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Self-Editing Checklist.

Three passes, in order. Fix the story before you polish the sentences, and don't proofread until both are done. Tick items off below, or print it for later.

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1. Structural pass

Story and character first. Prose fixed now might get cut later.

Protagonist's want and need are both clear
What they're chasing on the surface, and what they actually need to learn. Every scene earns its place
It moves the plot, changes a relationship, or reveals character. Cut or merge the ones that don't. Pacing checked across the whole manuscript
No section drags, and the climax isn't rushed to make a deadline. Character arcs hold together start to finish
Change is earned, not sudden. No arc that quietly resets between chapters. Point of view is consistent
No accidental head-hopping within a scene. Every plot thread resolves
Or is deliberately left open, not forgotten. Timeline and continuity checked
Ages, seasons, travel time, and who knows what and when. Chapter endings pull the reader forward
A question, a turn, or a reason to keep going.

Writing Desk tip Before a big structural change, branch the chapter with Chapter Iterations. Compare the new version against the original side by side, and roll back if the cut didn't work.

2. Line pass

Sentence-level craft, once the structure is settled.

Read every chapter aloud
Mark anything that snags, repeats, or trips your tongue. Cut filler words and redundant phrases
"Just", "really", "very", "started to", "began to". Sentence rhythm varied
Watch for strings of same-length sentences or the same opening word. Clichés replaced with something specific to this story Dialogue sounds distinct per character
Cover the names and check you can still tell who's speaking. Key emotional beats are shown, not told Filter words checked
"Felt", "saw", "realised", "noticed": cut where they distance the reader. Distinctive words not repeated too close together
Same unusual word twice on a page tends to jump out.

3. Technical pass

Last, so you're not polishing prose you'll cut later.

Full grammar and spelling pass
Tool-assisted first, then a manual read. Names, spellings, and details consistent throughout Formatting consistent
Dialogue punctuation, scene breaks, chapter headings. Tense consistent throughout Style sheet created or updated
Names, places, invented terms, key dates, for you or an editor to reference. Final proofread in a different format
Printed, or on an e-reader, not the screen you wrote it on.

Ready for beta readers

Beta reader questions prepared
Specific questions get specific feedback. Feedback deadline agreed with each reader

Self-Editing Checklist.

1. Structural pass

2. Line pass

3. Technical pass

Ready for beta readers

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Start writing.
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