Editing a manuscript is no easy task. After pouring your heart and soul into writing, it’s natural to want your story to be perfect, but even the most experienced authors can fall into some common editing traps. These mistakes might seem minor, but they can significantly affect the overall quality of your manuscript. The good news? They’re avoidable! Here are some of the most frequent editing missteps authors make—and how you can steer clear of them.

1. Over-Editing: Trying to Make Every Sentence Perfect

One of the biggest mistakes authors make during editing is obsessing over every single sentence. You spend hours tweaking a phrase here, changing a word there, and before you know it, you’re stuck in a loop. Over-editing can lead to your writing feeling stiff and overworked, where the natural flow of your voice is lost in an attempt to make everything “perfect.”

How to Avoid It: The trick is knowing when to step back. Don’t get bogged down by the details too early in the process. Focus on big-picture edits like structure, character development, and pacing before zeroing in on individual sentences. If you find yourself constantly rewriting the same passage, take a break and come back with fresh eyes. Sometimes, you just need distance from your own words to see them clearly.

2. Ignoring the Plot Holes

It’s easy to overlook plot holes when you’ve spent months (or years) writing a story. As the author, you know your characters and the world you’ve built inside and out. But that familiarity can blind you to inconsistencies in the plot. Maybe a character solves a problem too easily, or there’s an event that contradicts something earlier in the story.

How to Avoid It: This is where a structured approach to editing comes in handy. Outline your story’s plot points and make sure every detail aligns. Beta readers or a trusted editor can also help spot these issues—they’ll notice when something doesn’t quite add up. Be open to feedback and willing to make adjustments where needed.

3. Being Blind to Your Own Biases

We all have favorite characters or scenes that we’re especially attached to. Unfortunately, this can lead to some biased editing. You might leave a scene untouched because you love it, even if it doesn’t serve the story. Or you might let a character get away with poor development because they’re your personal favorite.

How to Avoid It: Ask yourself tough questions: Does this scene move the plot forward? Does this character have a clear arc? Be honest about what serves the story versus what you just enjoy personally. Sometimes you’ll have to “kill your darlings,” as the saying goes, but it will make for a stronger manuscript in the end.

4. Skipping Developmental Edits for Grammar Tweaks

It can be tempting to dive straight into grammar and punctuation fixes, especially if you’re confident in your story. But focusing too early on the technical side of editing can cause you to miss larger issues, like weak character arcs, slow pacing, or flat dialogue. These are all crucial aspects that need attention before you even think about correcting commas.

How to Avoid It: Start with developmental editing—focus on the bigger picture. Once your story’s structure, characters, and plot are solid, then you can move on to copyediting and proofreading. Think of it as building a house: you wouldn’t worry about the paint job before making sure the foundation is strong.

5. Neglecting Pacing

Pacing is one of the most overlooked elements of storytelling, but it’s also one of the most important. If your story drags in the middle or rushes through critical moments, readers will lose interest or feel unsatisfied. Many authors struggle with pacing, either by including too much filler or not giving significant moments enough space to breathe.

How to Avoid It: A good rule of thumb is to vary your pacing throughout the story. Fast-paced action scenes are great, but they need to be balanced with slower, more introspective moments. Pay attention to chapter lengths and how much time you’re spending on different parts of the story. If a scene feels too slow, cut unnecessary details. If it feels rushed, take the time to flesh it out more.

6. Failing to Read Your Work Aloud

When you’ve spent so much time with your manuscript, it’s easy to miss awkward phrasing, repetitive words, or clunky dialogue. Reading in your head sometimes just doesn’t catch these issues.

How to Avoid It: One of the simplest yet most effective ways to catch these problems is to read your manuscript out loud. Hearing your words helps you spot things you wouldn’t notice otherwise, like dialogue that doesn’t flow naturally or sentences that feel too long. It might feel weird at first, but it’s a game-changer when it comes to polishing your writing.

7. Rushing the Editing Process

After working on a story for so long, it’s natural to want to get it out into the world as quickly as possible. But rushing through the editing process is a common mistake that can result in a manuscript that feels unfinished. Hasty edits often lead to overlooked errors, unresolved plot points, and underdeveloped characters.

How to Avoid It: Editing takes time, and rushing through it will only lead to more work down the line. Set aside specific days or weeks just for editing and give yourself room to breathe between drafts. Step away from your manuscript for a bit, then come back with fresh eyes. The extra time will help you catch things you missed the first time around.

How Tribune Publisher Can Help

Editing is an essential part of the writing process, and avoiding these common mistakes can help you create a polished and professional manuscript. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, it’s always a good idea to get a fresh perspective. That’s where professional editing services come in handy. The team at Tribune Publisher understands the intricacies of editing and can guide you through each step, helping you avoid these pitfalls and fine-tune your manuscript to perfection.

While editing is tough, it’s also where your story can truly shine. With the right approach—and a little patience—you’ll be well on your way to creating a book you can be proud of.