Polish Your Writing with These Practical Self-Editing Strategies

Whether you aspire to work as a professional writer or are already in the field, there's no denying the importance of editing your work. This remains true regardless of the type of writing you're doing: From poetry and prose to editorials and technical documents, anything that's worth writing is worth revising, rewriting, and editing until your finished product is polished to (near) perfection.

Of course, editing your own work can be easier said than done—which is why all writers should proactively work on their own self-editing skills.

How to Self-Edit Your Writing

So, what are some self-editing strategies and tips you can keep in mind? The below writing and self-editing checklist can help you get started, but you can certainly adapt and adjust these techniques to suit your needs.

Initial Review and Planning

First, it's helpful to consider the type of writing you're doing, as this may have an impact on the self-editing techniques you employ. Creative writing, for instance, tends to warrant a different editing approach than more technical writing.

Developing a Writing and Self-Editing Checklist

From there, it can be helpful to create a physical document that outlines every self-editing technique and step you will take to improve your draft. This way, you can easily refer to your checklist as you revise your writing and ensure you don't miss any critical steps.

Identifying Common Issues to Look For

Depending on the type of writing you're doing, you may also want to consider common issues that arise so you can look for them in your own work. Some examples of common writing mistakes to avoid include fragmented sentences, run-on sentences, and inconsistent tense.

Structure and Organization

The overall structure of your writing can have a significant impact on how easy it is for your readers to follow and understand. With this in mind, there are a couple of steps in your self-editing process that can help optimize your structure and organization.

Checking for Logical Flow and Coherence

For non-creative pieces, checking for logical flow is crucial. This is especially essential if you're making any arguments in your writing. One helpful way to check for logical flow is to reverse-outline your writing. Ideally, your outline should cover your key points or arguments coherently.

Using Headings and Subheadings Effectively

Headings and subheadings can be highly effective in organizing and breaking up your writing, so make sure you're using them effectively. You should aim to incorporate a new heading or subheading anytime you make a new argument or main point or move on to another section of your writing.

Clarity and Conciseness

Superfluous (or excessively decorative) words in your writing can be frustrating for readers while also making your arguments more difficult to understand. Fortunately, some simple steps can help make your writing clearer and more concise.

Eliminating Wordiness and Redundancy

When self-editing, read through your writing aloud and pay specific attention to any words or phrases that sound awkward or redundant. Reading out loud can be a great way to catch these weaker parts of your writing more effectively than reading it to yourself silently.

Simplifying Complex Sentences

When you identify a run-on sentence or even a grammatically correct sentence that seems to go on for longer than necessary, simplify it. This can usually be done by breaking the longer sentence up into two (or more) sentences with their own main ideas and subjects.

Choosing Precise and Accurate Words

Precision in word choice can really help you paint a clearer picture through your writing. Rather than referring to something using generic descriptions like "good" or "bad," get a little more creative. You might be surprised how much your writing can pop when you dedicate an extra moment to choose your words more carefully.

Grammar and Punctuation

In any kind of writing, proper grammar and punctuation are critical because they help your readers follow each sentence and understand the point you're trying to get across without confusion. Unfortunately, grammar rules can be complicated, and errors are common—even among seasoned writers.

Correcting Grammatical Errors

As you go through your self-editing process, be on the lookout for the most common grammatical errors, such as:

• Wrong use of "your" vs. "you're," “its” vs. “it’s,” and similar words
• Misplaced commas
• Misuse of apostrophes
• Issues with subject/verb agreement
• Use of passive voice

Proper Use of Punctuation Marks

Be mindful, too, of your use of punctuation marks. Depending on the type of writing you're doing, some punctuation marks (like exclamation points) may be less appropriate in a more formal context. It’s also wise to be discerning about using special punctuations like dashes and semicolons; oftentimes, less is more, so try to use them sparingly while ensuring you’re using them correctly.

Consistent Verb Tenses and Subject-Verb Agreement

As mentioned in the list of common grammar mistakes above, be sure to watch for subject-verb agreement in your writing, as well as consistent verb tenses. If you're writing in the present tense, you generally shouldn't switch to the past or future tense (unless you're telling a story).

Style and Tone

Another central self-editing technique is assessing the style and tone throughout your writing.

Maintaining a Consistent Writing Style

Everyone has a unique writing style. What sets yours apart will probably differ from what sets another writer's style apart, but as you become a more experienced writer, you'll get a better feel for the characteristics and quirks of your writing. Regardless of what your style looks like, try to ensure that it shows up consistently in your work.

Appropriate Tone for Audience and Purpose

At the end of the day, one of the most essential points to remember when writing anything is who your target audience is and why they care about what you're writing. Always keep your audience in mind throughout the editing process, taking care to remove irrelevant information or provide additional context (where needed) to facilitate understanding.

Spelling and Word Choice

All writers should also be careful to check for spelling mistakes and issues with word choice when going through their self-editing checklists.

Identifying and Correcting Spelling Mistakes

Spelling mistakes or typos can detract from the authenticity of your writing, so it's important to identify and correct any spelling mistakes during the editing process. Aside from automatic spell-check tools, take a second to research the spellings or capitalizations of any words about which you are uncertain.

Using Spell-Check Tools Effectively

Spell-checking tools make catching typos and similar errors easier than ever, but remember that you cannot rely on spell-check alone to catch every typo and mistake. Therefore, it's always best to read through your drafts for typos manually in addition to using a reliable spell-check software. When using spell-check, don't automatically apply every suggestion made by the software. In some cases, spell-check can make mistakes, too, as it lacks the complete context of what you’re trying to say.

Formatting and Presentation

Another key part of any writing self-editing checklist should be checking for proper formatting and overall presentation, which can make your work look more polished while making it easier for readers to follow.

Ensuring Consistent Formatting

Consistent formatting provides clarity and organization to your writing, so check for any inconsistencies as you edit. If you're following a specific style guide (such as APA or MLA) for formatting, be on the lookout for common errors and inconsistencies in citation formatting, font use, and heading and subheading stylings.

Proper Use of Fonts, Margins, and Spacing

The standard margin for printed work is usually about 0.125 inches, so keep this in mind as you check for formatting errors. Your margins and spacing may vary, too, depending on the exact format or style in which you are writing, but the key is to keep it consistent from one page to the next.

Fact-Checking and Accuracy

In addition to reviewing your writing for technical issues like grammatical errors, inconsistent formatting, and typos, it's critical to fact-check your claims as part of the self-editing process.

Verifying Facts, Dates, and Names

If you've included any claims related to specific facts, dates, or names in your writing, take the time to double-check their accuracy. This means confirming that names are spelled correctly (with the correct titles, where applicable) and any dates referenced are correct.

Ensuring Accurate Citations and References

Citations are crucial in any type of writing; they add credibility and authority to your work while supporting your arguments and claims. As you edit your work, double-check your citations and references to ensure they are not only formatted correctly but also from reputable sources that properly back up the claim(s) you are making.

Cross-Checking Data and Statistics

Nothing can hurt your credibility more as a writer than referencing data or a statistic that's inaccurate or downright false. As you edit your draft, make note of every statistic and piece of data you've referenced. Take time to cross-check it and ensure that you have listed sources for all relevant information.

Peer Review and Feedback

The ability to effectively self-edit is an excellent skill for any writer to develop. Still, getting additional feedback from fellow peers before you publish or submit your work is always a good idea.

Seeking Feedback from Peers or Mentors

Ideally, those providing feedback to you will be actual members of your target audience, but this may not always be possible. Regardless, having an extra set of eyes (or a few extra sets) to read and comment on your work can provide some valuable insights that you may not be able to glean on your own. Feedback from peers and mentors can also offer new perspectives on your writing while giving you different arguments or points to consider as you revise.

Incorporating Constructive Criticism

To get the most out of peer review and feedback, writers need to be open to criticism. Nobody will think your writing is 100% perfect, nor will they agree with everything you write. The key is to be able to develop a thicker skin and decide what feedback you're going to incorporate into your revised draft without getting discouraged.

Final Read-Through

Even after you've exhausted these self-editing strategies and feel like your writing is at its absolute best, there are some final items you should review before you submit.

Conducting a Final Review

First, take time to conduct a final review of your work. This means reading it aloud to yourself at least one more time, making note of any last-second changes in phrasing, grammar, or verbiage that you may want to make.

Ensuring Overall Polish and Professionalism

In addition, it can be helpful to step away from your writing for a day or so before submitting it. Taking a mental break from your work may make it easier to return to it for one last editing session with fresh eyes—and you might even be surprised that you caught some things you missed before. From there, you can rest assured your finished product is polished and ready for submission.

Learn More With a Master's in Writing

Even with extensive self-editing, all writers can benefit from using peer review as a means of gaining valuable feedback from others. Nonetheless, being able to self-edit your writing can help you improve future drafts and ultimately submit your very best work.

Looking for more ways to grow as a writer? Consider enrolling in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing program at Lindenwood University Online. Not only has this program been ranked as the No. 4 best online master's in creative writing degree, but its flexible and versatile format is also designed with busy professionals in mind.

Learn more about Lindenwood's online MFA in writing by getting in touch today. Then, get the ball rolling by submitting your online application for enrollment.