Editing is often seen as a necessary but tedious step in publishing. Many self-publishing authors focus on fixing typos and grammar, but editing is about much more than mechanics. It’s about shaping the book into a meaningful experience for the reader. A book that fails to connect with its audience, no matter how polished, will struggle to succeed.
Understanding who the book is for and tailoring the editing process accordingly can make the difference between a book that readers love and one they abandon. This guide explores why editing with readers in mind is essential, how to do it effectively, and the strategies authors can use to bridge the gap between their creative vision and audience expectations.
WHY IT MATTERS
Readers pick up a book with certain expectations. They expect a mystery novel to provide intrigue, a romance to deliver emotional connection, and a thriller to keep them on edge. If the book does not align with those expectations, they may lose interest, leave negative reviews, or simply not finish reading.
Clarification: I encourage blending genres and challenging readers. In these cases, it is important to consider which readers will appreciate your story and stylize the revision/editing for them.
Editing with readers in mind ensures that:
Story Structure:Â Readers have ingrained expectations for different genres, and a well-structured story ensures they remain immersed rather than feeling disoriented or disappointed.
Tone and Style:Â A book's tone and writing style should reflect the emotional and stylistic norms of its genre to create a seamless and enjoyable reading experience.
Pacing and Flow:Â A well-paced manuscript balances action, dialogue, and exposition to maintain momentum, preventing readers from losing interest.
Satisfying Resolution:Â A strong conclusion provides closure, fulfills narrative promises, and leaves readers with a lasting impression that encourages them to recommend or revisit the book.
A well-edited book is easier to market, gains stronger word-of-mouth recommendations, and builds a loyal readership.
THE IDEAL READER
As I’ve been known to say, I write and revise for myself, then revise more and edit for my readers. The breakdown is that telling stories reflects the author's wants and needs. The goal of publishing is to share your work with people who will appreciate it. Otherwise, why go through the effort?
The key is to publish for readers who will value your artistry, not for people who will wish they never read it. That means focusing on specific groups, not everyone. You wouldn’t toil to appease a reader’sexpectations of what a good Sci-Fi book should have when writing your historical romance novel.
Stakes: Consider whether your readers will identify with the stakes in your story. If not, either consider revising the stakes or identifying and targeting a different reader group.
Spend some time identifying the intended audience to help guide your editing decisions. Here are some questions you might want to consider when narrowing down this group:
Who will enjoy your book? Identifying the ideal reader enables you to tailor the story, marketing, and messaging to those most likely to connect with and appreciate the book.
What else do they read? Understanding comparable titles helps position the book within the market and ensures it meets reader expectations while standing out in a competitive landscape.Â
What emotions do they expect? Anticipating the emotional journey readers expect allows an author to craft scenes and character arcs that evoke the right reactions, keeping the reader engaged.
What themes/messages will resonate? Aligning a book’s themes with reader interests ensures the story feels relevant, thought-provoking, and memorable to the intended audience.
FYI: The ideal reader for one novel isn't necessarily the ideal reader for your next.
COMPS
I know, I know. It sucks thinking about which books are comparable to your book-baby. One of the beauties of not publishing traditionally is that you don’t have to do things like this, right? Wrong. The more you know about the strengths and weaknesses of similar books, the more you can address those strengths and weaknesses in your own work.
Hint: Read the reviews of similar books. They reveal reader expectations. Pay attention to what readers praise and what they criticize.
It can be challenging to get out of the weeds of our own work to see how similar it is to other stories. After all, you put so much work into making it unique. If you can’t find a comparable book, you either don’t know your own genre or you don’t know your own book at a high level. Both are dangerous if you plan to share your work as broadly as possible.
It can be hard to narrow down the field to the most similar ones. Researching many comps will often confuse us. The wider you cast your net, the more you’ll get conflicting signals.
Page Count: Some genres have specific length expectations, meaning editing to length. Many Sci-Fi novels weigh in at over 120k words, while romance novels average about 65k words.
GENRE SPECIFIC EDITORS
A good editor does more than correct grammar. They will refine your book to ensure it resonates with readers. Editors familiar with the genre understand audience expectations and help fine-tune elements like pacing, dialogue, and plot consistency. Here are a few things to look for:
Experience in Genre:Â An editor familiar with the genre understands its conventions, tropes, and reader expectations, ensuring the story aligns with industry standards while remaining engaging and marketable.
Clear process:Â A structured feedback approach helps authors efficiently navigate revisions by focusing on key areas like plot, character development, and pacing rather than receiving vague or overwhelming critiques.
Reader Experience v Mechanics:Â A great editor goes beyond grammar and syntax to consider how the story impacts readers emotionally, ensuring it delivers the intended experience and resonates with the target audience.
Hint: Hire an editor who understands comparable books.
If you're wondering whether you want to work with an editor or not, you might want to check out this post.
STYLE SHEETS
A style sheet is a reference document that authors and editors use to ensure consistency in a manuscript’s spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and stylistic choices. It serves as a guide to maintain coherence across a book, series, or publishing brand. Different genres require different rules. For example, most historical fiction styling is different from sci-fi.
Here are several reasons why style sheets are important:
Consistency:Â They ensure consistent spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and punctuation rules.
Note: Style guides can help you to stay consistent even if you work alone.
Style choices:Â They maintain style, like Oxford commas, italicization rules, and preferred grammar conventions.
Continuity:Â Character names, settings, and terminology stay the same (especially in long works or series).
Collaboration:Â They unify your support team of other authors, editors, and proofreaders.
A style sheet is only as good as the material it covers. If editors don't know your rules, they can't adhere to them. Here are some examples of what to include:
Grammar & Punctuation:Â Preferences for commas, dashes, dialogue formatting, etc.
Spelling & Capitalization:Â Standardized spellings, proper nouns, and specific word choices.
Character & Place Names: Consistent spellings, nicknames, and relationships between characters.
Formatting: Line spacing, paragraph indentation, use of italics vs. bold, etc.
Terminology & Style: Genre-specific phrases, fictional terms, or foreign words.
Citations or References:Â (if applicable) For nonfiction, citations, and bibliography formatting.
Suggestion: Check with your critique circle or beta readers that your style isn't too distracting.
EMOTIONAL DISTANCE
After finishing a manuscript, step away from it for a few weeks or even months. This creates emotional distance from creation to editing mindsets. In the creation phase, you’re writing for yourself. In the editing phase, your goal is to share your work with others. Time can help you switch mindsets. Rushing into revisions can lead to overlooking issues that a fresh perspective would catch. Here are a few suggestions for gaining distance from your work.
Other Projects:Â Shifting focus to a different story allows the mind to reset, making it easier to return to the original manuscript with fresh eyes and a more objective perspective.
Read Comparable Books:Â Immerse yourself in well-executed examples of the genre helps refine your understanding of pacing, tone, and reader expectations. It highlights areas where your manuscript could improve.
Different Formats:Â Changing the medium. Switch from writing on a computer to editing on a tablet or on a printout. Try an e-reader. Use text-to-speech.
BE BUDGET-CONSCIOUS
Hiring professional editors can be expensive, but there are ways to get quality editing without breaking the bank. Here are some ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
Self-Edit First:Â The more you refine the manuscript yourself, the less an editor will need to fix it.
Free/Low-Cost Tools:Â Software like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and Hemingway Editor can catch basic issues.
Affordable Editors:Â Look for new editors building their portfolios or use services like Reedsy and Fiverr for competitive pricing.
Manuscript Swap:Â Exchange critiques with other writers in your genre to get feedback before paying for professional edits.
Beta Readers: Getting early reader feedback can help identify major issues before hiring an editor. If you’re lucky, some beta readers may even proofread your doc.
Editing is an investment. Be smart and budget it so you don’t dig a deep hole.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Editing is not just about fixing mistakes—it’s about crafting an experience that resonates with readers. Whether working with a professional editor or self-editing, always keep your audience in mind. The best books are those that engage, entertain, and deliver on the promise they make to their readers.
Self-publishing is a constantly evolving journey, and every book teaches new lessons. My approach to editing has changed over time as I’ve refined my process and learned from both successes and failures. No matter where you are in your journey, commit to continuous improvement, and your readers will thank you.
QUESTION & ANSWER
Q: How can I see my manuscript from a reader’s perspective?
A: Distance yourself from it for a few weeks, read it in a different format, or have someone else read it aloud to you.
Q: Should I edit before hiring a professional editor?
A: Yes. A self-edit before professional editing can reduce costs and make revisions more productive.
Q: What’s the best way to find beta readers?
A: Look for genre-specific reader groups, ask fellow writers, or use platforms like Goodreads or Facebook reader communities.
Q: What if my book doesn’t fit neatly into one genre?
A: Clarify which elements of your book match existing categories and adjust the marketing and editing process accordingly.
Q: How do I make sure my book stands out while still meeting expectations?
A: Deliver a unique voice, fresh twists, or unexpected character development while keeping core genre elements intact.
As always, I appreciate your support of indie authors. In the name of putting myself out there, here are a few of my works.
