It took one year, two months, and 14 days to get a rewrite of my novel done. I’d hoped to get it finished in under a year, but due to a bunch of factors (including a complete plot, character, and setting makeover), it didn’t happen.

Maybe you’re in the same situation – finishing a first draft, a third draft, or somewhere in between – and you don’t know what steps to take next.

Well, here are the steps I’m planning to take for the next couple of months or so. I hope it inspires you, or at least gives you some practical tips for what you can do next.

#1: Take in feedback.

Right. Before I make changes I know I need to make to my novel, I consult other people. It’s always great to see your work from another person’s perspective, and chances are, they’ll see things that you don’t notice. If you’re still writing something, get alpha readers – people who are willing to read your work as you write it. If not, employ a few beta readers – people who read your writing after you’ve finished it.

It’s tough work finding people dedicated enough to push through with you, but those few people can make a huge difference. If not, you can always hire a professional editor if you can afford it, but people who are willing to read your work for free and give feedback are always, always valuable.

I’ve been scrolling through my novel that I have on Google Docs (totally recommend it, it’s great for sharing with people) and reading through the comments my alpha readers have left. As I read, I take mental notes. Later, I plan to sit down and take physical notes, too, so I don’t miss out on what I may need to work on.

Of course, you’ll need to take each comment or piece of feedback with a grain of salt. People have different points of view, right? So your vision for your story might not be the vision that they see. Little nitpicky things that annoy them may seem endearing to you. In the end, it’s really your story, so you have the final say.

#2: Make small improvements.

Now that you’ve either received feedback or given yourself feedback (being your own editor is a good skill to have!), you can start applying what you need to do to your novel.

Okay, I’m going to be straight with you. This is scary. If you’re like me, you might be thinking something along the lines of, what if I do something to my story that’ll be a pain to fix later?

I’ve found a way to get around this issue. In Google Docs, you can create a copy of a document that includes the original comments. So that’s what I’ve done: I’ve created a copy of my novel and now I still have the comments and my writing side by side. Since my original copy is safe, I can now make changes to my editing copy without worrying that I’ll accidentally mess up the original.

Even then, I won’t start with the big, game-changing edits I need to incorporate. I know a lot of people start with the big, macro plot and character edits, but I’m going from the top and changing things scene by scene. This way feels a little easier to start with.

Is it counterproductive? Possibly. But at least I’m not intimidated to the point where I’m too scared to do anything, hey?

#3: Edit and rewrite mercilessly.

After I make the small changes that have been a pain in my side for so long, I’m going to print out a copy of my novel and write all over it. Reading something online is often different to having a physical copy of it. (Also, it just makes me so happy to hold a physical draft of my book in my hands XP )

Then, I’m going to get down to the bones of the story. I know my novel needs serious work –  I take one look at it and I know it needs polishing still. So I’m going back to the outline and redrafting things that need changing.

You probably know what my next steps are going to be. I’m going to tear my novel apart and sew it back together, only better and more solid.

Is it going to be painful? Absolutely.

But it is worth it? Without a doubt, yes.

#4: Do it all over again.

After all of that, I may or may not rewrite the entire book again. Editing is like pottery, you see. You shape the story and you keep working at it until you’re satisfied, until it’s the best you can accomplish at that point in time.

So I need not to be afraid of ripping my story apart. In fact, I’m actually excited to start. Just keep in mind it’s for the good of your story, and if you put in enough dedication and commitment, you will see your story through.

I’m not saying you have to reach perfection. That’s just impossible – even published authors don’t get five-star reviews every time. But if you’re not satisfied with your book, if you know it’s not the best you can make it, it needs more work.

Until then, let me encourage you to keep at it. Find the little gemstones in your work and hone them. Polish that book until it shines. If you see no reason to give up, don’t.

Because when it’s all over and you’re holding a finished manuscript in your hands, it’s so worth it.

Your turn!

What do you do after you finish a novel? Do you agree with my plan? And while we’re at it, tell me about your current WIP!