The second draft survival guide: 10 tips on editing your novel

Completing the first draft of your novel is a major achievement to celebrate. You’re already in the top 3% (97% of people who start writing books and never finish). 

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.