Hello you glorious scribblers!
Let’s talk about that part of the writing process that makes most of us want to chuck our entire manuscript into the compost bin, move to the hills, and pretend we never even heard the word “book.”
🎙️Listen to this blog. 6 minute read.
Yep. Editing.
But I’m here to tell you — editing doesn’t have to feel like a soul-crushing exercise in self-loathing. It doesn’t have to involve sobbing over your keyboard at midnight or deleting 20,000 words in a dramatic fit of “this-is-garbage” rage.
Editing is an art. A craft. A sacred stage of the writing journey. And if you’re ready to refine your work without setting your manuscript on fire, then stick around, friend — I’ve got you.
Also… if you prefer to listen while folding laundry or sipping your tea in the garden, I’ve covered all of this (and more juicy bits) in Episode 4 of The Quill Oracles Podcast. You can tune in right here:
👉 https://bit.ly/TQOPodcastEp4
Now — let’s dive in.
✨ Being Present First
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Before you touch a single comma or highlight your first adverb — stop.
Take a breath. Seriously. Ground yourself. You can’t edit well when your energy is scattered or when your inner critic is shouting louder than your intuition. Editing isn’t just technical — it’s energetic. You need presence.
Try this:
- Roll your shoulders.
- Breathe deep.
- Unclench your jaw.
- Feel your feet on the floor.
Now you’re ready.
☕ Grab Your Cuppa, Your Quill, and a Notepad
Trust me — you’re going to want to take notes. Whether it’s your favourite mug of English Breakfast or your sacred jasmine green tea, this is your writing ritual moment. Let it be intentional. You’re not just editing — you’re stepping into your writer’s power.
Alright, let’s get into the juicy stuff.
✍️ The Art of Self-Editing (Without the Meltdowns)
1. First Things First: Don’t Edit While You Write
Let me say it again, louder this time — do not edit while you write.
That’s the fastest way to kill your creative mojo. That inner editor has a time and place — and it’s not when you’re mid-flow, mid-scene, or mid-brilliance. First drafts are meant to be messy. Glorious chaos. Heart-on-the-page madness. Let it pour out like a rainstorm — unfiltered, unrestrained, and totally imperfect.
You can tidy it later. But first, honour the messy magic.
2. Take a Break Between Drafts
Step away, my friend. Seriously. Your manuscript needs breathing space, and so do you.
When you’ve been deep in a story, you’re emotionally attached to every word. Taking a break lets you come back with fresh eyes and a clearer heart. You’ll see flaws you missed. You’ll hear sentences differently. You’ll feel the gaps in the flow.
So go for a walk. Clean out that bottom drawer. Watch clouds. Let it breathe.
3. Read It Aloud (Yes, Out Loud Like a Mad Poet in the Kitchen)
Your ears will catch what your eyes miss. Reading aloud is one of the most powerful tools in your editing kit. You’ll notice rhythm. Awkward phrasing. Clunky dialogue. Repetition. You’ll even surprise yourself with how different it sounds out loud.
And let’s be real — you might discover a hidden poet in your voice while you’re at it. Bonus points if you perform it like a Shakespearean monologue with your cat as your only audience.
4. Kill Your Darlings — But Don’t Burn the House Down
Yes, we all have those sentences we’re in love with — but if they don’t serve the story, they’ve got to go. It’s not personal. It’s purpose.
But please — don’t torch your whole manuscript in a fit of imposter syndrome. Trim gently. Cut consciously. Keep a “cut pile” (we’ll get to that in a sec) and remember: you’re shaping a masterpiece, not burning a forest.
5. Zoom Out Before You Zoom In
Big picture first. Always.
Look at structure, flow, arcs, pacing — before you start fussing over whether “however” or “but” sounds better. Tackle the bones of your story before the surface polish. Think architect before you think decorator.
Start wide, then zoom in.
6. Use Tools — But Don’t Let Them Dictate Your Voice
Grammarly, Hemingway, ProWritingAid — sure, they’re helpful. But don’t let them suck the soul out of your work. You are not a corporate memo. You are a storyteller.
These tools don’t know your voice, your flair, your cheeky turns of phrase. Use them as a guide, not a gospel. Keep your quirks. Keep your slang. Keep your you-ness.
7. Keep a ‘Cut Pile’ Folder
Ohhh, this one’s a sanity-saver.
Don’t just delete lines that don’t fit. Store them. Honour them. Create a digital compost heap for all those lovely phrases you had to let go. You might reuse them elsewhere. You might not. But it’ll make the editing process feel less brutal. And who knows — your next book might grow from those scraps.
8. Ask for Feedback (But Not from People Who Don’t Get You)
Be picky with your beta readers.
You want feedback from people who understand your genre, your voice, your intention — not your Aunt Barbara who only reads crime thrillers and thinks tarot is devil’s work.
Ask the right questions. Take what resonates. Toss the rest. Your story, your voice, your rules.
🔥 Last Minute Takeaways
Let’s sum it up, shall we?
- Your messy first draft is not a failure — it’s a starting point.
- Editing isn’t punishment — it’s refinement.
- Your voice is the magic — don’t scrub it out in the name of perfection.
- Your uniqueness is the heartbeat of your writing. Keep it sacred.
Editing isn’t about cutting until nothing’s left. It’s about sculpting what’s already beautiful into something extraordinary.
📚 Book Plug Time — Spirit Animal Oracles: Your Spirit Animal Pocket Companion
And before you go…
Let me nudge you toward one of my little book babies: Spirit Animal Oracles: Your Spirit Animal Pocket Companion. If you’re needing a daily dose of guidance, a spark of inspiration, or just a quiet whisper from the universe — this book is it.
It’s like pulling a card, without the deck. Just flip to a page and let your spirit animal speak to your day. It’s practical, soulful, portable — and a powerful companion for your intuitive journey.
Grab your copy at: www.korupublishing.com or visit my Shopify store and search Spirit Animal Oracles.
It’s magic in your pocket — and honestly, who doesn’t need a little magic these days?
Thanks for reading, beautiful soul. If this post gave you a chuckle, a spark, or a sigh of relief — share it with your writing tribe. And don’t forget to tune in to the full episode on the podcast!🎧 Listen here → The Quill Oracles Episode 4
Until next time —
Keep writing. Keep trusting. Keep showing up.
And remember… The answers you seek are within.
Cheers for now.