The Ultimate Pre-Editing Checklist for Self-Published Authors

Before you send your book off to a professional editor, it’s worth giving your manuscript a solid self-review. Not because you're expected to catch everything (that’s our job!), but because doing your own editing pass helps you spot big-picture issues, tighten your prose, and ultimately save time and money. Whether you're hiring a proofreader, a copy editor, or going all-in with a line edit, submitting a cleaner draft helps you get the most out of your editing investment. That’s why we created this ultimate pre-editing checklist: to help self-published authors prepare their manuscripts like pros.

Think of it as a warm-up before the main event. It’s not about perfection—it’s about polish.

1. Structure and Story Consistency

Book editing begins with the big picture! It can be helpful to create a tracking sheet where you note your answers to the following. Before zooming in on grammar or sentence flow, it’s important to make sure your story makes sense as a whole. It can be helpful to create a tracking sheet or outline where you note your answers to these questions as you reread. This not only helps you stay organized—it also gives your editor a cleaner draft to work from.

☐ Does the story follow a clear arc: beginning, middle, and end?
☐ Are major plot threads resolved or intentionally left open?
☐ Do characters behave consistently with their motivations?
☐ Are names, dates, locations, and timelines aligned throughout?

🔗 Resource: How to Structure a Novel – Reedsy

2. Self-Editing for Clarity and Style

Before professional line editing, do a stylistic sweep. Your readers will notice if you’re overusing words, structuring sentences repetitively, or struggling with passive voice. It’s true that your readers may not always know why something feels off, but they’ll notice if your writing lacks variety and clarity.

☐ Have you removed unnecessary filler words (that, just, really)?
☐ Are you showing instead of telling where appropriate?
☐ Are your sentences varied in length and rhythm?
☐ Did you reduce passive voice where active voice would be clearer?

📘 Tip: Use a tool like Hemingway Editor to spot dense or passive writing.

3. Dialogue Polish

Great dialogue reads naturally—and serves a purpose. Readers love realistic, engaging dialogue that reveals character and moves the story forward. Dialogue should sound natural when read aloud and avoid clichés or unnecessary repetition. Well-crafted conversations keep readers invested and scenes dynamic.

☐ Does each major character sound distinct?
☐ Are you avoiding “on the nose” exposition in dialogue?
☐ Have you trimmed excessive dialogue tags or replaced them with action beats?
☐ Are you formatting dialogue correctly according to publishing conventions?

🔗 Guide: Punctuating Dialogue – NY Book Editors

4. Continuity and Logic Check

Don’t let small inconsistencies trip up your reader—or your proofreader. Did a side character suddenly switch eye color? Did your main character remember a conversation they were never actually part of? These small errors can sneak into your draft during rewrites and revisions. Readers and editors alike get pulled out of the story when things don’t logically line up. Doing your own pass for continuity helps create a smoother, more immersive experience—and it saves your editor from spending valuable time flagging fixable inconsistencies.

☐ Are timelines and character ages consistent?
☐ Do characters have knowledge they logically couldn’t have?
☐ Did you avoid contradictions in the plot or worldbuilding?

5. Grammar, Spelling, and Proofreading Sweep

Even though a professional proofreader will catch what you miss, running your manuscript through a basic grammar and spellcheck beforehand can help eliminate distracting errors. Spellcheck tools aren’t perfect, but they’re good at catching obvious issues—and catching those early allows your editor to focus on deeper, more complex problems. It also makes your manuscript easier to read, which is a win for everyone.

☐ Have you run a spellcheck in Word or Google Docs?
☐ Did you check for common misused words (your vs. you’re, its vs. it’s)?
☐ Are your punctuation marks (especially commas and dialogue punctuation) consistent?
☐ Did you eliminate double spaces and strange formatting?

6. Format Your Manuscript for Your Editor

A properly formatted manuscript helps your editor work more efficiently. Editors aren’t picky about fonts for no reason—formatting affects readability and workflow. A clean, standard manuscript format helps your editor focus on the content, not on decoding creative layout choices. Using page breaks between chapters, standard fonts and spacing, and common file types like .doc or .docx ensures a smoother experience for both you and your editor.

☐ Use 12 pt font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
☐ Consider applying a clear, readable font (Times New Roman, Garamond, or similar)
☐ Insert page breaks between chapters
☐ Save in .doc or .docx format (most editors prefer Word files so they can make edits for you in Track Changes)

7. Get Outside Feedback (Optional but Invaluable)

After staring at your manuscript for weeks or months, it’s easy to miss unclear moments, pacing issues, or flat character development. That’s where outside feedback comes in. Beta readers and critique partners offer perspective on how your story reads to someone who doesn’t already know what’s supposed to happen. They may notice plot holes, weak spots, or areas where the writing shines. While this kind of feedback isn’t a substitute for editing, it’s a valuable step in preparing your book for a professional editor—or the world.

☐ Share with beta readers for overall impressions
☐ Use a critique partner or join a writing group
☐ Ask them: What confused you? What excited you? What slowed you down?

8. Decide What Kind of Editing You Need

This step saves both time and money when hiring a book editor. Not all editing is the same, and knowing what your manuscript needs helps you avoid paying for services you don’t need (or skipping ones you do). For example, if your draft is rough and unpolished, it may need line editing before you worry about typos. If it’s already been through several revisions, a final proofread might be all that’s left. Understanding the difference between line editing, copy editing, and proofreading helps you make smarter choices and get the right kind of support at the right time.

☐ Do you need help with flow and style? → You need line editing
☐ Are you looking to polish grammar and fix inconsistencies? → You need copy editing
☐ Ready for a final typo check before publishing? → You need proofreading

📚 Not sure? BookReady Editors offers a free sample edit so you can see what level of editing your manuscript needs.

Final Word: Edit Smart, Publish Confident

Whether you’re writing a novel, memoir, or nonfiction book, preparing your manuscript before hiring a professional editor is one of the smartest things you can do.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. This checklist is your roadmap to submit a cleaner, stronger manuscript that saves you money and helps your editor focus on the deeper work.

Need expert eyes on your manuscript? Check out our flat-rate editing services for self-published authors.