Editing is where the real writing happens. You’ve poured your heart into that first draft, and now it’s time to slice it open, pull out its guts, and rearrange the organs until it functions like a proper story. Editing fiction isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s messy, it’s bloody, and it’s definitely not glamorous. But it’s also essential if you want your story to be more than just a collection of pretty words.
To help you on this macabre journey, here are some of the most common mistakes writers make during editing, along with some practical advice on how to fix them.
1. Overwriting (Because Who Doesn’t Love a Ten-Word Description for “Rain”?)
Let’s face it, sometimes you get a little carried away. The forest isn’t just “dark,” it’s “a shadowy abyss that devours light and whispers secrets into the ears of the damned.” We get it—you’re a writer. But readers don’t need an entire paragraph to understand it’s nighttime.
How to Fix It: Look for adjectives and adverbs that don’t add value. If your dialogue is “whispered quietly,” then just “whispered” will do. When you spot three descriptors lined up in a row, cut two of them. Your prose should serve the story, not distract from it.
2. Weak Character Arcs (Or Why Your Hero Is Still Just a Sad Guy in a Coffee Shop)
Characters need to change. If your protagonist starts out as a grumpy barista and ends as…a grumpy barista, you’ve got a problem. Readers want transformation—whether that means finding redemption, becoming corrupted, or just learning to love decaf.
How to Fix It: Make a quick list of where your character starts emotionally, where they end, and the key moments that get them there. If those moments don’t add up, or the transformation feels unearned, go back and flesh out those scenes. And remember: small changes are okay, but there should still be some growth. Even Ebenezer Scrooge became less of a jerk by the end.
3. Dialogue That Sounds Like It Was Written by a Robot (Unless You’re Writing Sci-Fi)
The problem with dialogue is that we all think we’re great at it because, hey, we talk every day. But writing dialogue isn’t just about sounding realistic—it’s about making every line count. If your characters are having a ten-minute conversation about where to get the best latte in town, it better be leading somewhere.
How to Fix It: Cut the fluff. Every line of dialogue should reveal something about the character or advance the plot. If you find a character’s speech could be swapped with another’s without changing the scene, their voice isn’t distinct enough. Give your characters unique patterns of speech, phrases, or quirks to make their dialogue stand out.
4. Plot Holes You Could Drive a Truck Through
You know that one scene where your character suddenly has knowledge they couldn’t possibly have? Or when they conveniently forget they had a knife in their boot the whole time? Those are plot holes, and they can ruin an otherwise good story.
How to Fix It: Create a “continuity checklist.” Track important details—like character traits, key items, and plot points. Before editing, re-read your manuscript with this checklist in hand. Better yet, ask a friend or editor who hasn’t been living in your fictional world to point out inconsistencies.
5. Pacing That’s Either a Sprint or a Crawl
One minute you’re racing through a battle scene, and the next you’re stuck in an endless conversation about childhood memories. Pacing issues can make readers lose interest—or worse, put the book down entirely.
How to Fix It: Alternate between fast-paced scenes (action, conflict, high stakes) and slower scenes (character development, reflection) to create a natural rhythm. If you find a scene that drags, cut unnecessary details. On the flip side, if something feels rushed, add a few beats to let the tension build.
6. Too Much Telling, Not Enough Showing (Yes, We’re Going There)
You’ve heard the phrase “show, don’t tell” so many times it’s probably tattooed on the inside of your eyelids. But there’s a reason it’s such popular advice. Telling the reader that a character is “angry” is fine, but showing them clenching their fists and gritting their teeth packs more of a punch.
How to Fix It: Go through your manuscript and highlight instances where you “tell” an emotion or event. Rewrite them to “show” through actions, body language, or dialogue. But don’t overdo it—a little telling is okay, especially for less significant details.
7. Ignoring the Small Stuff (Typos Are Just Speed Bumps, Right?)
Typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting inconsistencies might seem minor compared to the big picture, but they can add up and pull readers out of the story. Nothing says “amateur” like a manuscript filled with errors.
How to Fix It: Use a spellchecker, but don’t rely on it. Read your manuscript out loud to catch awkward phrasing. Better yet, hire a professional editor for a final pass. Your future readers will thank you.
Remember, editing is where the real work begins. Don’t shy away from taking a scalpel to your manuscript, and always be willing to kill your darlings (metaphorically, of course—unless you’re writing a murder mystery). With a little grit and a lot of coffee, you can turn that rough draft into a polished gem.
Stay tuned for more editing tips, or consider hiring a professional book editor (hint, hint).
Read next:
25 common amateur writing mistakes
6 signs of weak writing
