In this blog post, we will be considering how you can self-edit your nonfiction book. Self-editing is when you go through your manuscript yourself, trying to pick up as many mistakes as you can before you pay for a professional editor. It is not a replacement for this, but it can save you some money, as we will be considering later on.
Editing a nonfiction book is different from editing a fiction one, as you will be looking for different things and need to check your research is all in order and correctly cited. If you want to know about self-editing a fiction book, you can read my blog post here.
Why Self-Edit?
We will start by asking what the point of self-editing is. Self-editing means that you catch as many of your mistakes as possible before you send your book to an editor, which results in having a cleaner version for your editor. This should make your editing cheaper if you send a sample to get a quote. If your editor charges on an hourly basis, they should calculate that it will take less time and so quote a lower price. If your editor charges per number of words, they may well have different rates depending on how much editing is needed, which would also give you a lower price.
In addition, self-editing gives you a chance to review your own work and how complete it is. While an editor specialising in your subject matter should be able to catch errors and check references, they won’t add anything further to your work. If you self-edit, you may find that you can expand on some of your points, or that there is a whole new section you could add to make your book more complete for readers.
How Do You Self-Edit?
Set Aside Your Writing
Once you have finished your manuscript, the first step is to set it aside for as long as possible before you actually do anything else with it. This means that you can come back to it with fresh eyes and notice mistakes that you might not have done otherwise.
Try to leave your manuscript for as long as you can, taking into account any deadlines you have to meet. The longer you leave it, the more objectively you will be able to view it and the more likely you are to be able to make cuts.
Review the Structure
When you come back to your book, the first step is to take an overall look at it to review the structure. You need to do this on a number of levels, starting with the general layout. How is your book divided up? Does it use chapters, or have a new topic on each double-page spread, as is common in children’s nonfiction books?
If your book uses chapters, these can be grouped together into different parts. For example, a gardening book could be divided into four parts, one for each season, each containing multiple chapters on the tasks you would need to do in that season.
As well as having multiple parts, chapters can be broken down into smaller sections. This is helpful if you have a lot to include about a single topic, but still want some way of dividing this so that your book is more accessible to readers.
Once you have looked at your structure, consider how appropriate this is for your audience. For example, think about what age group your book is aimed at. As mentioned above, having two pages devoted to each topic is normal for a children’s book, but probably doesn’t provide the depth needed for a book aimed at an older audience.
In addition, consider what kind of writing your book is. Is it a serious in-depth look at your topic for people already familiar with the basics or is it a lighter, more accessible read that could serve as an introduction? If it is supposed to be more accessible, consider having more illustrations, charts and information boxes to break up the text, although you may well need these anyway.
Organising Your Writing
To organise your writing, evaluate the method you have used. Once your book is structured into chapters and parts, how will your reader find what they are looking for? Use headings to divide your book in a logical way.
Make sure you have strong chapter openings. These should catch the reader’s interest and make them want to continue. Try to make each chapter opening also function as a quick introduction to that chapter’s topic.
Flow Between Chapters
Make sure your chapters flow well from one to another. This helps your reader as they go through your book, making sure they want to keep reading. It also helps if your book is arranged in a logical order, not just into sections.
Wrapping Up
I hope this helps you get started with some self-editing. This is a great way to save money, so it is definitely worth doing. Next time, we will be continuing with the self-edit, so come back in two weeks for that!
Want help proofreading your work? Contact Carmine Proofreading for a friendly, professional service from a qualified proofreader.
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