How to Polish Your Manuscript 

When you hear the word polish, you might envision someone smoothing and shining the surface of something so that it sparkles. 

Can you envision your children’s book the same way? (Metaphorically, of course.)

I’ve seen it time and time again—many authors finish their first manuscript and think “Great! It’s ready to go to copy editing.” (Let’s pump the brakes for a moment.) Creativity is not meant to be rushed. Every great book has had to go through polishing—and believe me, that’s a good thing. 

Do you think the most famous authors wrote their books and they were in the bookstore the next day? Although that would be an incredible superpower, it just doesn’t work that way. All authors need to refine and revise their manuscript until it shines. It’s all part of the process. 

Polishing your manuscript is critical in your publishing journey. This blog will explore the key areas in your manuscript that need refining, the five practical editing strategies to know, and how to know when your manuscript is officially ready for the next step. 

The Key Areas that Need Refining In a Children’s Book

Of course you’ll need to look for typos and grammatical errors when looking over your manuscript, but polishing your children’s book requires a little more than that. Here are the three key areas that must be refined to get that book sparkling: 

Tension 

Tension is that sense of build-up leading to an important moment. If your story doesn’t incorporate tension throughout (and I can’t stress the throughout part enough), you WILL lose readers. Think about it this way—would you watch a movie where nothing was on the line? Probably not. It’s the same with picture books. Children won’t be interested in a story that feels flat. To get your reader really invested in your story, include one (or all) of the four types of tension: inner tension, interpersonal tension, institutional tension, and environmental tension. 

Polishing your manuscript for tension: As you read through your manuscript, observe the tension throughout. Is there more toward the end of the book, or is it all in the beginning? Find ways to balance it so that your reader stays engaged from beginning to end. 

Logical Sequencing of Events

Every moment in your story should feed into the next. However, this doesn’t mean the reader needs to see every single second of the character’s life. You can manipulate time in picture books. For instance, if Johnny is at home on the first page of your book and at school on the next page, children will pick up that he traveled there without the play-by-play. That said, your events and their outcomes should follow a straightforward sequence. For example: 

Jenny is outside for recess playing soccer. → She soon sees her shoe is untied. → Jenny leaves the soccer field to tie her shoe. → While tying her shoe, Jenny notices a child from her class crying. → Jenny approaches the child to learn that no one ever asks her to play. → Jenny invites her to play soccer. 

Picture books can only have so many words. There should never be a moment when a character does something just because. Every event must lead into the next—progressing the story to its resolution. 

Polishing your manuscript for logical sequencing: Do all of your events naturally lead into the next, or are there unnecessary details that could be cut? Is there a transition that feels missing or unclear? Are there any moments where a character’s actions are not progressing the story forward? Fine-tune these elements to help your story flow seamlessly.  

The Main Character’s Growth 

Many authors want to teach readers how to be exemplary and therefore hesitate to showcase any faults in their characters. However, doing the opposite of this actually promotes growth. When a reader sees a flawed character overcome a challenge, they often feel empowered to do the same. 

Polishing your manuscript for character growth: If you notice that your characters are perfect from page one, you’re doing your readers a disservice. They should grow and develop throughout the course of your story. Remember, flawed characters are relatable characters! 

Practical Editing Strategies Every Author Needs to Know

Before handing your manuscript off to an editor, there are some practical strategies that you should have in your back pocket so that you’ve already covered the basics before sending it off to a professional editor. 

Pro tip: Time is money! When you hire an editor, you’re hiring them for their expertise and their time. The more work they have to do, the more it’ll cost you. Go through these editing strategies before handing it off—your wallet will thank you! 

• Use a Checklist: Trying to do it all at once can be extremely overwhelming. Having a checklist (like our FREE Editing Checklist) can help you work through one item at a time. This really allows you to compartmentalize as you edit. 

• Gather Inspiration for Restructuring Help: If you’re not sure how to restructure something, read similar books to yours. See how they went about structuring their story for inspiration. 
• Use Beta Readers for Feedback: Who better to read your book than your own audience?  Children are great at providing feedback—if you get the thumbs up from them, you’re on the right track! 
• Read It Out Loud: Yes, this editing practice is simple, but it is extremely effective. Reading your manuscript out loud will help you catch issues with typos, repetition, awkward phrasing, pacing, and overall flow. 
• Take Editing Breaks: I don’t recommend editing your entire manuscript in one sitting. Give yourself time between edits. Fresh eyes will always catch more when you come back to it. 

How Do I Know When My Manuscript is “Polished” Enough to Move on to the Next Step in the Publishing Journey? 

While there won’t be any flashing arrows or a voice that tells you ‘It’s time!’, there are a few signs that can help you feel confident that your manuscript is ready for the next stage: 

• You’ve reworked it multiple times: If you’ve worked on your manuscript three to five times (you’ve written it, gone through the editing checklist, and asked important questions) then it’s time to let it go to an editor. 
• You’ve taken a step back: If you’ve taken breaks, come back to it with fresh eyes, and still feel like you’ve done all that you can, take this as your sign that you need an outside perspective. 
• You’re open to feedback: If you’re in a place where you’re willing to listen, learn, and tweak your manuscript with professional help, then you’re ready to take the next step.

Anything that’s creative is going to need revisions. That is not a bad thing. Refining, revising, and polishing your children’s book—by you and a professional editor—is going to be what makes your book shine. Believe that the editing process is what will help your book become its best version.