How To Self-Edit Your Screenplay Or Novel
I’m a big believer in the self-edit for my drafts. I don’t see the point in sending my novels or screenplays out – even just to peer reviewers – without giving my writing a good polish first. I also recommend Bang2writers self-edit before paying for feedback, too!
However, I’ve worked with writers now for over twenty years. I’ve noticed that many writers don’t know what an effective self-edit entails. They’ll tend to hyper-focus on itty-bitty things that don’t matter. Then they’ll move words around the page randomly. Waaaah.
So, if you’re keen to self-edit YOUR screenplay or novel, here’s some tips … Ready? Let’s go!
1) B2W’s #1 Tip: FRESH EYES!
Seriously, leave your draft be for at least a week. The distance will enable you to approach your edits with fresh eyes. It will mean you won’t miss as much and make silly mistakes. First impressions count!
2) Be A Plotting Expert
Most writers trust to luck on structure or think they ‘can’t’ see it themselves. This is BS. The more you know about structure (aka plotting if you’re an author), the tighter and leaner your story will be.
Do your research into plotting archetypes like The 3 or 5 Acts, The Hero’s Journey, Voyage & Return, Rebirth, Freytag’s Pyramid, Save The Cat … It doesn’t matter what method. Seriously. You can do this however you want, too … Worksheets, visual representations, outlines, story maps. It all counts! Don’t forget there’s LOADS of articles and help on this site about plotting.
3) Avoid Info-Dumping and ‘Top-Heavy’ Drafts
Long blocks of exposition slow pacing and kills readers’ interest, especially at the beginning of drafts. Weave information naturally into dialogue and character actions. Show, don’t tell (aka ‘DRAMATISE, don’t tell’).
Also, don’t get distracted by back story. As screenwriter Sally Abbott (The Coroner, Vera) says, ‘Make sure the back story plays out in the present’. In other words, have a STORY REASON for sharing such back story nuggets. Don’t over-explain. Trust your reader to get it!
4) Punch Up Your Dialogue
Conversations between characters should feel natural. Avoid overly formal speech and exposition-heavy lines. Read dialogue aloud and use subtext for depth. Don’t forget that sometimes, it’s what’s NOT said that’s more powerful.
5) Remove Passive Voice
Active voice makes writing more engaging. Whether you’re writing a novel or prose documents for your script like one-pagers or treatments, try and be as active as possible.
Not sure what passive voice is? Here’s an example:
- Passive voice: ‘The book was written by Lucy V.’
- Active Voice: ‘Lucy V wrote the book’.
Use the search function to find “was,” “were,” or “by” – this will help you find the passive voice.
(Need more help with this? CLICK HERE for a full explanation, plus a fun trick to avoid the passive voice).
6) Trim Unnecessary Words & Scenes
Cut filler words like “very” and “just.” Also, look out for what B2W calls ‘crutch words’ – those words you end up writing because you *say* them all the time. (You can grab a crutch words checklist from the B2W Resources page in the PDF gallery).
The same goes for chapters and scenes. If removing a scene doesn’t change the story, it likely isn’t needed. Be ruthless!
7) Balance Description and Action
Great writing requires balance. Avoid excessive description or non-stop action.
If you’re a novelist, you can use the five senses (sparingly) to enhance the scene without slowing the pace.
If you are a screenwriter, focus on TWO – sight and sound – to tell the story. What do we see and hear?
But whether you’re an author or scriptwriter, focus on character behaviour, NOT what they say.
8) Check for Consistency
Keep track of character traits, timelines, and world-building or storyworld details so you don’t get lost. It can be a good idea to create a story ‘bible’ or ‘mother document’ to avoid inconsistencies. I do this all the time with my drafts.
9) Fix Pacing Issues
Novelists: Speed up slow sections by tightening and raising stakes. Slow down rushed moments with emotional beats. Use cliffhangers at the end of chapters to maintain reader engagement.
Screenwriters: Think about how your screenplay STARTS. Your page 1 and inciting incident needs to do some VERY heavy lifting. Similarly, your script needs to ESCALATE. You don’t want a B.O.S.H script.
10) Revise Sentence by Sentence
Vary sentence length, replace weak verbs with stronger ones. Eliminate unnecessary complexity for smoother readability.
BONUS TECHNIQUES!
Heres’ a few more practical editing tips for you …
- Read Aloud Editing: Hearing your words helps identify awkward phrasing and redundancy.
- Cut Redundancies: Eliminate over-explanations and waffle.
- Change Formats: Switching font or printing out your draft tricks your brain into spotting errors.
- One At A Time: Break editing into stages (structure, dialogue, pacing, grammar) to stay focused.
- Reverse Editing: Work backward through the manuscript to catch overlooked issues.
As all the greats say, ‘Writing is REwriting’! Editing is where the good stuff truly happens … so go on, self-edit your screenplay or novel. Good luck!
