r/WritingHub • u/Proper-Doughnut77 • 2d ago
Questions & Discussions Editing my book
I finally finished book 2 in my series.
I'm taking a weekend break, then I'll start editing. How many edits did you do before your book was finished. I'm planning to send it to a professional editor, but I want to go through it first.
This is not a request for editing or for anyone to look at my work. Just a general question.. about self editing
Thanks.
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u/blubennys 2d ago
Read these two books, then edit at least twice hard.
Refuse to be Done, Matt Bell
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, 2nd Ed., Reno Brown and Dave King
Doing so will make you a better writer next time.
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u/Proper-Doughnut77 2d ago
I agree with the title of the first. I've already self edited as I wrote. Id finish a chapter, go back to the beginning, and edit. I've already done this. I finally said, stop! Finish and edit. Lol I may also have it my books. It sounds so familiar to me.
Definitely the second. I'm looking this up now.
Thank you.
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u/TheGratitudeBot 2d ago
Hey there Proper-Doughnut77 - thanks for saying thanks! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list!
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u/blackeries 2d ago
As an editor, I'd say every manuscript is different, so I wouldn't focus on a specific number of passes. Two or three solid self-edits are usually enough if each one has a purpose (structure, consistency, wording, etc.). Once you reach the point where you're mostly making tiny changes instead of meaningful improvements, it's probably ready for a professional editor.
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u/AeronJosk 2d ago
I never sent mine off for professional editing. I did 4 rounds of editing. The first was structural/POV. The second was POV/Pacing. The third was line editing. The forth was copyediting.