Writing is a craft and a calling, especially for Christian writers who want to inspire, encourage, and glorify God through their words. One of the most important steps in writing is often overlooked—self-editing. But how can you edit in a way that honors both your creativity and your calling? In this article, we’ll look at practical self-editing strategies to help you strengthen your writing and keep biblical integrity.
Steps to Self-Editing
Step 1: Take a step back.
Once you finish writing, put it aside and leave it for a day, or even a week, depending on your deadline. This will allow you to clear your mind and get ready to edit your work.
Step 2: Pray.
Before diving into revisions, take a moment to pray for wisdom and clarity. Ask God to help you refine your words so they align with His truth and purpose.
Step 3: Take it slow.
After your break, read through your work slowly. Doing this will make it easier for your mind to catch errors and soak in the meaning of words and sentences. Take notes on what seems off, but don’t edit just yet.
Step 4: Read like a beta reader.
Read through your work again, only this time read as though you are reading someone else’s work (like a beta reader would). Take notes about the characters, the plot, and big picture things (dialogue, setting, etc.). This should allow you to see if parts need to be developed more or whether everything flows nicely.
If your writing references Scripture or biblical principles, make sure that your explanation is accurate and aligned with the context. Use a reliable translation and cross-check with commentaries if needed.
Also, make sure your tone reflects Christ’s love. As a Christian writer, your tone should reflect grace, truth, and love. Avoid insensitive or judgmental language and strive for a voice that uplifts and encourages.
Step 5: Read through again.
During your next read-through, look for smaller mistakes, such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, consistency, sentence fragments, and run-on sentences. Make notes on everything that needs changing. (You can correct spelling and punctuation mistakes during this step since they’re simple enough to change.)
Step 6: Start your next draft.
Gather all your notes and apply them to your work, starting your next draft. Once this draft is complete, do steps 1-5 again.
Step 7: Proofread your work.
The last step before publishing is proofreading. This is your last chance to make sure everything is consistent, that there are no grammatical errors, words are spelled correctly, and punctuation is right.
Editing can be tedious and time-consuming. You may come to a point when you just cannot see your own mistakes anymore. Proofreading is extremely important, especially if you want your book to look professional. If you’re self-publishing, hiring outside help is a great option. Trained proofreaders know how to look for grammatical errors, punctuation and spelling mistakes, and inconsistencies.
Remember: You might not notice your own mistakes, but readers will.
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This is good, especially the step of reading like a beta reader. Getting outside yourself, seeing your work as an outsider, is an excellent way to SEE things you need to edit.
Thank you! That’s a great way to put it – SEE things you need to edit. I love that!