It’s a fact that every author starts writing a book with the aim that it will be a bestseller one day. And we’re not saying they don’t have the potential to become a bestseller. Every author can make it to the bestsellers list by following some simple yet efficient approaches.
One of these things is to adopt the right editing approach. No matter how good of a writer you are, your book can always be polished and made better by effective and to-the-point editing. And that’s what we are here to help you with.
In this article, you will find the top 10 book editing tips used by bestselling authors to fine-tune their books. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
- Follow the Right Steps
You might not have heard it before, but effective book editing always starts with following the right editing approach. Every author edits their work in a different way, but there’s a universal approach used by the bestsellers, which involves step by step procedure of book editing.
Book editing involves three main steps, and it’s advised to follow them in an orderly fashion if you want your book to be a hit. Read on to understand each step and its importance.
- Development Editing
Developmental editing means looking at the overall structure, layout, and organization of your book and only focusing on the bigger picture for the time being. In this step, you start editing the overall book structure and story elements without going into small details.
Starting with this approach will enable you to make your book more appealing visually, so the reader will not get distracted by long paragraphs of text.
- Copy Editing
Copy editing, as obvious from the name, is all about working at the sentence level and removing all mistakes in your writing. It is done to apply consistency in your work and make your whole novel as smooth as possible.
To achieve this consistency in your work, it is advised to look for professional freelance book editors who have experience in this type of editing and can make sure the chapters are in the right order. This type of editing involves small details, and you might miss the small errors if you don’t have a professional editor by your side.
- Proofreading
Being the last step in the editing process, proofreading involves ensuring that there are no errors left in your writing after you have copy-edited it. Many authors mix up copy editors and proofreaders, but they’re not the same thing.
Once you are done with copy editing, it is advised to convert your book into a PDF or print-ready format and send it to the proofreader. It may be a time-consuming process, but it can be done on a small budget. You may not consider it that much important, but this step is vital in catching those little errors before publishing.
- Aim to Cut 10% of Your Work
Most first drafts are too long. This is because writers tend to include everything they can think of, just in case it might be relevant. However, there’s always room for improvement. When you are editing your work, a quick tip is to cut almost 10% of your work to make it more refined and the best it can be.
Remember, if you are feeling bored and confused with your words, a strong chance is that your readers will too. Cutting 10% may seem like a lot, but it will likely make your book tighter, better focused, and more enjoyable to read, thereby increasing its chances of being a bestseller.
- Simplify Your Language
No matter which type of book you’re writing and who your target audience is, it is always advised to make it accessible to a wider audience. Books that are dense and difficult to read often go unread, no matter how good the story or how important the message is.
That’s why we recommend you simplify the language as much as possible. A general rule of thumb is to aim to write for 10 to 12-year-olds. Remember the bestselling books Harry Potter and Fifty Shades of Grey? The first was meant for both teenagers and young adults, and every age group enjoyed reading that.
On the other hand, Fifty Shades of Grey was meant for adults but was equally accepted by young adults because of its simple and readable language.
- Use Transition Words Wisely
When you are writing in a flow, there’s a great chance you’ll miss the important words and phrases, such as transition words. Although overusing transition words can make your writing sound choppy, omitting them can make your ideas difficult to follow.
The key is to use them sparingly and only when they are truly needed. Some helpful transition words to keep in mind when editing your book include:
- To show addition: also, furthermore, in addition, moreover
- To show contrast: although, however, in spite of, on the other hand, nonetheless, despite
- To show sequence: first, second, third, next, then, finally
Using these words judiciously will ensure that your book flows smoothly and is easy for readers to follow.
- Self-Edit Your Book Twice
Before you hire a professional book editor and want to have a self-edit session, it is advised to do it twice. This will help you catch any errors or typos and give you a chance to improve the overall quality of your book.
The best approach is to catch plot errors in the first go and then focus on small details in the second go. It will help you polish the story from a bigger aspect while also covering the small details to keep the readers engaged.
- Write both for Readers and Publishers
Keep this fact in mind. Before reaching your readers, your book will first have to go through the publishers’ hands. It is after the publishers have accepted your manuscript that it will reach your readers. So, make sure you make it appealing to both readers and writers.
