Whether you are writing a fantasy or a coming-of-age dystopian novel, the writing process wouldn’t be complete without editing. But where do you start? Do you focus on grammar errors? How about the structure? Should you edit the story elements? So, if you find yourself confused about what to edit and to what extent, read on!
Step 1. Fix ‘Big Picture’ Problems
Before you start polishing sentences or obsessing over word choice, become a development editor and look at your work as a whole.
The first round of editing should focus on the foundation of your story: your structure, character arcs, pacing, and overall clarity.
If one of these things isn’t working, but you start to focus on fixing grammar and small details, you’ll end up wasting time perfecting scenes that might not even make the final cut.
Plot
When editing, you need to make sure your plot has a structure that creates tension, movement, and meaning. If your middle is flat, if character choices don’t influence the outcome, or if the ending doesn’t deliver on your setup, your plot needs some changes.
When editing your plot, ask yourself:
- Does the story start in the right place?
- Does each major event lead logically into the next?
- Are the stakes clear and escalating?
- Do the characters’ actions cause the events, or are things just happening to them?
- Is the ending satisfying?
Remember, restructuring can be intimidating, but cutting or rearranging scenes now will save your story later.
You are a fiction book editor.
Please go over the attached manuscript, check and identify plot holes, and provide suggestions on how to fix them.
The plot of my story is [insert plot info].
Story Structure
Story structure is how your plot is organized and should be one of the first things to check while editing. Why? Because even a great plot idea can fail if the events aren’t paced or arranged in a way that keeps readers invested.
There are plenty of frameworks out there to help you assess your structure. A few of the most popular ones:
- Three-Act Structure: Includes a beginning (setup), middle (confrontation), and end (resolution). It’s simple and effective.
- Save the Cat Beat Sheet: A more detailed breakdown with 15 “beats” or story moments that help track pacing and emotional impact.
- The Hero’s Journey: A common arc for stories involving growth, adventure, or transformation.
Tip: While these are popular structure types, you don’t have to follow them as if they were formulas; you can use them as a guide.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
Please go over the attached manuscript and check whether or not my story's structure matches the intended framework. Characters
The next thing to do is to take a close look at your characters, especially your protagonist and key supporting roles.
These characters carry the emotional weight of your story, so if readers don’t care about them, they won’t care about what happens, even if the plot is excellent.
Start with your main character:
- Do they want something clear and specific?
- Are they actively pursuing it or just reacting to things?
- Do they grow or change by the end?
- Is their arc believable and emotionally earned?
Then look at the supporting cast:
- Are they there for a reason or just to fill space?
- Does each one push the story forward or reveal something new about the protagonist?
- Are they different from each other? Do they have different purposes?
And your antagonist:
- Does their motivation make sense, even if only for them?
- Are they more than just an obstacle?
You don’t need filler characters; if they don’t add value to the story, rewrite them or let them go.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
My [antagonist/protagonist/supporting character] is [insert info].
Please check if [antagonist/protagonist/supporting character] add value to my story. If not, provide suggestions on how to improve them. If ChatGPT suggested rewriting your antagonist, reading our perfect villain character recipe is a great place to start.
Conflict
Conflict is what drives your story forward, pushing your characters to act, change, or break. Without it, even the best writing can feel flat. When editing your conflict, ask yourself:
- Is the central conflict clear from the start?
- Does it escalate over time?
- Does it naturally lead to the climax, or does it feel disconnected?
The best stories often layer different types of conflict:
- Character vs. self.
- Character vs. character.
- Character vs. society or circumstance.
Also, take a second look at how your conflict ties into the theme. If your story explores identity, for example, the conflict should challenge the characters’ sense of self. If it’s about justice, then the conflict should ask what justice really looks like.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
The conflict is [insert conflict info]. Review and check my manuscript if the intended conflict was met.
Attached is my manuscript. Theme
The theme is the deeper message or idea you’re exploring beneath the surface.
As we said before, the theme and conflict are absolutely connected. A well-crafted conflict will force your characters to face the questions your theme raises.
There is a key difference, though: the conflict is what your characters fight about, and the theme is what your story is saying about that fight.
To check if your theme is right, you should be able to answer these questions:
- Can you describe what your story is really about in one sentence? But not the plot, what it’s about at its core.
- Do your characters face choices or consequences that reflect that idea?
- Does the ending say something about the theme, whether it resolves it or challenges it?
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
Please go over my manuscript. Identify and describe the theme of my story in one sentence.
Attached is my manuscript. Step 2. ‘Scene by Scene’ Edit
Once your story’s big picture is all edited, you can start reviewing scene by scene. Each scene should have a purpose, like moving the plot forward, revealing character, or building tension. If a scene doesn’t do at least one of those things, you should rewrite it or cut it off.
Scenes
To edit your scenes, start by checking:
- Opening scene: Does it pull the reader in? Does it set the tone and raise a compelling question?
- Inciting incident: Is the moment that kicks the story into motion clear and impactful?
- Midpoint: Is there a shift, twist, or turning point that raises the stakes or deepens the conflict?
- Climax: Does the story build toward this moment? Is it emotionally and logically satisfying?
- Final scene: Does it close the loop or leave the reader with something to think about?
These scenes are the most emotional points in the story, so they deserve to be double or even triple-checked. Make sure to consider pacing and timing so your character doesn’t feel rushed or flat.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
Please go over my manuscript and evaluate the following scenes:
Opening scene
Inciting incident
Midpoint
Climax
Final scene If you are going to revise a scene, check our scene ideas guide.
Dialogue
The most important thing when editing your dialogue is to make sure your characters sound real.
Yeah, we know real people ramble, but in fiction, every line should have a purpose. If we go beating around the bush for pages, the readers will get lost and bored.
So, pay attention to rhythm, interruptions, and silence, as they can say as much as words. And, if you have a scene where you need to share a lot of information, see if you can rework it so it comes out more naturally.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
Please go over my manuscript and highlight every dialogue that needs improvement. Point of View
An inconsistent POV can confuse readers, break immersion, or weaken its emotional impact. So, when editing, check the following:
- You’re being consistent with the POV throughout each scene.
- The chosen POV gives readers the right access to the emotional core of the story.
- You’re using the POV to its full potential by filtering descriptions, thoughts, and reactions through the lens of the narrator.
Make sure the narrative voice matches the character and that you’re not slipping into an all-knowing narrator unless that’s intentional.
You are a fiction book editor.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
Please go over my manuscript and evaluate whether or not the point of view of is consistent or not. Step 3. Eliminate Stylistic Issues and Typos
Now that your story works on a structural level, you can start working on polishing every detail. Typos, clunky phrasing, or repetitive language may seem small, but they break the reader’s flow and can pull them out of the story fast.
Here’s what to watch for:
- Overuse of adverbs (quietly, suddenly, really). Try using stronger verbs instead.
- Weak adjectives. Can you be more specific or vivid?
- Repetitive sentence structure. Fix short and long sentences to improve rhythm.
- Dialogue tags. Try to avoid overusing “he said/she said” with unnecessary adverbs.
- Trim down filter words (she felt, he saw, I thought) to deepen POV.
This is also a great moment to check your grammar, punctuation, and formatting with ChatGPT. It can quickly catch basic issues so you can focus on the nuance.
You are a proofreader.
Please go over my manuscript. Identify and fix the following:
Overused adverbs
Weak adjectives
Repetitive sentence structures
Repetitive dialogue tags
Filter words Step 4. Make ChatGPT a Beta Reader
Can’t trust yourself to make constructive criticism of your work? Have a beta reader! This is someone who reads your manuscript with fresh eyes and gives feedback from a reader’s perspective, like what works, what drags, and what confuses them.
And yes, ChatGPT can become a beta reader using this prompt:
You are a beta reader.
I wrote a book about [insert plot info] following the [insert the framework].
I want you to evaluate my manuscript and tell me the following:
What works
What drags
What confuses Step 5. Write the 2nd Draft
By now, you’ve reshaped your story’s structure, fixed key scenes, sharpened your dialogue, cleaned up style issues, and gathered early feedback.
Now, you need to put all that together to write your second draft. This new version should feel more focused and more confident. But don’t try to make it perfect. That’s a weight that will only slow you down—your goal here is to make a better version of your first draft.
Final Words Before You Hit “Save As Draft”
Editing is intimidating, but it’s also a part of the writing process! So, take your time, check everything in detail, trust yourself, and, as we said before, don’t try to make it perfect. Your best draft is always the one that comes after the one you thought was final.