Now What? A Roadmap for Revising Your Novel

You wrote a novel! Now what? NaNoWriMo’s “Now What?” Months are here—this January and February, we’ll be helping you guide your novel through the revision and publishing process. Today, James Scott Bell, author and editor, shares his revision road map:

Ah December! It follows November, and a good thing, too. It gives you a month to let your NaNo-novel cool off in the meat locker of your writer’s brain. Then cometh January, of which Day 1 is given to recovery from the night before, sleep, football, and food. 

And a little planning, too––a plan to revise your novel with more than just a slapdash run through. Here are the steps:

1. The cooling off period

As mentioned, don’t think about the book for a month. Work on other projects. Let your novel stew.

2. Print out a hard copy

Some may prefer to read their draft on a tablet or e-reader. I prefer paper because I can make quick notations faster.

3. Read through the draft as fast as you comfortably can

You want to replicate the feeling of being a reader picking up a new book by a new writer. Keep telling yourself to be objective.

4. Take minimal notes

You’ll be tempted to stop many times for extensive marking and revising. Resist the urge. The first time through, limit yourself to marks in the margin setting off:

Dull sections
Sections that needs fleshing out
Confusing parts
5. When you’re finished, ask the big questions first

Don’t start at page one and just go. Assess the big picture:

Does this story make sense?
Is there enough at stake? (A novel should be about a character’s fight with some form of death––physical, professional, or psychological.)
Do the characters act like real people would in a similar situation?
Does my main character “jump off the page”? 
Are there parts where a busy editor or reader would be tempted to put the book down?

Get to work on solving these major issues. Write a 2-3 page synopsis of your book, tweaking it as needed to reflect the changes you’ve made in response to the above questions.

Next, go scene by scene through the book, looking to increase the conflict. If there is no conflict, consider cutting that scene.

Work your way through to a second draft. Then get it to some beta readers.

A good beta reader is someone who gives you specific feedback. What you don’t want is, “I loved this! Can’t wait to see it published. Let me know when it comes out!”

Or, “It just didn’t work for me. I don’t know why. Sorry.” 

To find beta readers, make up a list of all the people you know who might be able to offer you feedback. Attending a good writer’s conference is one way to network with others with whom you can exchange manuscripts. 

Take all that feedback, revise again, and think about hiring a good freelance editor. Get recommendations. See what other clients have to say about their services. Compare prices.

Oh yes, and while you’re doing all this, be writing your next novel. 

Repeat over and over the rest of your life.

James Scott Bell is a #1 bestselling author of  Plot & Structure , Write Your Novel From the Middle , Super Structure , and Voice . He is also a bestselling thriller writer and former fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine. A list of his novels and writing books can be found at JamesScottBell.com

Top photo by Flickr user Canned Muffins.