Overview

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 revision. 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.

Full Product Details

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Table of Contents

Reviews

""While there are many books on self-editing, I've never seen one so thorough or with so many hands-on exercises. If you want a manuscript that is as market-ready as you can possibly make it before hiring an editor, querying an agent, or self-publishing, then buy this book and follow the process it suggests."" -Sarah Bailey, editor and middle-grade author ""What an amazingly useful book for writers! Brimming with good advice and-even better-easy exercises to help you apply that advice, Self-Editing Essentials for Fiction is my new recommended read for writers before they consider publication."" -Michelle Robinson, fiction editor ""Packed with personality and heart, it's an extremely thorough, deeply actionable guide."" -A.Y. Berthiaume, book coach and award-winning author ""Editing can feel overwhelming when you realize just how much it entails, but Katie breaks it down in a way that makes the process feel manageable and doable."" -AL Zeine, author

Author Information

Katie Chambers-a developmental editor and copyeditor-has eight years of teaching experience and nine years of editing, and experience editing nearly 300 published books. Owner of Beacon Point LLC, she's known for edits that model technique and emplain the ""why"" behind every change, helping authors grow with every draft. WIth a love for teaching, she presents at writing conferences, online and in-person, and creates webinars and resources for authors. She lives in northern Utah with her husband, three kids, and two cats, and firmly believes that while self-editing isn't easy, learning to do it well will make you a stronger writer for life.

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