Editing takes patience and practice! Self-editing is an important part of the writing process. First, walk away from your project for a time and come back to it with fresh eyes.
Second, there is a lot to keep in mind when you edit, and checklists help. You can tailor your self-editing checklist based on the type of project and genre; for a jump start I include a general checklist below to get you started.
Please comment or contact me with any editing questions! Being an editor is my passion—I love helping folks make their projects the best they can be.
*Note: If it is a long project, like a novel, you should consider a follow up of hiring a professional editor.*
Kristen Mills Writes YA 