can you edit a novel yourself? And if so how? Anyone know?

Answer 1

Your own novel, you mean? Or are you talking about editing someone else's novel? If it's yours, just do it, although it will be more helpful to get outside help and opinion on what you should edit. It's just a matter of making changes and removing stuff that might not be vital to the story.

Answer 2

I agree with the other replies but want to add that you need to get someone who has no interest in making you feel good to critique your work. Don't get a so called "book doctor", they're out to earn a living and not all are worth the $30 and up a page that they charge.

Join a good critique group or writers group.

There are books on self-editing but you will see things as being just great and not thru the eyes of a reader. You can also read your work aloud, to yourself--but I still recommend an outsider.

Answer 3

There's certainly no law against it. I've written and published my own novels myself, and you definitely need to edit it on your own, and, as a general rule, have 2 or 3 good, reliable, and PROPER-ENGLISH-SMART people review it for punctuation, spelling, grammar, fluency, yada, yada, yada, etcetera...

I'm willing to edit work, by the way, in my spare time. Can't promise when it'll be done, but if you want to email a manuscript to me, you can. It's at [e-mail]. My credentials, if you're concerned, are this: I wrote a novel when I was 12, published it at 14, and currently make my living writing for newspapers. =) Always happy to help!

FYI: I wouldn't steal it, but if you're concerned about someone taking your manuscript, do this: stick it in an envelope, mail it to yourself and NEVER open it. It's proof that you wrote it by that date. Or, send it in to the Library of Congress and get your copyright certificate. It takes 4-8 weeks, usually.

I know I'm rambling, but you got me started on one of my favorite topics... sorry...

Answer 4

I think you do edit your novel when you do rewrites. But getting a second pair of eyes looking at your work - not just the story, but the mechanics of your storytelling, is always a good idea. A writer CAN’T be objective of their own work.

Answer 5

Yes, you can edit your own work. I do.
But it takes a special skill. You have to be brutally honest, which not many writers are.
Because of the long hours involved in writing a book, writers are reluctant to cut anything out. They think EVERYTHING they've written is wonderful.
It isn't.
I keep a sign above my desk, it says:
REMOVE ANYTHING THAT IS NOT VITAL OR IMPORTANT TO THE STORY.
Keep that in the back of your mind when your working.
And good luck.