{"id":12383,"date":"2018-01-16T20:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T14:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=12383"},"modified":"2024-01-19T15:53:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T09:53:36","slug":"reject-your-own-manuscript-why-self-editing-is-critical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/reject-your-own-manuscript-why-self-editing-is-critical\/","title":{"rendered":"Reject Your Own Manuscript! Why Self-Editing is Critical"},"content":{"rendered":"

Professor Wahoo of Big Science University was confident as he dropped his manuscript into the post. Writing the paper was the final act of a lengthy and difficult research project. He knew that it was an excellent study<\/a>\u00a0and one that would change the nature of his field. Although he had only written a single draft, he was not worried. Why should he worry? The peer reviewers<\/a> would obviously see the importance of the work and accept it for publication. Unfortunately, what\u00a0seemed obvious to the author was a complete mystery to the reviewers. Weeks later, Dr. Wahoo sat heavily in his chair with the rejected manuscript in his lap. He could not believe that his paper was rejected. So how\u00a0did this happen?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Wahoo\u2019s paper was rejected because he wrote only a single draft. While the science was impeccable, the writing was flawed. The reviewers could not understand\u00a0the study, therefore, it was impossible to grasp its significance. Dr. Wahoo should have self-edited his manuscript.<\/p>\n

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What Does it Mean to Self-Edit a Paper?<\/h2>\n

Self-editing a manuscript is exactly what it sounds like. After writing an initial (first) draft, the author then corrects his\/her own writing. Multiple drafts are produced until the manuscript is in the best shape possible. The paper must easily convey the author\u2019s intentions to any reader. Submitting a self-edited and highly refined paper does three things:<\/p>\n

1) It makes the reviewers\/editors job easier<\/p>\n

2) It allows the reviewers\/editors to better assess the paper\u2019s validity<\/p>\n

3) It increases the chance of the paper\u00a0getting accepted for publication<\/p>\n

How to Self-Edit Your Paper<\/h2>\n

Once you have completed a manuscript, you must not hurry to submit it. Yes, it was hard writing it. However, you need to continue working on it. After all, your goal is to get\u00a0the manuscript published? Any efforts lesser than this will only increase the probability of rejection. By following the below steps, you can improve your own manuscript<\/a> and have it in the best possible shape for submission.<\/p>\n

Print your Paper<\/h3>\n

Always print a hard copy of your manuscript. You need to see if what you have written is different\u00a0from what you typed on the computer. This will refresh your eyes and help you become \u201cdetached\u201d from your own work. Quickly read through the paper once. Then take your red pen and start marking it.<\/p>\n

Take a Break<\/h3>\n

After you have completed the first draft, take a break of at least a few hours. A day or more is best. When you return to the paper, you will see it with a fresh\u00a0opinion\u00a0and be less likely to gloss over the text. It will be easier to spot mistakes and sentences with troubles. Don\u2019t attempt to completely revise the paper in one sitting. Take frequent breaks. Keep refreshing yourself throughout the self-editing process<\/a>. Give yourself several days or a week to complete the process of self-editing.<\/p>\n

Read your Paper Out Loud<\/h3>\n

When you read your paper out loud it should sound smooth. If something does not make sense or you stumble over it, mark the section and move on. When finished with reading the paper, edit the marked errors and re-read.<\/p>\n

Imagine You are the Reviewer<\/h3>\n

To effectively self-edit, you need to disengage yourself as the author. You need to assume the role of a person who has never read your paper before. Pretend you\u2019re the reviewer and you\u2019re not having a good day. This will put you in a critical state of mind to find every flaw possible needed to reject the work.<\/p>\n

Be Brutal, Be Ruthless<\/h3>\n

The best editors are those that brutalize papers without mercy. Cast your ego aside and become your paper\u2019s worst enemy. Use your red pen as a weapon and try some of the following:<\/p>\n