How to Use AI to Assist With Your Editing (and Where to Avoid It)

We know AI is a powerful tool and we understand the want to use it to create efficiency anywhere we can. Just like the rest of this process we want to make sure to guide you down the best path possible and that includes where, when, and how you choose (or don’t choose!) to use AI!

At selfpublishing.com, your manuscript isn’t handled by a generalist or an algorithm—it’s handled by a team of highly trained, deeply experienced humans. Our Head of Editing alone has edited over 4,000 books, and every editor on our team has spent a decade or more in the publishing industry. That level of experience means we don’t apply vague, one-size-fits-all rules and instead bring a nuanced, practical, genre-specific editorial method tailored to the story you are trying to tell. 

Remember, AI has been trained on countless written works across the span of the entire internet! That means it has also been trained on books and concepts that are not written to genre standard, have not received particularly good reviews/ratings, and those that are structured to fit other target audiences than your own. That means the answers it gives you may reflect those inopportune references.

Below we will explain some best practices and common pitfalls authors run into using AI during the editing process, based on our experience working with thousands of authors.

Do’s: How to Use AI Wisely

1. Work in small, targeted sections.
   1. Never input your entire manuscript and ask the AI to “fix everything.” This often results in wholesale rewrites that erase your editor’s work, introduce inconsistencies, and alter your voice.
   2. Instead, select a single scene, paragraph, or excerpt. Use your editor’s comments as your prompt. For example: 
      
      • • “Editor notes: Dialogue in this scene feels unnatural—please suggest alternatives while keeping character voice consistent.”
        • “Editor notes: Create a stronger transition between these paragraphs.”
        • “Editor notes: Slow this section down and try to explain the concept more thoroughly.
2. Use AI for sentence-level improvements.
   1. AI can help smooth awkward sentences, correct minor grammar issues, and suggest alternative phrasing.
   2. Always evaluate AI suggestions carefully to ensure they align with your manuscript’s tone and style.
3. Brainstorm small creative solutions.
   1. If a passage feels unclear or flat, AI can generate options to clarify or enhance it. Think of this as a springboard for ideas, not a directive.
   2. Be aware that AI can suggest ideas that directly contradict or replicate other areas of your manuscript. It’s important to review every suggestion with a clinical, critical eye.
4. Choose the right AI tool.
   1. When rewriting or creating new passages, we recommend Claude over ChatGPT for applying editing corrections. Claude tends to follow instructions more precisely and reduces the likelihood of unwanted rewrites.
   2. When brainstorming ideas, we recommend ChatGPT. It has a stronger memory, especially when comparing the free models of each AI service.
   3. If your manuscript is under 25,000 words, the free version of most AI tools should work well. For projects over 25,000 words, we recommend upgrading to a paid plan with your AI service of choice. Subscription models typically offer stronger conversation memory and better handling of longer, more complex documents, resulting in more accurate and consistent feedback.

Don’ts: Avoid These Common Mistakes

1. Don’t ask AI to “fix everything.”
   1. Whole-manuscript rewrites ignore your editor’s work and risk changing tone, structure, and character voice.
   2. When inputting large sections of writing into your AI program (600 words and up), there is a high chance that the AI will significantly shorten your manuscript by cutting out important scenes and over-condensing topics.
2. Don’t use AI after Round 3 (R3) edits.
   1. After R3 (also known as line editing), your manuscript has been carefully shaped by your editor. AI corrections at this stage can undo improvements, create inconsistencies, and reintroduce errors.
   2. It is important to make ZERO developmental and content changes once you have entered your third round. Focus purely on the sentence-to-sentence level of your manuscript once you reach this stage.
3. Don’t rely on AI for story-level or developmental edits.
   1. Plot, character arcs, and thematic elements require human judgment. AI cannot replace the nuanced feedback a professional editor provides.
   2. Remember, AI has been trained on countless written works across the span of the entire internet! That means it has also been trained on books and concepts that are not written to genre standard, have not received particularly good reviews/ratings, and those that are structured to fit other target audiences than your own. That means the answers it gives you may reflect those inopportune references.
4. Don’t skip your own review.
   1. AI suggestions are just suggestions. Always read and evaluate each change carefully before applying it to your manuscript.
   2. Keep an eye out for areas where AI may have embellished your life/story or suggested you discuss a topic that already appears at a later point in your book.
   3. The tone, structure, and word choice that AI uses can often be spotted with a trained AI. It’s important to look over everything AI has created for you to ensure it sounds like YOU and not a program.

Why AI Can’t Replace Your Editor’s Judgment

Many AI models—especially the free versions—are trained to affirm what the user wants to hear. They tend to avoid giving subjective or critical feedback, which can be a problem when addressing developmental issues. AI may reinforce existing problems, smooth over inconsistencies, or fail to identify areas where your story could be stronger.

Additionally, AI cannot reliably provide up-to-date information about genre norms, publishing trends, or reader expectations. Free and older models may be working from outdated data, giving advice that does not reflect current market standards. 

Your editor’s knowledge, experience, and guidance are far more valuable than any AI output.

Additional Advice for High-Level Authors

1. AI cannot replace nuance or voice.
   1. Your manuscript’s unique voice and emotional impact are shaped by careful editorial judgment—something AI cannot replicate.
2. AI may introduce errors or inconsistencies.
   1. Even minor phrasing fixes can unintentionally create plot holes or contradictions. Review all AI output carefully.
3. Version control is critical.
   1. Never apply AI changes to your R3 or later edits. This can create large issues and may result in the R1, R2, and R3 edits being null. The editing team cannot correct developmental or content-level changes beyond the end of R2.
4. Transparency matters.
   1. Document where and how AI was used. This ensures accountability and helps maintain the integrity of your manuscript. It also allows your editing team to look for specific phrases that AI systems tend to use and help camouflage them better.
5. Types of English.
   1. AI cannot differentiate between different styles of English (British English, American English, etc.) which is why we recommend not using it for grammar decisions.

Key Takeaways

• AI is a supplement, not a replacement for professional editing.
  
  
• Use AI selectively: small sections, targeted edits, and phrasing improvements.
  
  
• Do not use AI after R3 edits—it can undo months of careful work.
  
  
• Trust your editor for story-level guidance, developmental edits, and market insight.
  
  

When used carefully, AI can save time and help polish your work but the final decisions should always rest with you and your professional editing team.