How to fix your story: editing your manuscript will sell more books

Let me start out by saying something controversial: paying a lot of money to an editor before you publish is not always a great idea.

And this is why.

If you want to have a bestselling book, you need a book that satisfies readers. I’m not talking about “art” or “literature”. I don’t want to argue about “quality.”

But the truth is, the style of the writing doesn’t matter all that much. As long as it’s not full of spelling, grammar and punctuation errors that make it hard to understand, readers of most genres are looking for a good story. Non-fiction readers are looking to learn something.

Everybody is looking for content.

You can pay an editor to take your amateur writing and polish it up and make it amazing. They can do an incredible job. But it won’t boost sales.

Because they didn’t fix the story.

The story isn’t something editors can fix. They can help you tell your story better, but if they say “hey, this story isn’t going to sell, you need a new one,” you’ll probably tell them to fuck off.

Right?

Writing bestsellers and making money publishing isn’t rocket science: unless you’re trying to write poetry or memoir or literary fiction. If you’re writing for YOURSELF and not thinking about readers, if your aim is to finish the book you want to write instead of the one readers want to read, then you’re not in business.

You have a writing hobby. That’s fine. Writing is fun and challenging.

If you decide to use your skills to write books readers enjoy, then you’re in business. And personally, that’s the only time I would call you a serious, professional author. Not a hack. Not a sell-out. Someone who can create content that matters to be.

I don’t think writing a beautiful book that is obviously GREAT but doesn’t sell and actually loses the publisher money shouldn’t be the lofty goal of would-be writers (though it often is.)

Writing coach Larry Brooks recently wrote Story Fix – a book I adore because if it’s practical message to writers.

When a story succeeds, it is almost always indebted to some form and interpretation of knowledge – the conscious awareness of the elements that makes a story work. When a story doesn’t succeed, it is often because the writer is ignore of those elements. Or worse, defiant.

Write from the heart if you wish. But that will get you nowhere, and slowly, if your heart doesn’t know what it’s doing.

…

This partial picture of process suggests that you should ( as opposed to might) just write, just trust your gut, and let the story tell you what it needs. For the folks in the workshop audience, many of whom are sucking up this guidance as Holy Writ, this is is also among the worst writing advice ever given.

In Larry’s dealing with clients (and mine as well) the vast majority of writers simply didn’t chose a strong enough story to tell. Which means there is no way to make their book more successful through editing.

Unless you first start with a book like Story Fix or Story Grid, and fix your story. Do that before you spend money on editing. It’s brutally hard though. You’ll probably need to start over from scratch.

Editing isn’t your problem.  Writing better isn’t your problem. If you aren’t selling books and you want to be, you need to tell better stories. Define better? Stories that readers enjoy. Stories that work, because they follow story architecture that readers expect.

I made a free video course on self-editing to help you get started revising your own work. If you need more help than that, and just want a proofreader, editor or manuscript review, check out Book Butchers Editing.

Book editing (updates)

This was a very lazy post, I shared many years ago.

Since then, I’m written several guides to writing books.

Here’s a big list of my favorite craft books: 25 best books on writing.

One of those is “bookcraft” – my very long and detailed, but kind of pretentious, book on story structure, with everything I’ve learned from a PhD in literature and a decade as a developmental editor.

But my much shorter guide (recently updated!) PlotDot is good too – and it’s free.

I’ve spent the last several years writing novels, and I enjoy it, even though making it pay is tricky. I recently am finishing the project that started this whole website, the 21 day author platform, which I mapped out ages ago; I’m going to do one last group session and then disappear for awhile to talk about craft again.

My previous books have been all about writing, but I think I can do better. So my next book will be all about writing mistakes and self-editing. Because it’s very hard and very important.

However… while I feel extreme pressure to finish all of this stuff quickly, that’s also because all this knowledge and skill and craft may be soon devalued, which is both a good and bad thing.

Good because, AI writing tools are so good now, you’ll probably be able to write a book with AI or at least get nearly free editing and proofreading. For many authors, that’s a blessing. It makes writing and publishing more accessible than it’s ever been.

And let’s face it, even literary purists are often writing bad books (not on purpose of course, but writing is a learnable skill and intention doesn’t beat experience).

Self-Editing Your Book (take 2)

Every author dreams of seeing their book on bestseller lists—yet too many rush to publish a first draft, hoping the raw passion will hook readers. In reality, readers are quick to abandon a story if it’s unclear, repetitive, or riddled with mistakes. The truth is, editing your manuscript—revising structure, refining prose, and smoothing out logic gaps—can be the single biggest factor in whether your book sells. If you want to captivate readers and boost word-of-mouth, a deep editing process is non-negotiable.

1. Revisit Your Story Structure

Even gorgeous writing won’t save a manuscript with poor pacing or a muddled arc. Before you tackle sentence-level edits, analyze your story from a bird’s-eye view:

1. Identify your main conflict. Does it emerge quickly? Is it strong enough to carry the book?
2. Pin down major turning points. Each act should escalate tension and push your protagonist toward a climax.
3. Streamline subplots. If side plots derail the story or introduce new conflicts without resolution, cut or rewrite them.

A well-structured manuscript hooks readers early, keeps them invested, and delivers a powerful climax. Ensuring these big-picture elements are rock-solid can transform a decent draft into a page-turner.

2. Strengthen Your Characters

Readers connect with characters—if they feel authentic, flawed, and driven by recognizable motivations. But many first drafts feature protagonists who lack clear goals or antagonists who feel cartoonish.

• Clarify motivations: What does each major character want? What’s their greatest fear?
• Show growth: Do your characters evolve through the story’s challenges?
• Eliminate “talking heads”: Dialogue should reveal personality and conflict, not just fill space.

When characters resonate, readers care about the outcome—spurring them to keep reading and ultimately recommend your book.

3. Tighten Your Prose

After you’re confident in structure and character arcs, dive into line edits. Tightening prose doesn’t mean stripping away style; it means cutting fluff and ensuring every sentence supports the story. Look for:

1. Redundancies: If you’ve explained something once, don’t repeat it.
2. Weak words: Replace vague verbs like “went” or “got” with more precise, vivid language.
3. Show, don’t tell: Instead of “She was scared,” use sensory details that reveal her trembling hands or pounding heart.

This polish makes reading effortless. No one wants to slog through long-winded paragraphs; concise writing keeps the pace brisk and engaging.

4. Solve Logic and Continuity Issues

Nothing pulls readers out of a story faster than an obvious plot hole or inconsistency:

• Track timelines: If Chapter 5 says two days pass, ensure Chapter 6 references the correct time.
• Maintain consistency: If your character is allergic to peanuts, make sure they don’t casually eat a PB&J later.
• Keep world rules intact: In fantasy or sci-fi, revisit your magic or tech systems for contradictions.

A thorough read-through or “continuity pass” helps your world feel real and trustworthy.

5. Use Beta Readers and Editors

While self-editing is vital, fresh eyes catch errors and blind spots you’ll inevitably miss:

• Beta readers can flag where they got bored or confused. If multiple readers stumble in Chapter 3, it’s a red flag that needs fixing.
• Professional editors offer objective critiques on plot structure or style. They might suggest deeper changes that significantly strengthen your book.

The cost of editing pays off in better reviews, more satisfied readers, and long-term sales.

6. Why Polished Manuscripts Sell More

A well-edited book delivers consistent tension, clear stakes, and compelling characters, leaving readers satisfied and eager to recommend it. Positive reviews grow organically, fueling Amazon algorithms and word-of-mouth marketing—two key drivers of book sales. When your story reads smoothly, readers keep turning pages, post enthusiastic reviews, and return for your next release.

In short, good editing is good marketing.

Final Takeaway

Editing isn’t just a final polish—it’s the stage where you shape your story’s impact. Strengthen the story arc, refine characters, tighten the prose, and verify every plot point. Whether you hire a professional editor or rely on trustworthy beta readers, the time you invest in revising will reward you with more satisfied readers, better reviews, and ultimately more book sales. Don’t shortcut this step. A polished manuscript is the foundation of any successful writing career.

PS read this next: from Draft to Bestseller: editing for book sales.