Many writers think they just hand their rough draft to an editor and they'll fix all the book's problems.

That rarely happens, if ever.

Actually, we writers need to learn how to edit our own work, so that when we do hand it off to an editor we've cleaned it up and done as much thinking about our story as we can.

Then you're spending smart dollars and time on your book to get it to that awesome finished line - a published book you're proud to call your own.

There's lots of ways to learn self-editing including this fun challenge my colleague Tara R. Alemany is running, starting tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 23rd.

The Art of Self-Editing Challenge

by Tara R. Alemany

A live, practical 5-day challenge for authors who want to strengthen their writing by learning how to spot and fix common issues in their own manuscripts before sending them to an editor, agent or publisher.

Live Zoom challenge!

Dates: February 23–27, 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. ET each day, with unlimited replay access

Cost: $47

In this challenge:

• Identify common writing problems that weaken clarity and impact

• Apply professional self-editing techniques you can use in every future project

• Submit a cleaner, more confident manuscript for professional editing or review

For writers who are serious about improving their craft without feeling overwhelmed.

Sign up here: https://bethbarany.com/artofselfediting

❤️