# Interview: Why Self-Editing Matters and How to Strengthen Your Manuscript Before Hiring an Editor, with Howard Lovy and Katie Chambers

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/self-publishing-with-alli-426041/interview-why-self-editing-matters-and-how-to-strengthen-your-manuscript-before-hiring-an-editor-with-howard-lovy-and-katie-chambers
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/self-publishing-with-alli-426041/interview-why-self-editing-matters-and-how-to-strengthen-your-manuscript-before-hiring-an-editor-with-howard-lovy-and-katie-chambers.md
Podcast: [Self-Publishing with ALLi](https://stenobird.com/podcast/self-publishing-with-alli-426041)
Published: 2026-03-25T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://ornaross.libsyn.com/interview-why-self-editing-matters-and-how-to-strengthen-your-manuscript-before-hiring-an-editor-with-howard-lovy-and-katie-chambers
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Duration seconds: 1798

## Resource

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, host Howard Lovy talks to Katie Chambers of Beacon Point, an editing and writing services company, about what self-editing really means and why it's a critical step before hiring a professional editor. Chambers explains her structured, multi-pass approach, showing how authors can strengthen their manuscripts, reduce editing costs, and make better use of professional feedback. They discuss common self-editing mistakes, practical techniques authors can apply right away, the careful use of AI as a tool rather than a shortcut, and how developing these skills helps writers improve with each book. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center , with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Show Notes Beacon Point's Self-Editing Guides Beacon Point's resource library for authors About the Host Howard Lovy is an author, developmental editor, and writing coach with a long career in journalism and publishing. He works with writers at many stages of their careers, with a focus on helping them develop their ideas and strengthen their work while preserving their unique voices. He lives in Northern Michigan. About the Guest Katie Chambers is a developmental and copy editor and the owner of Beacon Point LLC , an editing and writing services company. She works with indie authors to shape fiction and nonfiction manuscripts and to better understand the editing process. With a background in teaching middle and high school English and formal training in public speaking, she brings a clear, practical approach to her work and presentations. She has also published two self-editing…

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