Edit like an Editor: A Wattpad Featured Guide ✔

Part iii. After You Complete Your First Draft

Congratulations! You finished your first draft.

However, no one writes a publishable first draft. But, too often, writers think that after they've typed The End, they are ready to pick up the pencil and line edit their work. In reality, most manuscripts require several major revisions of the big-picture like plot, character, and pacing before they are ready to be line edited. There is so much to be done before you are ready for line editing.

Here's a step-by-step overview of what you have in store to properly address the changes needed to your manuscript:

1. Take a break while you give it to trusted readers to critique.

2. Talk to your readers/critics and gather their reactions.

3. Print it out after you take a break and reread from start to finish; as you read, list all of the major changes you think will be needed.

4. Update your outline; analyze the pacings; scope out more changes.

5. Selectively read through the manuscript, leapfrogging to sections by subplot, character, and setting; scope out more changes.

6. Start revising, working from large to small.

7. Repeat.

8. Repeat.

9. Repeat until you are satisfied with the overall shape of your story and the trajectory of your characters.

10. Line edit only when you have addressed all of the major problems and are satisfied with the way your story is working.

So, how long should a revision take? If it took you six months to write your first draft, it could easily take you half as long to revise it, and don't be surprised if it takes even longer. The last thing you want to do is shoot your chance with the agent of your dreams by sending out your manuscript before it's ready for prime time.

How do you know when a manuscript is finished? That is a hard question to answer. You might rely on another round of advanced readers, readers who haven't seen an earlier draft. If they read it and think it's the best thing since sliced bread, then you can assume you're good to go.

Often new writers hire a freelance editor, someone outside of their circle of friends and family, to go through the manuscript. A professional editor will find things that average readers won't, and they will see more clearly what needs to be changed in order to strengthen your manuscript. In addition, professional editors will be tuned into the issues that agents and editors have with unpublished manuscripts and can help you overcome them.

No matter when you stop, it will always feel as if you could have done more. But is there such a thing as too much revision? It's certainly possible to revise the wrong stuff. It's just as important to figure to what's working and not spoil it, as it is to figure out what is not working and fix it. I touch upon this in the next part.

Give It to Readers

An excellent time to post your work onto Wattpad or send your manuscript to a few trusted advanced readers is while you're waiting for your writing to "cool." The best people to critique your work are those who love to read, read a lot, and read in the genre you are writing.

Your readers don't need to be writers, but writers who critique your work will be able to frame their comments in writer terms. I touch more upon receiving feedback in the next part. Your readers and critics notes will make a good starting point when you get to the revising stage.

How to Take Criticism

Everybody finds it difficult to take criticism, especially after having labored for months and poured heart and soul into a manuscript. Most of us really, in our hearts, just want to hear how wonderful it is. But this is not going to happen. Most likely you will hear criticism that you secretly suspected but didn't want to face. You'll also hear criticisms that may feel off the wall.