Help! Question about revising?

[Jen]

So I am nearly finished with my first draft (yay!) of my novel. The thing is like any other novel the road up until now has been pretty bumpy, filled with loads of plot holes and many changes in the story (including my decision to change the race and biological mother of my main male protagonist 3/4 of the way in!). Anyway, I have a long document filled with notes on what needs to be changed in order to be consistent because I can't stop and go back and fix things midway through the writing process once I change my mind or I lose my drive.

I've read from more than one author that right after you complete the first draft stow it away for a good few weeks. Out of sight, out of mind. Done. And I definitely agree to an extent. However, I am worried that all those inconsistencies will be harder to fix later on when I might forget things. Now it's all fresh in my head. On the other hand, I think it will be good for me to take a nice break and work on a smaller, less stressful project in the mean time.

So what should I do when I finish the first draft? Start fixing continuity errors right away while they're still fresh or give myself some time away from my novel to think about it but also work on other things? What do you do when you finish your first draft (besides throw yourself a party :p )?

[Cynthia]

I have the same fear as you do that if I put it away for too long I will lose my thought process. I am only on novel number three so am no expert but I put it away for a couple days and then fix those errors that you wrote notes on. Each time I read it I go through with different areas to work on keeping to that theme. example edit one - fix errors in story line. Edit two - fix errors in flow. Edit three - fix grammar and spelling. number of edits vary depending on the book. When I am done I put it away for another few days and reread as a reader not a writer. I might note things that feel weird as a reader. Then a final edit. Oh and I usually ask a few friends to read and comment as well but they need to be able to give honest feedback and not just "it's really good" because they are your friend. Hope this helps.

[Linda]

have your friends revise it and see what they think and for some changes or suggestions it could be. for example i was wrighting one and it was boring and i didnt like it but then i talked to my friends and they gave me awesome ideas even though i know have to redo 13 pages but now i think that it will be better because it appeals to the readers more and not how i exactly want it if you know what i mean. so it is like getting kinder critisism then having some harsh people reply and also you get more suggestions.

[Ingrid, Just another writer.]

Coming along your novel that far is amazing already. As frustrating as it is, you don't need to complete your draft alone. Even if you are uncomfortable with letting close relatives and friends reading your less-than-great revisions, it's always an option to go over your story structure and how you blended your character's decisions and actions into the 4 acts of a story, including the resolution of a problem. Be complex. Transfiguring pieces is always hard and I'm sure if you were able to finish a novel, you are able to finish a drafted one.
Wish you the best of luck.

[Sonja]

In my opinion (even if it is only a first draft), a fresh eye is the way to go. Use a bet reader to find and revise/ point out inconsistencies, some of them can even give you great suggestions for your early plot! I read loads of books where even after final draft some of the plots jump around so much that you go huh, when you finish one paragraph and go on to the next. Then I re-read the entire chapter to see if I missed anything, only to find it wasn't me! Sometimes you get so involved in your story that you become "blind" to the obvious (small) mistakes. Good luck with your book (don''t put it away for weeks), in my case it will never get done if I do that! :)

[Nicole]

As many people have said, having help in the revising/editing process can be invaluable. But putting it away for a bit can be huge! Granted, everyone is different, but I do it regularly, always switching between a couple of ideas, taking breaks to write my fanfiction...and it has saved me many times. Sometimes it makes me see things I normally wouldn't(good or bad), sometimes it's just what I need for inspiration to strike, and then I'm huddled over my keyboard for two hours. Do what you feel most comfortable with, but don't be afraid to take chances, either. They often pay off in unexpected ways! And I wish you the best of luck! Kudos on getting so far!

[Kathryn]

I find Beta readers can help with plot holes if you get the right one. But some are just looking for a free book. I had one practaly give me an edit of my book once. I find if you like the book you wrote then you also enjoy re-reading your book, if you don't then you maybe lacking in something in your writting. A break can clarify or murky the story depending on how you can switch yourself into the mind set of the story.
We all have different ways to write and their is no one size fits all advice to give.

[Nordlys]

I am only working on my first novel, so I can only tell you what I think (as I don't actually know yet). But the way I feel about it is that once you have finished with your first draft (congratulations!) I would go back to the specific parts you already know you want to change, but I wouldn't read all the way through it. I would work a little on those parts, and then I would put the thing away for a couple of weeks while doing something completely different, and then I would pick it up again and read through the whole thing "as a new reader". I would then rewrite based on what I got from my read-through. And then I would give that draft to someone close to me who I know is interested in the type of book I am writing, and who I know will be completely honest. I would let them read through it and give me feedback. And then rewrite and edit yet again:)