16 Apr Self-Editing E-Course for Aspiring Authors
Welcome to the DIY Self-Edit course and congratulations on taking this next step in your author journey!
Hi, I’m Kirsten Rees, and I’m thrilled to be part of your journey as you bring your book to life.
Whether this is your first draft or you’ve made a start on self-editing already, you’re in the right place. This is a DIY course designed to guide you through the early-stage editing process.
You’ll get tools, structure, templates, and guidance to work through at your own pace. I’ve personally edited over 26 million words for author clients and now I’m sharing some great tips so you can grow as a writer.
There are 7 modules with clear lessons, worksheets, and optional extras.
Before You Start:
✔️ Review the Manuscript Checklist in Module 1.
✔️ Tell a friend or your writing group you’re doing this course so you’re accountable.
✔️ Remember this stage is temporary, so consider your priorities and what you could delay or set aside for the coming weeks/months while you achieve this author goal.
Although you can do the modules in any order and even skip modules, it is designed to follow stages so you create a plan and timeline, work on the big picture stuff, and then focus in on the smaller details.
Disclaimer: This course is designed to give you a foundation in editing your own manuscript. But it is not designed to replace a professional book editor. This course is DIY so 121 feedback is not provided. These are the steps I recommend my own clients take prior to hiring me. You’ll gain confidence while improving your writing.
If you have questions specific to this course or anything tech-wise isn’t working as it should, just get in touch:
Once you’ve completed the Self-Edit course if you feel you want 121 support and guidance you can book Author Support blocks from £500 or request a quote for Pro Editing.
You’ve taken the first step, now keep the momentum going. This is your journey…
Follow me on socials for more writing, editing, and authoring tips.
About this course
Introduction
Perfect for First-Time Editors: Ideal if you've completed your draft but don’t know where to start with editing. Focus on Self-Editing: Gain the skills to edit your own work before seeking a professional editor. Comprehensive Lessons: Get practical advice on pacing, flow, grammar, and style,...
Module 1
Setting the Foundation – Understanding the Editing Process
Welcome to the world of self-editing! I know it can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re looking at your manuscript and thinking, “Where do I even begin?” I’ve been there – both as a pro editor and as an aspiring author – sat in...
Mastering the Three Key Stages of Editing
Understand the Key Stages of Editing Editing is like peeling an onion. You start with the outer layers, the big elements and work your way inward, getting more detailed as you go. There are three key stages of editing that every writer should understand: Developmental...
Info & Tips
Breaking Down the Process Many new writers feel they need to perfect everything at once, but that’s not the case. As I mentioned earlier, editing happens in stages, and understanding these stages is key to mastering the process. Here’s a quick breakdown of each: Developmental...
Confidence Boosting Advice
Taking Control of the Editing Process Editing can feel overwhelming at first, but remember, this is your story, and you’re in control. The beauty of the editing process is that it’s not about achieving perfection right from the start. It’s about taking the time to...
Challenge
Create an Editing Plan It’s easy to get lost in your manuscript, especially when you’re making changes on the fly. That’s why having an editing plan can save you a lot of frustration. For your first task, I’d like you to sit down with your...
Module 2
Building a Protagonist Who Evolves: Showcasing Positive Traits, Balancing Inner Thoughts, and Charting Growth
Mastering the Three Key Stages Show Positive Traits of Your Protagonist Characters need more than just backstory or a good trait list—they need to show those traits in action. It’s one thing to tell the reader that your protagonist is brave, kind, or compassionate, but...
Crafting Character Arcs: From Flaws to Strengths
In storytelling, a character’s development is one of the most powerful elements in keeping readers engaged. A well-developed protagonist doesn’t just serve as a vehicle for the plot but becomes someone the reader can relate to, root for, or even love to hate. But how...
Confidence Boosting Advice
Character development is not a linear process. It’s okay if your protagonist isn’t fully fleshed out in the early stages of your story. In fact, sometimes characters evolve organically as you write. However, understanding where they start and where they end up will give you...
Challenge
Create Your Character’s Growth Arc Now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned about character development. For this challenge, you’ll focus on creating a growth arc for your protagonist. Step 1: Analyse Your Protagonist’s Starting Point What are your protagonist’s primary flaws or weaknesses at...
Module 3
Structuring the Timeline and Narrative Flow
Ensuring a Smooth, Cohesive Reading Experience In storytelling, a clear and cohesive timeline helps readers stay immersed without unnecessary confusion. Disorganised timelines or overuse of flashbacks can interrupt the flow, making it challenging for readers to stay engaged. This module focuses on simplifying your story’s...
Mapping Your Narrative Flow for Clarity and Impact
A strong narrative flow isn’t just about chronological order—it’s about pacing and progression. Each scene should feel like a natural step forward, with no excessive “jumps” or disruptions. To create a smooth flow, think of each chapter or scene as building momentum, carrying readers seamlessly...
Confidence Boosting Advice
Creating a strong timeline and narrative flow takes practice. Remember, your timeline is a tool that helps you guide readers through your story. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect in the first draft—refining it is part of the process! Trust yourself to recognise when a...
Challenge
Streamlining Your Story’s Timeline To put these techniques into practice, work on simplifying and refining your story’s timeline. Here’s a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Outline Your Timeline Using the attached Timeline Planner, outline the main events of your story in chronological order. Identify where flashbacks...
Module 4
Effective Scene Transitions and Descriptions
Show Setting Changes Through Actions: When transitioning between scenes or locations, try to "show" the setting change through character actions. Rather than simply stating the change, hint at the new setting by describing what the character does within it. For example, instead of “Lila walked...
Strengthening Hooks and Chapter Transitions
A strong start and seamless transitions keep readers engaged and connected throughout your story. Crafting hooks and transitions effectively means knowing how to grab attention and hold it from one chapter to the next. In this module, we'll explore techniques to create powerful opening hooks,...
Confidence Boosting Advice
Remember, Strong Transitions Build Reader Loyalty Crafting hooks and transitions can seem daunting, but each one strengthens the connection between you and your readers. You’re giving them a seamless experience that keeps them flipping pages and coming back for more. Trust that with each draft,...
Module 5
Dialogue and Character Interaction
The Balance Between Show and Tell In writing, both “showing” and “telling” play essential roles, but it's generally recommended to lean more towards "showing" than "telling." "Showing" involves creating vivid, engaging scenes that allow the reader to experience the story through actions, dialogue, and sensory...
Dialogue Tone and Authenticity
Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools for revealing character. The way a character speaks should reflect their personality, background, and social context. It's important that your characters’ language and tone are consistent with their age, education, cultural influences, and the time period they...
Breaking Up Long Dialogue Sections
Breaking Up Long Dialogue Sections Long sections of uninterrupted dialogue can be exhausting to read. While dialogue is essential for character development and moving the plot forward, you want to ensure it remains dynamic and engaging. Physical Actions: Introduce action between dialogue lines. For example,...
Reducing Formality in Dialogue
One common issue in historical or period fiction is that dialogue can sometimes sound too formal, especially when writing characters from past eras. While the time period, background, and education of your characters will influence how they speak, you also want the dialogue to feel...
Confidence Boosting Advice
Writing authentic, engaging dialogue takes time and practice, but you’re already on the right track! By focusing on the balance of "showing" and "telling," paying attention to character voices, and refining the pacing of your conversations, you’re building a stronger connection with your readers. Each...
Challenge
Choose a scene from your current draft that has a lot of dialogue. Highlight the dialogue, narrative, and body language using the colour tool as mentioned earlier. Afterward, review the balance between the different elements. Are there too many pages with only dialogue? Can you...
Module 6
Style and Consistency
Check Tense Consistency Maintaining a consistent tense is essential for clarity and flow. Shifting between past and present tense in the same scene can confuse readers and disrupt immersion in the story. Decide on a primary tense—whether past or present—and apply it throughout your book....
Confidence Boosting Advice
Working through stylistic details and maintaining consistency takes dedication, but each small improvement strengthens your writing. By refining tense, enhancing inner thoughts, and creating fresh descriptions, you’re adding to the overall readability and appeal of your book. Consistency doesn’t just make your work look professional—it...
Challenge
Consistency Exercise Select a scene where you’re uncertain about tense, character thoughts, or repeated phrases. First, review the tense used throughout the scene. Are there any unintended shifts? Adjust as needed to maintain a consistent flow. Next, check that inner thoughts are italicised and appropriately...
Module 7
Character Planner Spreadsheet
Keeping track of your characters' traits, mannerisms, and arcs can be a challenge, especially as your story progresses, but it's essential for consistency and continuity. A Character Planner is a great tool to make sure you're staying true to each character’s development. This becomes particularly...
Confidence Boosting Advise
Confidence Boost Remember, working on these stylistic details is a marathon, not a sprint. Each step you take toward refining your characters, timeline, and key moments builds a stronger, more cohesive narrative. With consistency and planning, your story will shine even brighter. Don’t be discouraged...
Challenge
For this module, choose one of the tools listed above and apply it to your current project. If you don’t already have a timeline or character planner, start with that. If you do have them, take a moment to update and refine them—ensure the consistency...
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