Editing a book is a necessary and unknown process for many writers. Every book must be edited and proofread. For that to happen the book should be maximised and along the way, the author must evolve and learn from the process. A good edition should contemplate and achieve these three objectives.

How do you edit a book correctly? To edit a book is to subject it to a thorough correction. To evaluate if the author has managed to capture the idea that was in his head in the book that they have written. If self-publishing, then this definition can still be applied to both novels and essays. The editing process is different in each case, but it is always necessary.

• Different types of editing

If you ask yourself how to edit a book correctly, you should know that it is not the same for all works. In an essay this process must make sure that the work is informative, that is to say that it has an easy-to-understand language and a coherent structure. However complicated the subject may be, it must be structured in such a way that the reader gradually enters into the subject in a logical way. The editor will be responsible in these cases to verify that the work has a good structure, that everything fits and that every part of the material develops organically.

In the novel, of course, the beginning of the book is very important, since it will be the trigger that causes the reader to continue reading. However, it is also important to choose the narrative techniques and the structure according to the story. In this case, talking about one or the other is very complicated since there are thousands of ways to present a story.

The main elements to focus a work review on are: narrators, characters, secondary characters, plot, subplots, space and time, pitch, rhythm, beginning, ending, how the structure is built and if it fits the story. These are just some of the endless list of details that make a novel strong.
Editing a book, in short, is to address how it has been written and improve it to its ultimate consequences.

• Proofreading Tips for Self-Publishers

You may already know what the 20,000 word test is, though it never hurts to remember it. Once that figure is reached, it is advisable to rest one day and read everything you have written. With 20,000 words, you can get an idea of where the novel will go, but you will also know if you like the characters that have appeared, if the plot is well routed, etc. If you have to make some corrections in relation to the characters, the tone, the script, etc., this is the best time for it.

After making the necessary corrections, it is time to finish the first draft. Once finished, read it. The best thing is to pass it to a format in which you cannot make modifications while reading, which will speed up the correction time. Let a day or two go by and look at the second draft again. Many people make the mistake of delivering the draft to relatives or friends who may be passionate about reading. However, they are biased and so it is best to get objective opinions by asking more neutral reviewers.

Look for more than one opinion, although don’t resort to too many correctors, as it can overkill and just confuse you. Another option is to resort to groups of critics, who know the genre of which you write. Their advice can be very helpful. And of course, the most important thing is for you to know what your idea is – to capture it and to be assured on what your style is like.

Finally, the most important thing is that you are in agreement with all the changes and that these adapt like a glove to the mental image that you had of your work.

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