4 Editing Tips for Writers

​Have you finished writing your book? Maybe you’re about to send your manuscript to a critique partner, an agent, a publisher, or an editor. Before sending the draft to someone, below are a few simple tricks to help polish your story. 

​After having edited many manuscripts, I’ve come to realize that writers make similar mistakes, some more/less than others. I've compiled these into 4 simple editing tips for you to use.

Tip #1: Remove Crutch Words

What are crutch words? Crutch words are words or phrases that writers use too often in a story. Here are some commonly used crutch words to check for:

• Just
  • It’s okay to use this word in dialogue; but use just sparingly throughout other parts of your story.
• Is going to
  • In many cases, this phrase can be removed or replaced with the words: will or would. 
• Barely, Almost, Some 
  • Sentences filled with weak adjectives make the scene weaker. Instead, be specific.
• That
  • If the sentence can be understood without that, remove the word.

Tip #2: ​Activate Your Sentences

• Revising "was verb-ing" phrases
  • This fix won’t work every time, because some sentences might need to keep was, but in many instances, this trick can help activate passive sentences. For example:
    • Old sentence: I was jumping for the ball.
    • New sentence: I jumped for the ball. 

Tip #3: ​"Show Don’t Tell" Simplified

There are two main mistakes I see, regarding showing versus telling.

1. Telling a reader about something that happened, rather than letting the reader experience the event.
2. Telling a reader that someone is sad, happy, angry, etc., rather than showing the character’s emotions through facial expressions, internal sensations, or physical signals. 

For more insight into this topic, click over to my blog post: What Does “Show Vs. Tell” Mean?

Tip #4: Utilize ​Editing Programs

I use the upgraded version of Grammarly, but the free version is helpful as well. The program isn’t always correct, but it catches many misspellings and misused words. The best thing about the software is it can be programmed to work directly in Microsoft Word, which prevents you from having to copy and paste your work into the Grammarly app.

Hemingway Editor isn’t free, but it doesn’t cost much. This program will point out long sentences that can be shortened, overused adverbs and adjectives, confusing structures, etc.

By using these two programs together, you’ll definitely improve your writing.
​
I hope these tips and tricks have helped you. Editing can be difficult, and some writers can’t afford editors, but no matter what your circumstances are, try to have other people read your finished manuscript to point out mistakes you’ve missed.​

​If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it on social media. To hire an editor or ask a question, email me. I also offer free sample edits for the first 500 words. ​Have fun writing!

Author

Dawn Husted progressed into offering her editing services to clients in 2016, eventually opening Yaupon Berry Press LLC. She's constantly learning new ways of helping clients stay relevant in today’s market, whether by using an SEO strategy targeting high-trafficked keywords or simply editing their content. ​Dawn lives in central Texas with her husband, two energetic kids and an adorable golden retriever.

Related Blog Posts

IS GRAMMARLY PREMIUM WORTH IT?

I’ve used the free version of Grammarly for years, but I didn't upgrade to Grammarly Premium until recently. In short, the premium version is completely worth it—if you plan to use Grammarly regularly. Which means for me, it’s invaluable. Is it always correct? No. But the editing tool is my “second opinion” for polished material. And here’s why.

REMOVING FILTER WORDS IN FICTION

Is your manuscript filled with too many filter words: I wondered, I felt, I saw, I noticed? Have you ever thought about that aspect of your writing? Maybe you’re in the middle of developing an idea for a story or have just finished writing a book. If your manuscript is finished and you haven’t hired an editor yet, here’s a quick trick to remove filter words.

SAVE YOUR SCENE

How many times have you finished writing a chapter or a scene and are unsure of its importance? Or better yet, maybe it’s a critical scene, but it lacks the tension you were hoping for. Can you save your scene?