How to Self-Edit Your Christian Nonfiction Book
Editing a book can be one of the most expensive parts of publishing, especially for nonfiction authors. But with careful preparation and a structured self-editing process, you can clean up your manuscript before hiring a professional editor, potentially reducing the number of editing rounds and saving money. Here’s a practical guide for Christian nonfiction authors looking to polish their work efficiently.
The General Editing Process
Understanding the standard editing workflow will help you plan your self-editing steps strategically:
Developmental Editing
Focus: Structure, flow, chapter order, clarity of message, and overall content.
Goal: Ensure your ideas are clear, logically organized, and compelling for your readers.
Self-editing tip: Before hiring a developmental editor, read your manuscript with fresh eyes or ask a trusted beta reader to note areas where ideas feel unclear or repetitive.
Deep Line Editing / Copyediting
Focus: Sentence structure, word choice, clarity, tone, grammar, punctuation, and consistency.
Goal: Make your writing smooth, readable, and polished.
Self-editing tip: Address repeated grammar or style issues beforehand to reduce the editor’s workload.
Proofreading (Word Document)
Focus: Typos, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and small errors that survived previous rounds.
Goal: Catch minor mistakes before the book is typeset or formatted.
Proofreading (Final Designed PDF)
Focus: Layout issues, page breaks, headers, footers, and any errors introduced during design.
Goal: Ensure your book looks professional and reads well in its final format.
Why Self-Editing First Helps
Cleaning up your manuscript before hiring an editor can:
Reduce repeated issues that would otherwise require multiple rounds of editing.
Minimize the need for extensive developmental notes if your structure and flow are solid.
Lower overall editing costs by presenting a cleaner draft.
Practical Self-Editing Steps
Here’s a step-by-step approach you can follow:
1. Read through for Big-Picture Issues
Check the flow of ideas and chapter organization.
Remove redundant sections or tangents that don’t support your main message.
Ensure each chapter has a clear takeaway or point aligned with your Christian nonfiction focus.
2. Tighten Sentences and Paragraphs
Break up long sentences for clarity.
Remove filler words such as very, really, just, and actually.
Ensure your tone is consistent and aligns with your audience.
3. Fix Repeated Errors with Microsoft Word’s Search Feature
Use “Find and Replace” (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to:
Correct repeated misspellings or capitalization issues (e.g., God, Bible, Scripture).
Standardize hyphenation, formatting, or specific terms you frequently use.
Replace weak words or phrases throughout the manuscript.
Tip: Make a list of common mistakes you know you make and systematically search for them.
4. Check for Consistency
Chapter headings, subheadings, and formatting style.
Scripture references and citations—ensure formatting is uniform.
Voice and tone—keep consistent throughout the book.
5. Read Aloud
Reading your manuscript aloud helps catch awkward phrasing, repetitive sentences, or unclear ideas.
Consider using text-to-speech software for an additional perspective.
6. Final Check before Hiring an Editor
Make sure major structural issues are resolved.
Resolve repeated grammar or stylistic issues using Word’s search tools.
Polish your language to make your editor’s job faster, which can reduce editing costs.
Tips for Using Microsoft Word to Self-Edit
Track Changes: Turn this on if you’re experimenting with revisions, so you can see what you’ve changed.
Comments: Use comment bubbles to flag areas you’re unsure about or want to revisit later.
Spelling & Grammar: Use Word’s built-in spell check and grammar suggestions, but don’t rely on them entirely.
Find & Replace: Standardize capitalization, correct repeated errors, or replace weak words across the manuscript.
Conclusion
Self-editing your Christian nonfiction manuscript is not about skipping professional editing—it’s about preparing a clean, polished draft that makes your editor’s job easier and more affordable. By following a structured workflow, addressing repeated errors, and using Word’s tools effectively, you can reduce editing rounds, save money, and move closer to a professional, publishable manuscript.