Self-Editing Essentials for Fiction: Polishing Plot, Characters, Scene, and Prose

You finished your book. That's freaking amazing. Now let's make sure it gets readers turning pages and becoming fans. You worked too hard—doing what 97% of people don't do (finish a book)—to fall short at the crucial self-editing stage. If your plot sags in the middle, your characters feel flat, or your scenes lose steam, readers won't stick around. Agents won't either. This book teaches you how to self-edit like a professional editor (because, hi, I am one), so you can stop second-guessing every sentence and start making your manuscript actually work. You'll learn how to: Fix story structure so readers stay hooked from page one to the end Sharpen POV, plot, and character arcs in a way that empowers you Cut exposition that's secretly boring everyone Deepen interiority without resulting to telling Polish scenes, dial up tension, and make your prose sing Clean up the technical stuff so you're not paying an editor to fix basic punctuation This isn't a linear read; it's a toolbox. Choose from 29 targeted topics across 4 editing passes—Story, Scene, Writing, Technical—and focus on what your manuscript needs most. No fluff. Just a flexible system that meets you where your manuscript is. Some topics are quick fixes. Others require deeper self-editing. But by working through this process, you'll end up with a better book, one that's ready for beta readers, editors, or agents. Perfect for: Debut novelists who want to query with confidence Indie authors who want the best possible version of their book Writers who want to reduce professional editing costs and sharpen their craft Any novelist tired of "Is this good enough?" spirals The stronger your manuscript when your editor gets it, the better your published book will be. Hand them a polished draft, and they can elevate it to the next level. Hand them a rough draft, and they can only take it so far within your budget. You want a better-quality book with fewer DNF readers. This guide, written by a professional book editor and former teacher, shows you how to get there, with intention, clarity, and maybe a little less panic. Stop leaving your story to chance. Start editing with purpose.