6 Self-Editing Steps for Speculative Fiction Authors
The self-publishing journey puts the power in your hands. If you write speculative fiction, the complexity of your lore needs a dedicated developmental editor to cross-check structural components.
To get the most out of a developmental edit (DE), it’s a great idea to give your novel one last, rigorous review before handing it over. After all, a developmental editor’s role is to assess your high-value and big-picture ideas – not correct easily avoidable plotholes and clunky dialogue.
With these six self-editing steps, you can ensure your manuscript is truly ready for the keen eye of an editor.
This article covers:
Step 1: Audit the Plot and Pacing to Fix Slow Scenes
Actionable Tasks for Plot and Pacing
Step 2: Verify Character Arcs and Emotional Logic
Actionable Tasks for Character Arcs
Step 3: Test Worldbuilding and Magic System Consistency
Actionable Tasks for Worldbuilding and Magic Systems
Step 4: Review Dialogue and Sensory Descriptions
Actionable Tasks for Dialogue and Description
Step 5: Purge Redundancy and Streamline Word Count
Actionable Tasks for Streamlining Word Count
Step 6: Final Polish for Typos and Formatting
Actionable Tasks for the Final Polish
Preparing for Professional Developmental Editing
Step 1: Audit the Plot and Pacing to Fix Slow Scenes
Ignore every sentence. Yep, I said it. Your first self-edit pass should ignore individual sentences and focus exclusively on the big picture elements and structural flaws; kind of like a macro-level read through.
Actionable Tasks for Plot and Pacing
Read aloud (or listen): Use text-to-speech software to hear your story. This step often reveals awkward dialogue and super slow pacing. If you find yourself skipping paragraphs, so will your readers.
Chapter-by-chapter summary: Write a one-sentence summary for each chapter. If multiple chapters can be summarised identically, chances are you have redundant scenes.
Let’s look at an example chapter-by-chapter summary you could create. I’ll use a familiar novel, The Hobbit:
Step 2: Verify Character Arcs and Emotional Logic
Are your characters making sense? In speculative fiction, characters often face extraordinary circumstances, making their internal logic even more critical. For example, things like unearned character arcs can be very frustrating for invested readers.
Actionable Tasks for Character Arcs
Motivation checklist: For every major character, list their goal, motivation and conflict in each act. Do their actions align with their established personality and backstory? Is their internal conflict clear?
Emotional arc mapping: Chart each main character's emotional journey. Does their growth feel earned, or do they undergo a sudden, unexplained transformation?
Dialogue authenticity: Does each character's voice sound distinct? Do they speak consistently with their background and emotional state?
Step 3: Test Worldbuilding and Magic System Consistency
This part is everything for speculative fiction authors. Inconsistency here destroys reader immersion faster than anything else.
Actionable Tasks for Worldbuilding and Magic Systems
Cross-reference pass: Do a dedicated read-through just for consistency. Does your character fly in Chapter 3 but struggle to jump over a puddle in Chapter 10 without explanation? If so, flag every instance where a rule is bent or broken.
The logic test: For every major worldbuilding element, ask: "Does this make sense within my established rules?" For instance, in a world with instant teleportation, why do characters still use horses for long journeys?
The worldbuilding glossary: If you need to, create a list of rules within your world. Include key features, such as the limitations and sources of magic. A great editor will likely provide this, too, so it’s always worth asking.
Step 4: Review Dialogue and Sensory Descriptions
Even structurally sound scenes can fall flat if the dialogue is dull or the descriptions are bland. It’s great to see scenes that actively immerse the reader in your fantastical world by using sharp, sensory details.
Actionable Tasks for Dialogue and Description
Show, don't tell: Identify areas where you are "telling" the reader about emotions or events rather than "showing" them through character reactions or sensory details.
Sensory details check: For each scene, make a note of what the reader can see, hear, smell, taste and touch. Are your descriptions vivid enough to immerse the reader? Avoiding generic adjectives and opting for strong verbs and specific nouns can help here.
Dialogue economy: Does every line of dialogue serve a purpose (e.g., build tension or advance the plot)? Unnecessary chatter might need to be cut if it has no value.
Step 5: Purge Redundancy and Streamline Word Count
Extra-long novels are having their moment in the spotlight. Even prestigious prizes like the Booker are seeing applications that are 3,000 words or longer.
However, a drawn-out manuscript can risk reader fatigue and obscure your best ideas. Another thing to note is that longer manuscripts equal higher developmental editor costs, so streamlining early is helpful for your budget.
Actionable Tasks for Streamlining Word Count
Identify redundancy: Are you saying the same thing in multiple ways? Do characters repeat information the reader already knows? A simple Ctrl+F is helpful here.
Tighten paragraphs and sentences: Look for opportunities to combine sentences or remove unnecessary adverts where relevant to ‘lean out’ the narrative.
Aggressive cutting: You’d be surprised how many entire scenes add nothing to the broader plot. Get aggressive with those metaphorical scissors.
Step 6: Final Polish for Typos and Formatting
This stage is your final pass before sending it to a professional. While it's not a proofread, you want to eliminate any obvious distractions and minor errors.
Actionable Tasks for the Final Polish
Spelling and grammar check: A spell checker may not be perfect, but it’s a great tool for catching rogue typos and saving you money on a hefty copy-edit.
Formatting check: Ensure your headings, paragraphs, font and scene breaks are consistently formatted.
Print it out: A sneaky tip is that reading a physical copy can reveal errors your eyes have become blind to on a screen.
Preparing for Professional Developmental Editing
Completing these six strategic self-editing steps will strengthen your manuscript and ensure your investment in a professional developmental editor goes a long way.
The self-publishing journey puts the power squarely in your hands, and choosing to invest in a developmental editor is the most crucial decision you can make. It’s the definitive step in ensuring your book is its best, most structurally sound version.
At EV Editing, I move beyond surface-level fixes to provide the end-to-end developmental editing support for speculative fiction writers. Ready for a creative and comprehensive partnership to secure your book’s future?
Explore our developmental editing services and reach out if we’re a good fit for your novel.
