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But the journey to a polished manuscript has only just begun. Now comes the editing and your next two to three drafts.
According to Deborah Levy, author of Hot Milk and The Cost of Living: "Editing is the most wonderful part of writing. It begins to roar in the edit." Embracing the editing process is crucial to transforming your initial draft into a compelling narrative that will grab the attention of literary agents and book editors.
These ten tips are ones I’ve always found helpful after that crucial first draft is done.
1. Take a break before revising
After typing "The End," it's tempting to dive straight into revisions. However, allowing your manuscript to rest can provide valuable perspective. Put it in a digital draw and give yourself time away from your book. It enables you to return with fresh eyes, making it easier to identify areas that need improvement.
2. Focus on structural elements first
Before honing sentences, assess the broader structure of your story. Alice Sudlow, a book editor at The Write Practice, recommends creating an outline of your current draft to evaluate plot progression and character development. This approach helps identify structural weaknesses and ensures that each scene serves the overall narrative.
3. Embrace the messiness of rewriting
Rewriting can be daunting, but it's an integral part of the creative process. Shannon Hale, author of The Goose Girl and Austenland, likens the first draft to "shovelling sand into a box so that later I can build castles." I love that quote, and it is more than apt. Embracing this mindset allows you to reshape your story with greater clarity and purpose.
4. Read aloud to catch inconsistencies
I find this so helpful. Reading your manuscript aloud can reveal awkward phrasing and unnatural dialogue. The rough edges stand out when you do this.
Sam Blake, the bestselling crime author of The Mystery of Four and Keep Your Eyes on Me, says that if a sentence or dialogue feels clunky, the reader will likely feel the same way. This technique helps smooth out the narrative flow.
5. Prioritise big-picture edits over line edits
It's easy to get bogged down in correcting grammar and punctuation. However, focusing on overarching elements like plot coherence and character arcs is more beneficial during the second draft. As noted on Inkdrop Lit, addressing significant issues first prevents wasted effort on sections that may later be altered or removed.
6. Seek feedback from trusted sources
Get some readers. It might be hard to share it, and you might worry about what they think, but getting external perspectives is important. These can provide invaluable insights. Sharing your draft with trusted friends or writing groups can highlight strengths and weaknesses you might have overlooked. The Write Practice, a leading writing resource, emphasises the importance of finding friends who can empathise with your editing challenges and hold you accountable.
7. Maintain consistency in tone and style
Ensuring a uniform tone and style throughout your manuscript enhances readability. Claire Simpson, an Academy Award-winning film editor, believes that "editing involves hard work and educated taste, both of which are essential for maintaining consistency." Writers should take the same meticulous approach to editing prose.
8. Don't hesitate to cut redundant content
This is tough, but you must be prepared to cut. Being attached to specific passages is natural, but it's best to remove them if they don't serve the story.
One of my first editors said, “Writing isn’t about writing. It’s about rewriting.” This is so true. Eliminating unnecessary content strengthens your narrative.
Or, as Jodi Picoult (By Any Other Name) puts it: "You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page."
9. Use tools and software wisely
While tools like Scrivener can help you organise, they should complement, not replace, the nuanced work of editing. Personally, I can’t use Scrivener (although I have tried). I do use Grammarly, but sparingly, as I find it can slow down the editing process. The Write Practice suggests using such tools to set and track goals, brainstorm, and organise research, thereby streamlining the editing process.
10. Follow a step-by-step editing process
Editing is a cyclical process. Multiple revisions are often necessary to refine your manuscript fully. To help structure your second draft, you might find this step-by-step editing process useful:
Second Draft – Structural Edit:
• Identify and fix plot holes, pacing issues, and character inconsistencies.
• Ensure every scene has a purpose and moves the story forward.
• Check for unnecessary subplots or areas that require expansion.
Third Draft – Narrative & Style Edit:
• Strengthen dialogue and character development.
• Ensure consistency in tone, voice, and perspective.
• Eliminate redundant scenes and clarify any confusing moments.
Fourth Draft – Line Edits & Prose Polishing:
• Refine sentence structure, tighten paragraphs, and enhance readability.
• Pay attention to rhythm, flow, and word choice.
• Read passages aloud to check for awkward phrasing.
Final Draft – Proofreading & Fine-Tuning:
• Correct grammar, punctuation, and typos.
• Double-check continuity, formatting, and consistency.
• Get a fresh pair of eyes through beta readers or a professional editor.
As highlighted by The Novel Smithy, a site dedicated to novel writing and editing, handling the mental hurdles of editing requires time and patience, acknowledging that each pass brings you closer to your vision.
Finally
The second draft is your opportunity to transform a raw manuscript into a compelling narrative. You set the foundation for a polished novel by approaching revisions with patience, openness, and willingness to make significant changes. That will mean cutting and rewriting. Just remember, as many published writers will tell you, rewriting is where the real magic happens. Good luck.
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