The Edit - (Guide)
Dear Author
You are encouraged to write and not edit!
So, what do you do when you have finished writing and are ready to edit?
Please find below my recommended ‘Editing My Book’ 10-step pathway.
Start by skim-reading through the ten steps from beginning to end.
Then work through each of them individually.
Matt Bird
Step #1: Writing Style Guide
Carefully read and understand the PublishU ‘Writing Style Guide’ to ensure that your book manuscript edit meets professional requirements.
ACCESS: PublishU 'Writing Style Guide'
Step #2: Copy Edit
Read through your manuscript and undertake a personal edit, paying particular attention to…
Sense Making
Refine what you have written to check it carries the meaning you intend.
Creating Flow
Edit what you have written so that it flows from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph and chapter to chapter.
Illustrating Stories
Illustrate what you have written with anecdotes, examples, stories and case studies.
Deduping
Remove duplicate content by asking where it is essential for it to appear and removing it elsewhere. It is perfectly normal for some content to be duplicated in the first draft of your manuscript.
Fact Checking
Check for a primary source for facts that you have included.
Structural Consistency
Ensure your book has a shape and consistent structure that makes it easy for the reader to follow.
Step #3: Copyright Compliance
Undertake an internet search on ‘fair dealing’ in the UK and ‘fair use’ in the USA to understand the complicated world of copyright restrictions and permissions and ensure your book manuscript is compliant.
For example CLICK HERE.
Step #4: Referencing System
Read through your manuscript creating/checking your referencing system is correct.
In Text Referencing
If you are writing informally, then in-text referencing is sufficient. For example, in Matt Bird’s book Relationology, he said, x.
End Note Referencing
If you want to use an academic referencing system please read, understand and follow the Referencing section and Appendix in the PublishU 'Writing Style Guide'.
Song Lyrics
Special regulations apply to song lyrics that require special permissions.
Bible Version
If you use the Bible, choose one version and check the copyright requirements for that specific translation. For example, the New International Version permits 500 verses to be quoted without special permission as long as they do not make up more than 25% of the completed work. Your chosen version will be credited on the Copyright Page.
Step #5: AI Edit
Utilise AI editing software Grammarly.com to undertake the heavy lifting of…
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Rephrasing
- Replacing overused words
The free version of Grammarly allows you to edit online rather than within your word processing software. It also limits the number of words you can edit; however, you can edit chapters or sections of your book at a time.
The paid version of Grammarly is modestly priced, with the option of a monthly Subscription (which can always be cancelled after use) or an annual subscription.
Please remember to adjust the settings to remove the ‘Oxford comma’. Also note the ‘Goals’ you set as you must communicate these on your Manuscript Submission Date.
Step 6: Title & Subtitle
Until now, you have had a working title and subtitle to experience how well they fit. Now is the time to finalise what they will be.
We'd like to encourage you to have a very short one, two or three work title and a concise sentence expressing the book's essence.
You may find generative AI software helpful in brainstorming title and subtitle ideas. Do an Internet search for ‘book title generators’, and you will be spoilt for choice.
For example… https://booktitlegenerator.com
Step #7: Private Edit
Ask two or three critical friends if they would read your manuscript and provide strategic feedback that could help you improve your book.
- Critical Friends: People who love you enough to be candidly honest in their feedback.
- Strategic Feedback: You are looking for high-level book-shaping comments rather than the details of spelling and grammar.
- Timescale: Suggest a timescale of 2 weeks; if they need longer, they can ask.
- Private Edit: Do not use the phrase ‘private edit’ or the word ‘edit’ when you ask them, as they may become overzealous!
If you would like a suggested form of words, here are some you can make your own…
Dear <friend name>
I’m excited to be finishing the draft manuscript for a book!
My book coach has encouraged me to ask a couple of trusted friends if they would give me some strategic feedback on my manuscript. Please would you help?
The sort of strategic feedback I am looking for includes...
- Is the overall message or story of the book cohesive
- Have I included anything in the book that doesn't make sense
- Have I missed out something important
- Have I included anything that doesn't add value
Please overlook spelling and grammar, as that is something that is still being worked on.
If I sent you the draft manuscript on <send date>, please could you provide your feedback by <receive date>?
Big thanks!
Yours <your name>
Step #8: Strategic Edit
Please closely examine the strategic feedback offered by your critical friends.
Books are subjective, so it wouldn't be surprising if your critical friends gave you different and possibly conflicting advice.
If each of your critical friends has given the same advice, you will most probably want to accept it and make changes.
You are the book's author, so ultimately, changes are your decision, so integrate as much of the strategic feedback as you believe is right.
Step #9: Final AI Edit
Utilise AI editing software Grammarly.com to complete a final check through your manuscript following any changes you have made.
Step #10: Manuscript Submission Requirements
Carefully read and understand the PublishU ‘Manuscript Submission Requirements’ and ensure you have all the other information to complete on your Manuscript Submission Date.
ACCESS: PublishU 'Manuscript Submission Requirements'
