Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 5
Editorial Excellence and Practical Tips for Self-Editing Newsletters for Cost Effectiveness and Reader Satisfaction
Non-members can read this chapter for free via my website. I also published it for Medium’s beta readers to obtain feedback. Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing. If you want educational content from me, please subscribe; if not, please unsubscribe. I only provide valuable content to interested readers.
Dear beta readers, thank you for your valuable feedback, which will refine this book and help me create a valuable information source for fellow writers. Now that you have learned the basics of setting up your account and newsletter have explored the power of sharing and connecting through Substack Notes, and learned the importance of planning and strategy, let’s dive into the next chapter. This chapter is about editorial excellence, which is a topic that is close to my heart.
As I mentioned in the purpose of this new book, I am not here to tell you what to do and how you do it. Instead, I will share what has worked for me and what some successful people have done. My hope is that you can draw inspiration from these examples to craft a strategy that aligns with your own goals, needs, and aspirations.
What follows is a summary of how I approach growing my audience, meeting their needs, and maintaining a sustainable writing business. We are all unique, and what works for me may not work for everyone. However, certain principles and values can be adapted thoughtfully to fit many different situations.
Links to Previous Chapters of Substack Mastery Book
Preface of “Substack Mastery” for Beta Readers
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 1
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 2
Please remember to leave feedback if possible, as the purpose of sharing this book on this platform is to refine the final version of the book to make it a valuable knowledge source.
As I shared in a previous post, this book has already hit the top 100 bestseller list in multiple categories in various Amazon marketplaces. Thank you, my loyal readers, for making this book a success and a valuable knowledge source for the community.
How My Unpublished Book Hit the Best Seller Rank in Global Marketing Topic in 5 Days: The power of networking, generosity, abundance mentality, and a mailing list to reach a broad audience and build a…
Welcome to Chapter 5, which is a critical point and reflects my four decades of experience. This is a special chapter that I wrote with more passion. The practical tips for editorial excellence and self-editing tips are not exclusive to Subtack. They apply to all writing platforms, book authoring, and blogging.
Chapter 5: Editorial Excellence and Practical Tips for Self-Editing Newsletters for Cost Effectiveness and Reader Satisfaction
I have been editing content for over forty years in various roles. Editing is a crucial skill for anyone in content development and marketing, and it is essential for any profession or company that needs to communicate effectively with clients.
As a book author and academic writer, I have had the privilege of working with professional editors. When I started self-publishing, I continued to use professional editors, but the cost was steep — I had to sell at least 500 copies just to cover editorial expenses. Not everyone can afford this, but it often feels necessary.
Editing is equally important for Substack newsletters. While I can’t afford a professional editor for my newsletters, some of my mentors, who earn around $10K, do hire editors who also curate their content. I have also been hired as an editor and curator for clients’ newsletters, turning it into a lucrative side hustle.
Many of us experience irony when editing or proofreading. For example, when I review my own work, I often miss obvious errors, but when I edit others’ content, my brain picks up even the smallest mistakes and tone or style issues.
To address this, I created a checklist that I deliberately use for each important piece. Even though I know it by heart, I still run through it quickly before hitting publish. I will share a summary of this checklist at the end of this chapter. You can customize it to suit your needs, as it is designed to be broadly applicable.
Let me give you a brief background of my self-editing approach to Substack.
When I first started self-editing my own work on Substack, I quickly realized that writing and editing are two distinct skills. Writing allows ideas to flow freely, but editing is where the real work begins.
Self-reading is about shaping those raw ideas into something coherent, engaging, and polished. Balancing creativity with structure, as both the writer and the editor, was a challenge — but also a rewarding experience.
Editing is different than proofreading. So, it is not just about correcting grammar or fixing typos. It is about making sure that every word serves a purpose, cutting out the fluff, and getting to the heart of what you want to say and what your readers want to read.
I highlighted the importance of clarity, brevity, and impact in a recent story as an attribute to Tim Denning’s recent story on ILLUMINATION, revealing the secrets of the top 1% of successful writers.
Self-editing meant learning to be ruthless with my own work, trimming unnecessary details, and tightening up sentences until they were as clear and concise as possible.
But editing also required me to step back and see the bigger picture. I kept asking three powerful questions:
Is the overall structure of my piece working?
Do the ideas flow logically from one point to the next?
Is the pacing right?
I had to ask myself these questions as I worked through each draft, making sure that the story I was telling was compelling and easy to follow.
One of my most important lessons was that editing is a process. It takes time, and it requires multiple rounds of revisions. I would write a draft, let it sit for a while, and then return to it with fresh eyes.
This pragmatic gave me the perspective I needed to spot inconsistencies, weak arguments, or areas that needed more development. It wasn’t always easy, but the result was always worth the effort.
Through trial and error, I developed techniques that helped me refine my content and bring it to its full potential. These techniques became the foundation of my editorial process, guiding me through each piece I wrote.
Practical Self-Editing Techniques
One technique that proved invaluable was reading my work out loud. This simple step helped me catch awkward phrasing, repetitive words, and sentences that didn’t flow as smoothly as I thought they did.
Hearing the words spoken aloud made it easier to identify areas that needed improvement, allowing me to fine-tune the rhythm and cadence of my writing.
Another technique was to focus on the reader’s experience. As I edited, I constantly asked myself:
How will this come across to someone who isn’t familiar with the topic?
Is the information clear and accessible?
Am I engaging the reader from start to finish?
By putting myself in the reader’s shoes, I was able to make my content more relatable and impactful.
For years, I have used a unique and challenging technique called backward sentence reading to overcome cognitive distortions — a technique I developed while studying cognitive science, particularly the concept of cognitive dissonance, a common error in our complex minds.
Another important approach for me was the value of taking breaks during the editing process. After spending hours on a piece, it is easy to become blind to its flaws. Stepping away for a while—a few hours or days—gave me the distance I needed to see my work with fresh eyes. When I returned, I could approach the editing process with renewed focus and clarity.
However, perhaps the most important technique I developed was learning to let go. As writers, we can become attached to certain phrases, sentences, or even entire paragraphs that we love but don’t serve the piece as a whole.
Editing requires a willingness to cut what isn’t working, even if it means letting go of something we are proud of. It’s about serving the story, not our egos.
I strive for excellence, not perfection.
In my younger years, I was a perfectionist, which ruined my physical and mental health. As I documented in a personal story, moving from perfection to excellence with meaningful progress by accepting my imperfections, a heavy load disappeared from my shoulders. I use the concept of MVP (minimal viable product) concept to make necessary progress in my personal and professional life.
Editing is an ongoing journey. No piece of writing is perfect. As human beings, we are imperfect. However, with each edit, it gets closer to excellence. My goal as a self-editor was to ensure that every piece I published was the best possible — a reflection of my commitment to quality and my respect for my readers.
I strive to find a better version of myself in each new piece. This process wasn’t just about improving the writing but building trust with my audience. When readers see that we have taken the time to craft a well-edited piece, they are more likely to engage with our content and return for more. It shows that we value their time and are committed to delivering something worthwhile.
Editorial excellence also meant being open to feedback. While I edited my own work, I also sought input from others—whether a trusted friend, my wife, my grown-up kids, a fellow writer, or even my loyal readers. This external perspective helped me see things I might have missed and offered new insights that strengthened my work.
Over time, as I honed my self-editing skills, I noticed an improvement in my writing. My ideas became clearer, my arguments stronger, and my voice more refined. Self-diting wasn’t just a task I had to complete. It became an integral part of my creative process, shaping how I approached each new piece.
To recap, as both a writer and a self-editor, I discovered that the two roles are deeply interconnected. Writing is the creative spark, but editing is the craftsmanship that turns that spark into something tangible, something that can be shared with the world. It’s a balance of creativity and discipline, of passion and precision.
In the end, editorial excellence isn’t about perfection. It’s about striving to make our work the best it can be while always keeping the reader in mind. It’s about welcoming the process, learning from each experience, and continuously evolving as a writer and a self-editor.
This chapter of my Substack journey taught me that self-editing is not just a skill — it is an art. And like any art, it requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to always seek improvement. The better I become at self-editing, the more confident I feel in my writing, and the more meaningful my connection with my readers becomes.
A Sample Generic Self-Editing Checklist
Creating a self-editing checklist is a great way to improve the quality of your Substack newsletters. Here’s a list of 20 essential items to focus on for your self-editing process that you can customize:
Ensure each newsletter has a clear central theme or message.
Start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention.
Check that ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next.
Eliminate unnecessary words, phrases, or sentences.
Keep paragraphs short and focused, typically 3–5 sentences.
Use plain language that’s easy to understand; avoid jargon.
Write in an active voice to make your writing more direct and engaging.
Ensure your tone and style are consistent throughout, reflecting your brand or personal style.
Write as if you are having a conversation with the reader.
Include personal anecdotes or insights to connect with readers.
Mix short and long sentences to create rhythm and maintain reader interest.
Use subheadings to break up content and guide the reader through your newsletter and make them captivating, intriguing, and memorable.
Use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity and emphasis.
Review for common grammar mistakes (e.g., subject-verb agreement, proper tense usage).
Run a spell check and manually review for homophones (e.g., their/there/they’re).
Check punctuation, especially commas, periods, and quotation marks.
Ensure consistent use of fonts, sizes, and colors.
Check that all hyperlinks work and lead to the correct pages.
Ensure images are properly aligned and sized within the newsletter. And more importantly ensure all images are copyright free to protect yourself.
Conclude with a clear call to action (subscribe, share, comment, join chat).
After reviewing this checklist, give your newsletter a final read-through to see how it flows and whether it keeps your interest from start to finish.
If you are writing stories or articles, I also provided a practical checklist for beginners. If you are an advanced writer or a book author, you may also check out this comprehensive checklist, which I created for writers who want to increase their chances of boosting on the platform.
By thoughtfully applying these self-editing principles, you can create a newsletter that resonates with your readers and supports meaningful growth and community building. Here is How to Write Content to Generate Steady Income.
Many thanks to beta readers who started leaving honest feedback on this evolving book on Goodreads today.
Quick Celebrations
Congratulations,
, for earning his first $1000 from his new newsletter History Channel, in just 35 days. And congratulations, , for gaining several paid clients in a short time on Substack for her Live•Write•Create 💞. Congratulations to having all metrics as green in his Substack dashboard.Congratulations to my two favorite writers and book authors,
and on being in the top five “who to follow” list in the Substack topic on Medium.com today. But this list keeps changing based on reader engagement. Britni is a wonderful editor who supports my publications, including Substack Mastery and Curated Collections, with diligence and caring guidance.Community Building on Substack Bridging with Other Platforms
As a community builder, I created a philanthropic organization that will empower creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs with a commercial arm. I documented the strategy and high-level plan in a story. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. Refraining from perfection, I choose a progressive path.
How I Architected a Charity Organization & Why I Will Run It Like a Business
Outline of my draft plan for creators, freelancers, and entrepreneurs empowered by the Substack network
Here are our draft service definitions for creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs. We will explain the details in our upcoming newsletter.
Membership Tiers and Benefits
Good News for Those Who Can’t Use Stripe on Substack
I heard that many writers cannot use Stripe due to restrictions and even suspensions. Thus, I have good news for those who cannot monetize their content on Substack due to Stripe issues.
produced a viable solution and documented it clearly in an e-book available on Gumroads. I shared the link to her intellectual property. Please share this story with those affected by the problem. There is a viable solution. My book will include the details.If Substack Does Not Support Your Country via Stripe, There Is an Alternative Monetization: I interviewed a freelance writer who solved this difficult problem as a workaround with rigor, successfully implemented…medium.com
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
If you want to purchase the book at a reasonable price or gift it to someone you care about, you may preorder it via various Amazon markets. If the editing process is complete on time, I can get it published faster.
The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.
If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers. ILLUMINATION-Curators curate, feature, and promote newsletters of our contributors in collections like this one. Being part of a community can bring many benefits, such as a fast-growing audience.
For advanced writers, we also have a publication called Curated Newsletters, which replaced the former ILLUMINATION-Curated. As I resigned from the boost program, I now allocate more time to support writers in extending their services to Substack or other platforms.
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics…
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow…www.amazon.com
You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack and our education tool, Substack Mastery, curated by ILLUMINATION-Curators. Here is the Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers
Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.
Health and Wellness by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
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This story was initially published at DigitalMehmet.com. My blogs and website offer free access to inspiring and educational stories for freelancers and content entrepreneurs. Please use this portal to contact me with inquiries and feedback.