5 Things to Look for During Your Final Edit
When it comes to editing, especially that final pass before you hit "send" or "publish," it can feel like you're squinting at your manuscript through a thousand different lenses. But editing isn't about perfection — it's about clarity, consistency, and strengthening your story.
But here’s your gentle reminder: writing advice is not a set of instructions you have to follow. 💖 I’m a big believer in taking what works for you and ignoring the rest.
That said, if you're in the thick of edits, here are five things I personally look for in that final polish before sending the book off to my editor.
(Just please don’t let these stop you from writing in the first place. Get the words down. It’s always easier to cut or revise than it is to fix what isn’t on the page yet.)
1. ✂️ Excessive Repetition
There’s two parts to this. First, you’re looking for repeating the same information for the reader over and over again. (This is a pet peeve of mine and the number one reason I DNF a book.) But, honestly, no matter how compelling the emotional epiphany, if your character has the same one three times in a book? That’s not going to endear the story to readers.
Second, you’re looking for the repeated actions and phrases we love to sprinkle through our manuscripts like glitter. During edits, keep an eye out for things like your heroine sighing on every other page—oops, or everyone shrugging, or your characters stomping everywhere. You get the idea.
2. 💤 Slipping into Passive Voice
Sometimes we do this without even realizing. Instead of saying “The heroine opened the door,” we write, “The door was opened by the heroine.” The second version feels clunkier and creates distance with the reader. Passive voice can muddy your prose and dilute your character’s agency.
That said, it does have its place—just make sure you're using it intentionally.
3. 🔁 Overused Words
Every author has a handful of comfort words that sneak into every manuscript. Mine? “Just,” “really,” and “looked.” 🙈 Make a list of your usual suspects and do a final sweep before you call your manuscript done. This is where the “Find” function comes in handy. I have a list of words I run searches on and merely keeping it helps me to be less likely to use the same word over and over. Cutting or replacing even half of them can make your writing feel cleaner and more dynamic.
4. 🧩 Episodic vs. Characterization and Plot-Driven Structure
This one’s a little trickier — but so important. If your story feels more like a string of loosely connected events rather than one cohesive narrative arc, ask yourself: is each scene actively driving the story forward? Or is it more of a “slice of life” moment that could be tightened, trimmed, or combined with something else? (And again, no shame. I write some episodes before I figure out how they’re part of the plot and character development too!)
5. 👥 Too Many Characters
In the first draft, let the characters pour in. You can always sort them out later.
But in edits? It’s time to ask if every named character really needs to be there. Could a minor role be absorbed by someone already in the story? Are you introducing too many people too quickly?
Streamlining your cast can create more space for the characters who do matter and keep your reader from needing a spreadsheet to follow along. 😉
Final editing can feel overwhelming but it’s also where the magic of clarity happens. Your story is already alive. Editing just helps it shine.
Until next time!
Lucy
With more than 12.5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Lucy’s an award winning and USA Today bestselling author with 95+ published books. Her stories have been translated for sale all over the world and after a long career in traditional publishing, she’s gone indie. She loves the freedom to write the stories both her and her loyal readers enjoy the most. Her steamy mafia romance series, Syndicate Rules features the morally gray alpha heroes and spice she love to write. She also writes contemporary, historical and paranormal romance. Some of her books have action adventure and intrigue. All of them are steamy and deeply emotional. She’s a voracious reader and loves to talk about both her books and those she’s read (or should read…good recs are always welcome). Welcome to her world where love conquers all, but not easily!
For info on all of Lucy’s books, visit her website.
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