting.

[anzita]

Edit while writing and reading out loud are the things where I need to concentrate. Thanks for the guidance ❤

[LindaKLee]

Julie this was so good!!!
I was at a point this morning where I just felt like things are not happening It just made me feel so good!
My book will never be perfect, and we will never find all the mistakes, read aloud.
I did that last night with my sales page and it made all the difference.
You rock and so does Book Launchers!!

[BGSpare]

When I find myself only making small tweaks and then later going back and tweaking it back to what it was before, I know it's time to call the book finished.

[I.B.KOSHER]

I have found MSWord read aloud to be the best for editing my book. It is easy to catch a lot of the Grammer and spelling mistakes this way.
Always love your videos. I also found plugging it into Grammerly very helpful.

[rachelrobertson]

Definite over-editor right here! At least, with my own work. Tip #1 is my biggest weakness. Because I work as a professional book editor and writing coach, it's so hard to turn that portion of my brain off. Especially when I know that it sounded better in my brain, and I know that I'm capable of cleaner writing. But you're right. This is a huge mistake, and will cause more harm than good. There are stories I wasn't able to finish because I got way too perfectionist. However, I've found that when I do writing sprints, I edit while I write less. Also, I've been freewriting each night for the past little while and my thoughts and words are flowing more freely. :-)

[camoflage]

I used to read my work aloud. However, since I also have done community theater, I found myself "selling" the mistakes to myself. So I used MS Word's text-to-speech function. With some active listening, this saves me at least two edit go-rounds. Great video, Julie! :)

[PaulaJohnson]

Also printing out the book and read it like it's someone else's...reading on paper is totally different to reading on screen!

[joycerobinson]

Totally guilty of editing while writing! 🙄 Reading aloud is a very helpful tool! Words, phrases and thoughts that "sound" good in your head, when you read them silently, often sound completely different when read aloud. 👍

[spartanlb]

What a timely post...I was totally overediting.

[bryanhughes]

Great video as usual. I'm guilty of writing for a while then going back and rereading it. I just need to write and go back at a later date. Thanks again!

[BenjaminPreston]

I need a big red alert around that first tip... Dont edit while you write!!!

[TheShaunHayes]

Very good video! You only confirm what I already knew I’m not an editor.

[TheShaunHayes]

Another very good video! It only proves what I already knew I am not an editor.

[ArtistAllanWest]

Reading out loud helps me catch sentences that interrupt the flow for the reader. If the reading doesn't flow, the sentences are awkward, too long, or convoluted.

[iamaboutyou]

I'm really enjoying and appreciating these videos... thank you!

[mollysung]

YEssss haha Julie, I'm almost done editing my book, thank you!!! Could you make a video about how to write dramatic parts, like how to write it seem more real? Even for non-fiction, it may sound fake, thanks!!!

[AltcoinAnalysis]

What a perfect way to start my day full of editing. I should be paying for this. Thanks so much Julie!