First things first, if you haven’t grabbed your copy of The Fiction Writer’s Ultimate Revision Workbook, >>go ahead and get it here.<< It’s free and comes with extra goodies like a Beta Reader Guide and Self-Editing Checklist.
You can dive right into The Fiction Writer’s Ultimate Revision Workbook– it’s designed to be pretty grab & go.
But I have some helpful hints below to help you get the most out of it!
Use the parts that work for you! This ain’t a paint-by-numbers picture. I packed everything from how to evaluate if your theme is working to spotting overused words into this handy little guide. And this workbook can be personalized so it won’t be ruined if ya’ skip a suggestion or 2.
Rinse & repeat. Finish a draft and think it needs another pass? Maybe you realized that a subplot needs some special attention, or a character arc is kinda weak. Simply return to the First Step and go again, working your way through the questions to pinpoint anything that still needs strengthening. Revisions can, and often do, move large sections of story around, so it’s ok to take more than 1 or 2 drafts to finish.
Do I have to use beta readers? No BUT I do highly recommend getting at least one set of eyes (with writing experience) on your piece. You will be so used to looking at your work that obvious flaws and even gaping plot holes might go unnoticed.
Clean up on Draft 4! Don’t skip the clean-up. Seriously. Copy-editing might put most of us right to sleep. But it gives your work that high shine it needs to stand out.
Standard disclaimer. The Fiction Writer’s Ultimate Revision Workbook & Checklist isn’t a replacement for a professional editor. Goes without saying. If you’re having major structure problems or really struggle with grammar and spelling, hiring a good developmental or copy editor at the appropriate stage might still be unavoidable. Save those $$ and invest.
Have questions? Think there’s something I need to add to the Workbook? Shoot me a message!