Turning Chaos Into Clarity
Editing Tips & Tools to Sharpen Your Prose
There’s something about staring at a messy draft that feels overwhelming. You know the story’s there, somewhere beneath the clunky sentences, wobbly pacing, and characters who just won’t behave. But when it’s all jumbled up like that, where do you even start? Editing can feel like wading through a storm of chaos, trying to find clarity. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be so daunting.
With the right mix of practical tips and a little help from AI tools, you can sharpen your prose and turn that chaos into something clean, clear, and downright readable. Let’s dive into how.
Draft First, Edit Later: Embrace the Mess
Editing while drafting is a trap. I’ve been there—stopping mid-sentence to tweak a paragraph, then losing my flow entirely. Don’t do it! The first draft is supposed to be messy. It’s all raw material, waiting to be shaped.
Pro Tip:
When you hit a wall mid-draft, alll-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT or something more specifically built for writers like Novelcrafter can help brainstorm ideas. Whether you need a plot twist or some fresh dialogue, AI can provide the nudge to keep you moving. But save the polishing for later, when the full draft’s done.
Zoom Out: Big Picture First
Once your draft’s done, it’s time to zoom out. Before you dive into the details, step back and ask: Does the story flow? Are your characters growing? Is the pacing dragging in places?
AI tools like AutoCrit and Grammarly can help here. AutoCrit once flagged a chapter in the middle of my story that was grinding the whole thing to a halt. By tightening up the dialogue and ramping up the action, the pacing became a lot smoother.
AI Prompt Example:
If you’re not sure where things slow down, try asking ChatGPT or your preferred LLM. It’s a great way to get a fresh perspective, but remember, you decide how to adapt the suggestions to your story.
Prompt Example: “Identify where the pacing dips and suggest ways to raise the stakes or add tension.”
Cut the Clutter: Filler Words Beware
Now comes the detail work. Filler words—those sneaky “just,” “really,” and “very”—slip into sentences without adding much value. Trimming them makes your prose sharper. Instead of, “She was really very tired,” go with, “She was exhausted.”
But here’s the thing: filler words aren’t always the enemy. In dialogue, for example, they can show hesitation or uncertainty, adding layers to your character’s voice.
AI to the Rescue:
Tools like AutoCrit or ProWritingAid will flag overused filler words, but remember, some of them have a purpose. In a recent chapter, Grammarly flagged 25 uses of “just,” but I kept a few because they fit the character’s voice.
Example:
With fillers: “I just thought maybe we could talk, if you’re really not too busy?”
Without fillers: “We should talk, if you’re not busy.”
The first version shows hesitation; the second is more direct. Both have their place—it’s up to you to decide which fits the moment.
Read It Out Loud: Let AI Be Your Narrator
One of the best ways to catch awkward phrasing or clunky dialogue is by reading your work out loud. But let’s be honest—it’s a slog to read an entire manuscript to yourself. This is where AI can give you a hand. Tools like Natural Reader or Google Docs’ text-to-speech feature will read your writing back to you, giving you the chance to hear the rhythm (or lack thereof) in your sentences.
I recently used Natural Reader for a dialogue-heavy scene. Hearing the words aloud made it clear that the characters were speaking too formally. The dialogue felt stilted, which I didn’t notice when reading silently. After hearing it aloud, I rewrote the scene with shorter sentences and more contractions, and the conversation felt much more natural.
As you listen, take note of where the dialogue feels stiff or where the pacing drags. If you find yourself stumbling over certain lines, that’s usually a sign they need revision. Use the audio as a guide to smooth out the bumps.
Trusting AI, Trusting Yourself: When to Follow Your Gut
AI tools are brilliant for catching technical issues and offering suggestions, but what happens when AI gives advice that doesn’t feel quite right? Here’s where it’s important to trust your creative instincts.
If AI suggests cutting a scene, adjusting dialogue, or changing pacing, always ask: Does this serve the story I’m trying to tell? For example, if AI flags a section as slow, but that scene is meant to build quiet tension, you may choose to keep it as is. AI can guide, but only you know the emotional arc and tone you’re aiming for.
You don’t have to follow every suggestion. Use AI as a tool to spark ideas or catch mistakes, but rely on your gut to maintain the heart of your story.
Fresh Eyes: AI & Human Feedback Together
After a few rounds of self-editing, it’s easy to lose perspective on your own work. That’s when fresh eyes are essential. AI tools like Grammarly, AutoCrit, or Hemingway Editor can catch grammar mistakes, sentence issues, and inconsistencies you’ve missed. But AI has its limits—it won’t catch emotional gaps or underdeveloped themes. That’s where beta readers come in.
A beta reader won’t just tell you where the grammar slipped; they’ll let you know when a subplot doesn’t land or when a character’s motivation feels weak. For instance, I once had a subplot that felt off, but I couldn’t figure out why. AI couldn’t help. It took a beta reader to point out that the subplot didn’t tie into the main character’s arc, and that insight was crucial.
Beta readers can also catch subtleties in emotional tone that AI misses. In one of my drafts, a beta reader noticed that a key scene lacked the emotional punch it needed. AI flagged some grammatical issues, but the beta reader pointed out that the characters weren’t reacting in a way that felt true to their emotional journey. Their feedback helped me rewrite the scene to deepen the emotional stakes, something AI wasn’t equipped to catch.
Before handing your draft to a beta reader, you can use AI to tighten it up:
Prompt Example: “Highlight any areas where character motivations feel unclear or emotional depth is lacking. Suggest ways to strengthen them.”
Note: AI will help with structure and clarity, but human readers will catch the heart of your story.
Final Word: Trust Your Instincts, Use the Tools
Editing is where your story truly takes shape. AI can help clean up the mess, but it’s your creative instincts that turn chaos into clarity. Every pass you make—whether cutting filler words, refining dialogue, or tightening pacing—brings you one step closer to polished prose.
Takeaway:
Let AI enhance your editing process, but never let it replace your gut instincts. Together, they’ll help you sharpen every sentence, turning that chaotic draft into a story you’re proud to share.
What are your favorite self-editing tips? Have you tried using AI in your editing process? Let’s chat about how we balance the tools with our instincts—share your thoughts in the comments!