Hot Damn, You’re a Writer! So...Now What?

Well, shit. Look at you! You were able to fight off writer's block AND keep yourself interested long enough to write a whole novel. Welcome to the club and worry not. We're no selective group with a gatekeeper complex. In fact, in my experience, we're all a little lost and unsure what comes next. See, writing the first draft, as daunting and exhausting as it may have been, is actually the easy part.

I still may not have the method completely refined, but here's a glimpse into my editing process. Everyone's is different, and admittedly, mine is a patchwork of pieces borrowed from authors I admire, but one thing is for certain: Editing is not optional!

1. CELEBRATE

I probably don't need to tell you this, but if you're here with a draft of your original novel sitting on your desktop, you better break out the fine wine. Writing is HARD. It's ripping yourself open night after night, pouring your blood onto the page, and having no instant gratification.

You may have heard that about 81 percent of Americans believe they have what it takes to write a novel. Well, out of those that actually start putting the story down, only 3 percent finish their manuscripts. 3 percent, and you're one of them. Now, that's something worth celebrating.

So, take the night off, go out with your friends, and just live. Chances are, you've been living in someone else's world for months, trying to do right by your characters. Forget about them for a night. They'll be there when you wake up fulfilled and maybe even a little hungover.

2. PRINT

I barely passed college chemistry, so I couldn't begin to explain the science behind it, but you must print your manuscript. Yes, the whole thing, all 300 some-odd pages. Personally, I recommend using Staples printing services, due to the user friendliness, but as long as you get a physical copy in your hands, you'll be okay.

Oh, and while you're at the store, pick up a pack of index cards. Believe me, it'll come in handy later.

3. READ

Sit down, flip the page, and read. Here's the catch, though: Read like a consumer, NOT an author. Writers wear many hats, and this is the time to begin slipping into the role of editor. Make notes in the margins, use sticky notes, but don't stop. Mark inconsistencies, issues with voice, anything that just feels off, but make it all the way through. Keep going and don't worry about actually changing anything. We'll get there.

4. CHART IT

So, hopefully you listened and bought those index cards. If you didn't, you better go grab them, because we're going to need them. While you're at it, clear off a table or section of floor where you won't mind leaving them laid out.

Now, at this point, you know your story. Still, open that physical copy to page one again. Forget about chapters and break the novel into scenes, as if it were a screenplay. For each scene, write a brief bulleted plot description on an index card. Repeat this for every single scene in the book. 

On second thought, you might need two packages of index cards.

Then, you're going to spread out the completed index cards in chronological order. If you can't picture each scene flawlessly leading into the next or you fail to see the significance of a section, toss it. Throw the card away and delete it from the next draft. This part may be painful. It might feel like a purge, but I promise, it'll only make the final product better.

5. RE-TYPE

This is going to be the biggest pain in the ass, I can't lie to you, but this is also the defining step that will take you from first draft word vomit to a more complete cohesive story.

By this point, you've looked at the bigger picture. You've seen the transitions and generally, your manuscript follows some kind of structure. You've also taken notice of how it feels to read the novel as a reader. You've started to think about what needs to change and be reworked. This is all very good.

Open a new Word document. Save it as NovelTitle_Draft #2. Start re-typing your novel. Do not, do not, copy and paste from the original draft, or this won't work. Keeping some sections is fine. Your first draft wasn't garbage even if you convinced yourself it was, but you need to re-type every single word of it.

As you go along, change things as you see fit. Don't waste your time re-typing the section on that index card you threw way. Replace it with something new, a scene that flows better. This is still a time for experimentation, a time to solidify what you want to say and what you want the novel to feel like. Do not be afraid, yet.

6. REPEAT

This is where things diverge. You're going to go through steps 1-5 again, and yes, you better include step 1, or else. Start thinking about more general aspects this time around, things like spelling and grammar. Some of you will repeat the process one more time and feel secure. Some of you will keep repeating the process until your novel has turned into an entirely different book.

I can't tell you how many times you should do this. To be honest, I've lost count of how many times I've gone through the process for my own novel. I can, however, reassure you that the novel I have now feels truer to the one I set out to write and it's something I can be proud of.

And that's just it. Writing is something you should be proud of. All creation is. Whether you revise once and store it away on your hard drive, or develop it enough to be published, writing a novel is an accomplishment.

Before I finished my first novel, I felt like I was cheating by calling myself a writer. I hadn't actually finished anything, let alone published. Recently, though, I've come to the conclusion that anyone can be a writer, even someone who hasn't actually finished a piece yet. If you've dedicated your time, money, and sanity to write something you believe in, then you're a writer. Plain and simple. Own it.

Like I said, I'm still refining this process and I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you've got any tips, send them my way. If this helped in any way, let me know below. Thanks for reading!