Congratulations! You finished your first draft.

However, no one writes a publishable first draft. But, too often, writers think that after they've typed The End, they are ready to pick up the pencil and line edit their work. In reality, most manuscripts require several major revisions of the big-picture like plot, character, and pacing before they are ready to be line edited. There is so much to be done before you are ready for line editing.

Here's a step-by-step overview of what you have in store to properly address the changes needed to your manuscript:

1. Take a break while you give it to trusted readers to critique.

2. Talk to your readers/critics and gather their reactions.

3. Print it out after you take a break and reread from start to finish; as you read, list all of the major changes you think will be needed.

4. Update your outline; analyze the pacings; scope out more changes.

5. Selectively read through the manuscript, leapfrogging to sections by subplot, character, and setting; scope out more changes.

6. Start revising, working from large to small.

7. Repeat.

8. Repeat.

9. Repeat until you are satisfied with the overall shape of your story and the trajectory of your characters.

10. Line edit only when you have addressed all of the major problems and are satisfied with the way your story is working.

So, how long should a revision take? If it took you six months to write your first draft, it could easily take you half as long to revise it, and don't be surprised if it takes even longer. The last thing you want to do is shoot your chance with the agent of your dreams by sending out your manuscript before it's ready for prime time.

How do you know when a manuscript is finished? That is a hard question to answer. You might rely on another round of advanced readers, readers who haven't seen an earlier draft. If they read it and think it's the best thing since sliced bread, then you can assume you're good to go.

Often new writers hire a freelance editor, someone outside of their circle of friends and family, to go through the manuscript. A professional editor will find things that average readers won't, and they will see more clearly what needs to be changed in order to strengthen your manuscript. In addition, professional editors will be tuned into the issues that agents and editors have with unpublished manuscripts and can help you overcome them.

No matter when you stop, it will always feel as if you could have done more. But is there such a thing as too much revision? It's certainly possible to revise the wrong stuff. It's just as important to figure to what's working and not spoil it, as it is to figure out what is not working and fix it. I touch upon this in the next part.

Give It to Readers

An excellent time to post your work onto Wattpad or send your manuscript to a few trusted advanced readers is while you're waiting for your writing to "cool." The best people to critique your work are those who love to read, read a lot, and read in the genre you are writing.

Your readers don't need to be writers, but writers who critique your work will be able to frame their comments in writer terms. I touch more upon receiving feedback in the next part. Your readers and critics notes will make a good starting point when you get to the revising stage.

How to Take Criticism

Everybody finds it difficult to take criticism, especially after having labored for months and poured heart and soul into a manuscript. Most of us really, in our hearts, just want to hear how wonderful it is. But this is not going to happen. Most likely you will hear criticism that you secretly suspected but didn't want to face. You'll also hear criticisms that may feel off the wall.

When it comes time for your readers to tell you what they think, the most important thing for you to do is hear them. Here are some tips for listening:

• Try not to shut down their comments: If you make excuses explaining what you were trying to do in a particular scene, getting all worked up and defensive, you prevent yourself from hearing the criticism. Remember, listening doesn't mean you agree or have to do everything your reader suggests. But you owe it to yourself and to your readers to shut up, listen, and try your best to get what they are trying to tell you.

• Ask clarifying questions: If your reader says, "I loved the book," ask what the good parts were. If you reader says, "That character seemed dumb," ask for examples of where that character seemed dumb. If your reader says, "I didn't really understand the ending," ask the reader to summarize how your novel ended so you can see how it was understood.

• Probe: Don't settle for yes/no or short answers. Probe with follow-up questions to get specific feedback on what's working and where there are problems. The more specifics you get, the clearer it will be what needs to be revised.

• Take notes: You don't want to forget all the good things your readers say or forget where that one particular in-line comment was in your Wattpad book and get overwhelmed by the "needs work" comments. Negative comments won't seem so negative when you reread your notes twenty-four hours later.

Arguing and explaining to someone who is critiquing your manuscript will keep you from hearing what the person is trying to tell you; worse, it will discourage that person from being absolutely honest with you, and if you do it out in the open on Wattpad, it might discourage other readers from being honest with you.

Translating Comments into Fixes

You've gotten enough critiques to begin the rewriting and revising stages. From all that feedback, how do you decide what to fix and what to ignore?

• Look for similar comments: If two or more readers identify the same problem, then it needs to be addressed.

• Look for confirmation of your own suspicions: When a reader picks up on something you suspected might be a problem, then it needs to be addressed.

• If readers disagree: Ask each one to explain his or her viewpoint of the issue; the more information you have, the easier it will be to decide whether to address the concern or if you can safely ignore it.

• If it's an easy fix: You'll probably be more inclined to go ahead and make it; if the problem affects the structure of your novel or something basic about your main character, then take your time and think about how to address it.

Next, translate problems into solutions. Carefully consider all the comments you get from readers, but a little red flag should go up whenever someone tells you how to fix your novel. Don't ignore the comment; try to understand where it's coming from. Ask follow-up questions so you understand the problem and can come up with your own solution. After all, it's your book.

Assessing the Scope of Changes

You've taken a break. You have a list of changes that readers have suggested. Now, print out your manuscript and start to read it again yourself. Stay away from the computer so you're not tempted to jump in and make changes as you see they are needed—a great way to control that inner editor. And read it from start to finish.

As you read, create an inventory of all the changes you think may be needed. Your list will probably include some of the same issues readers who critiqued your manuscript already picked up. Your inventory consists of specific references to chapters that need strengthening.

So, it might include items like these:

• Slow down in Chapter 7.
• Show more reaction in Chapter 9 when Vincent gets hurt.
• Boring in Chapter 15—think about how to speed things up.
• Why does Miranda break the dishes? Find something in her backstory that explains this.
• Smooth the transitions in Chapter 22 flashback.
• Show how Vincent feels when Miranda fails to show up at the bar.
• Insufficient motivation for Miranda to lie in Chapter 25.

Remember, just noting a problem doesn't mean you're going to address it. If you're not sure, write it down. Later you can decide, for each item on the list, which changes you are going to make.

If you can't control your inner editor, correct typos and grammatical errors as you go along. But you really don't need to do that yet. What matters now is that you build a complete list of changes needed.

Some problems you might run into are problems in each particular act (Act I, II, and/or III), problems with characters, with plot, with the protagonist, or with the antagonist.

Update Your Outline

If you've been revising your outline as you write, then it won't take long to be sure that it reflects the novel you've written. Each scene should be described in a single line or two.

Keep your outline spare. Too much detail won't allow you to see the bones of your story. Rereading the outline will give you a sense of how those bones are fitting together.

Then, reread and analyze your outline. Some problems you might pick up include missing pieces, pacing issues, or chronology issues.

Selective Read-Throughs

Reading a novel through from start to finish gives you one perspective. For different angles, leapfrog through the manuscript, selectively reading related passages. This will help you tease apart more of the issues that need to be addressed so you can better focus on your revision. Your scene-by-scene outline provides a useful guide for selecting scenes to reread, each time through. Some ways to select sections to reread include by subplot, by character, and by setting.

Read It Aloud

Reading your manuscript aloud to yourself is time consuming, but provides unique insights. Hearing the sentences you've written exposes all kinds of problems. Awkward phrases, clichés, repetitions, and passages that go on for too long are readily recognized when you hear them read aloud. Clumsy sentences that you might have glided right past jump out when you hear them.

Pay attention to your own response as you read. If you get bored reading the story, you can bet your readers will, too. So make note of places where you want to cut or trim and tighten, or perhaps insert conflict or action to make it more engrossing.

Reading your manuscript aloud to yourself will also keep you from doing what all of us tend to do when we get tired—speed up and skip ahead.

Make a Revision Plan

By now your list of revisions may run to ten pages or more. Sort the items on the list, from the changes that will take the most effort and have the most far-reaching effects to those that will take the least effort and have more limited effects. Group together any revisions that you can make at the same time.

Look at the list and make sure that it makes sense to you. With this plan in hand, start rewriting.

Don't forget, it's best to Select All, Copy, and Paste into a new document, and save as "Revision 1," because whenever you delete something, you might change your mind and want to be able to get it back. Save As should become a habit, archiving separate versions of the book each time before you embark on another major change.

Please vote if this part has helped you in any way!