Editing your novel isn’t about being good, or a grammar whiz, or even correct. Your best editing mindset is to edit for your reader.

You’ve poured your heart into your manuscript, dedicating countless hours to crafting intricate plots and fleshing out characters that feel almost as real to you as your closest friends. Now, as you face the daunting task of editing, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that this stage is solely about dotting your i’s, crossing your t’s, and ensuring your prose is as polished as a mirror.

If you pause and shift your perspective, you’ll realize that editing your novel isn’t just about being good with grammar, or a whiz at weaving sophisticated sentences, nor is it merely about correctness in the conventional sense. The essence, the true art of editing, is about stepping into the shoes of your future readers.

As you edit, you are not just the author, but also the first reader of your work. This mindset transition is crucial. Editing for your reader means refining your story to not just be understood, but to be felt; to not just be followed, but to be experienced deeply and memorably. It’s about ensuring that each page turned is a step further into the world you’ve created, making your readers reluctant to leave even after the last word.

Your best editing mindset is not anchored in showcasing your command of language or adherence to writing norms, but in your ability to edit with your reader at the forefront of your mind. Let’s explore how to make your novel not just a book they read, but an experience they live and cherish.

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