Before you send your manuscript to an editor, agent, beta reader, or publishing platform, one essential step that can save you time, money, and stress is a thorough self-edit with a manuscript self-editing checklist. Self-editing won’t replace professional editing, but it will help you clean up the most common issues that distract from your writing—so your editor can focus on what matters most. We have compiled a reliable list of 25 editing fixes that all writers can (and should!) apply to produce a cleaner, clearer draft.

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First: Don’t Try to Fix Everything at Once

Editing typically works best in passes. Instead of trying to revise plot, dialogue, pacing, grammar, and typos all in one sitting, use a manuscript self-editing checklist to organize your revision process into four passes: 

Pass 1: an intentional read-through (beta read)

When we are doing a complete edit, this is always the first step. We have to know the content of the piece before we can make competent editorial decisions. It might feel like a slog, but it is so worth it.

Pass 2: big-picture clarity and structure (structural edit)

This can be the most difficult pass for many authors and editors, but a clear, cohesive manuscript is essential to establish a base from which you and your editor can work. Use a manuscript self-editing checklist to your advantage.

Pass 3: scene- and sentence-level flow, pacing, and cleanup (content edit)

Once you have set the bones in place during pass 2, focusing on paragraph and sentence-level fixes helps refine the manuscript into a reader-ready draft. Even without a final proofread, your manuscript should be quite clean after this pass.  

Pass 4: final proofread for typos (proofread)

Pass 4 is the icing on the cake. It quickly transforms an amateur manuscript into a professional one. Publishers, editors, and readers will appreciate the difference.

If you were to choose just one before passing your draft along, go for pass 3 (content edit) for a thorough yet quick, mid-depth revision. If tackling all the passes, using a manuscript self-editing checklist is essential.

Five Things to Ask Yourself During Each Pass of the Manuscript Self-Editing Checklist

Read: beta-read the draft and ask yourself how you feel as you read it.

1. Does the opening hook readers right away?
   1. https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/best-first-lines-in-books 
2. Are there parts where readers would be bored or tempted to skim?
3. Would readers feel emotionally engaged with the story?
   1. Emotional engagement comes with characters of all moral persuasions, especially those who are morally gray.
4. Would readers find the characters interesting and believable?
   1. Idiosyncratic and unique characters are fun and engaging, but their mannerisms and motives still have to be believable and grounded in some sort of reality, including basic psychology. If you feel like you have strayed too far from what is most plausible for a character’s personality type, rein it in a bit.
5. Would readers find the ending satisfying and earned?
   1. Have you ever watched a movie that faded to black too soon, when there were a few too many loose ends and unanswered questions? Avoid that. (This is also one of my pet peeves.) Readers want to contemplate a book after it’s done, but they also need a satisfying wrap-up that feels logical and complete. 

Organize: tighten the story’s structure and ask yourself whether the bigger-picture elements are working.

6. Is the overall plot clear, cohesive, and complete?
   1. Draw a quick story arc to ensure the standard story elements are present: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
   2. https://reedsy.com/blog/guide/story-structure/ 
7. Does each scene serve a clear purpose in the story?
   1. If it doesn’t, refocus it or chuck it.
8. Are pacing and structure working across the beginning, middle, and end?
   1. Proper pacing is absolutely crucial. If the story is too slow, readers are bored. If the story moves too quickly, readers feel unsatisfied. These are two surefire ways to encourage readers to put it in their DNF pile.
   2. Jessica Brody from Save the Cat has a straightforward, percentage-based pacing system that is famous for its use in screenplay and novel pacing. 
9. Do character arcs develop in a consistent and meaningful way?
   1. If a character’s plight seems overly contrived, readers will lose their emotional connection. Character arcs must make sense to the overall story and keep readers invested in their fate. 
10. Are there any plot holes, inconsistencies, or missing pieces?
    1. This is an incredibly vital step of the manuscript self-editing checklist. Avid readers will pick apart every little plot hole or inaccuracy. My professor, Kevin J. Anderson (Dune, y’all!), always told us to do our research before and during the writing process. Readers need to feel your expertise and confidence to keep turning the pages. (Side note: Andy Weir’s The Martian and Project Hail Mary are good examples of this. Readers tore apart every little scientific detail in those books, because why not? Luckily, Andy Weir knew his stuff, so his work had few inaccuracies or plot holes. Had his books not been scientifically plausible, readers would have been much more likely to toss them aside.)

Stylize: focus on the content and ask yourself whether the flow and clarity are adequate throughout.

11. Are sentences clear, smooth, and easy to read?
    1. If you stumble on certain parts when reading your story aloud, those might be passages that need extra revision.
12. Is the tone and voice consistent throughout?
13. Is dialogue natural and purposeful?
    1. Another banger in the manuscript self-editing checklist. This one really gets to me, especially in screenplays. If a character is consistently saying things they would be unlikely to say, readers and viewers tune out. 
14. Are there repetitive words, phrases, or weak wording?
    1. Pay attention to (and consider removing) words such as really, so, like, very, kind of, sort of, basically, actually, definitely, pretty, of, to, on, just, and by.
15. Are descriptions specific and engaging without being excessive?
    1. Tolkien could get away with long, expansive descriptions, but you might not be able to. Get to the point. Use your descriptions to immerse readers, but stop before their eyes start to glaze over.

Polish: proofread to fix any final errors, and ask yourself whether you would be proud for the world to see this copy as-is, without using the manuscript self-editing checklist. 

16. Are grammar, spelling, and punctuation correct?
    1. Search for quotation marks and apostrophes to ensure they are smart (curly), and remove any double spaces. Ensure ellipses and em dashes are spaced correctly for the style, and commas (either Oxford or not) are used appropriately.
17. Are names, terms, and capitalization consistent?
    1. PerfectIt is a great tool for this check.
18. Is formatting consistent (italics, dialogue, spacing)?
    1. Ensure your manuscript is in Standard Manuscript Format. This is essential.
       1. https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/
       2. https://reedsy.com/studio/resources/book-manuscript-format 
19. Are there any typos or small errors remaining?
    1. This is, of course, what a good proofreader will fix, but manuscripts with excessive errors appear unprofessional. Give it a quick pass through the free versions of Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or even the basic Word spellcheck. 
20. Does the manuscript look clean and professional overall?
    1. If you went through the previous 19 steps, your manuscript will be ready for any professional editor or publishing query. If you were thorough enough, you might also be ready to begin the self-publishing process.

Access the Manuscript Self-Editing Checklist

Click this link for an editable version of the manuscript self-editing checklist in Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1poexQ_RNGmKAqvKAKSIAT-9fBFaZ50nZUlymqUqSm3M/edit?usp=sharing  

Click HERE to download a printable PDF of the manuscript self-editing checklist.

Need Help With the Editing Process? Reach Out to Us.

Here at Prusuit Press, we specialize in each of these steps. We have perfected our processes to address all the primary concerns when drafting and revising a manuscript, so when we see a piece for the first time, no matter its state, we know what to do. We also never, ever, ever judge a manuscript. The most important part is writing, and if you are one of the many writers who hate editing their own work, we’ve got you. We don’t mind at all and will simply be proud of you for completing a goal most writers never will: you wrote a book. Who cares if there are misplaced modifiers or you are fond of the passive voice—hand it over to us, and we will fix it right up.

Reader-Ready Writing Starts Here

Here at Pursuit Press, we make editing, design, and self-publishing feel clear and doable. We work alongside writers to provide thoughtful feedback, clean edits, and practical guidance—so you always know your next step and end with a reader-ready final draft. While we specialize in fiction, select nonfiction, and academic work, we’re happy to support a wide range of manuscripts and documents. Ready to explore services? Visit our Services page for more information, or check out our Service Request Form if you are ready to take the plunge.

Reader-ready writing starts here.