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Congratulations, you finished your first draft! Now what?

You’ve FINALLY typed ‘the end’, and that’s a massive accomplishment. So first, take a moment to celebrate. Pop some bubbly, dance with your cat, or stare lovingly at your manuscript like it’s your new book boyfriend. But before you send it off to an editor (or publish it raw — yikes!), it’s time to self-edit.

Editing isn’t about fixing typos. It’s about tightening your story, strengthening your characters, and making sure your romance sizzles instead of fizzles. A polished draft means your editor can focus on deeper improvements instead of drowning in surface-level fixes.

So, where do you start?

Let’s work through five essential steps to self-edit your romance novel like a pro…

1. Step away from the manuscript

Before diving into revisions, it’s time to get some fresh eyes. Right now, you’re too close to the story; you know it so well that your brain fills in the gaps automatically.

What to do

• Put your manuscript away for AT LEAST two weeks.
• Work on another project, binge a Netflix series, go on holiday…the world is your oyster.
• When you pick it back up, you’ll be able to see your mistakes MUCH more clearly.

2. Slash the filler words

Romance is all about emotion, chemistry, and tension — and nothing kills that faster than unnecessary words clogging up your prose.

Common offenders

• Just, very, really, suddenly, totally, completely, actually, that.
• “She nodded her head.” She can’t nod anything else, so just say “She nodded.”
• “He stood up.” He can’t stand down. Just say “He stood.”

What to do

• Use the ‘Find & Replace’ tool to search for these words and cut them where possible.
• Read your sentences aloud. If it sounds clunky, it probably is.

3. Strengthen your dialogue

Dialogue should sound natural, not forced. Overexplaining, excessive dialogue tags, and unrealistic exchanges can drag down even the best love story.

Fix these common mistakes

• Overuse of dialogue tags. “I love you,” she whispered softly. (If she’s whispering, we already know it’s soft)
• Stiff, unnatural dialogue. “I am incredibly attracted to you, and I wish to kiss you now.” No one talks like this — unless they’re a robot. Or Mr Darcy.
• Too much exposition. “As you know, we have been best friends since childhood, and our families have always been close.” Trust your reader; they don’t need everything spelled out for them.

What to do

• Use action beats instead of excessive dialogue tags. He ran a finger over her cheek. “I love you.”
• Read dialogue aloud. If it sounds weird, fix it!
• Cut the fluff and let the subtext do the work.

4. Save your steamy scenes from cringe

Let’s be real: writing intimate scenes is an artform. You want HEAT, not secondhand embarrassment.

Avoid these crimes

• Overuse of questionable words. Moist, nub, manhood, channel… 
• Body part teleportation. If his hand was just on her cheek, it can’t magically also be unzipping her dress.
• Purple prose overload. “Her heaving bosom quivered under the moonlight as his molten  gaze scorched her very soul.” (Just…no.)

What do do

• Read the scenes out loud. If you cringe, time to rewrite it.
• Keep it authentic to your characters. Not every steamy scene needs to be explicit, but it should always feel real to them.
• Ask yourself: “Would this scene turn me on if I were a reader?” (Be honest).

5. Fix pacing and tension

A well-paced romance keeps readers turning the pages. If your story drags, they might abandon ship before the HEA — so make every scene matter.

Signs of pacing issues

• Too much backstory in the first few chapters.
• Scenes that don’t move the plot forward.
• Rushed endings — please don’t make the grand declaration of love feel like an afterthought…

What to do

• Read chapter endings. Do they leave the reader wanting more?
• Highlight slow sections and trim or condense where needed
• Cull infodump. Find a way to work this information into the flow of the story rather than ‘dumping’ it into a long paragraph of exposition.

Ready for the next level? Let’s talk professional editing!

Self-editing is a CRUCIAL first step, but even the best authors need a fresh set of eyes. When you’re ready, I’m here to help polish your manuscript and get it publication ready.

Check out my services and let’s make your romance novel shine!

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