By Carly Silver
What’s the point of going over your novel again? After all, you worked so hard on it that it’s got to be perfect, right? Wrong!
In fact, revising a manuscript absolutely essential to its success. Editors often ask their authors to retool their books many times. I asked some of the Harlequin head honchos on why revising a manuscript benefits you, the author.
- The first reason is simple—your final product is better, more polished, than your initial draft. By reviewing your work multiple times, you can flesh out your manuscript with details as needed, cut down on unnecessary scenes, embellish a character, or remove any typos or errors you missed before.
- Getting an outsider’s opinion can be just as important as your own take on your manuscript. Join a local critique group, or let a trusted friend or family member read your manuscript. Listen to their comments – he or she is your first reader. If he or she thinks a certain character’s motivations don’t make sense, or that a particular passage isn’t necessary because it doesn’t relate to the core narrative, listen to that person. Because you’re so close to your manuscript, you might not notice these important issues that might trip up a reader.
- Revising allows your manuscript to outshine others. Because editors are very busy—and they read a ton of submissions—and so many authors are trying to get published, the competition is fierce. If an editor reads the first few pages of a manuscript and doesn’t like it, chances are you’ll receive a rejection letter. By going back over your work multiple times, you can make your manuscript pop from the first paragraph, thereby catching an editor’s eye and lifting you out of the slush pile.
- Your first draft is never your best one. I don’t think any author ever wrote a perfect manuscript in one fell swoop. Even top authors need to sit down and think out their work. If you’re writing a romance, perhaps you need to get more sensual in some scenes, or take some of the heat out of the non-bedroom scenes. By reviewing and re-reading your manuscript, you will find innumerably ways to improve upon it.
- Overall improvement. By revising your manuscript, you can better every aspect of your work that might need help. Editors work with their authors on multiple rounds of manuscripts to get the finished product. In that process, they’ll focus on topics like pacing, characterization, mood, style, etc. Paying attention to each element that makes good writing is essential.
9 replies on “Top 5 Reasons Why Revising Benefits You”
I agree wholeheartedly. Great post, Carly!
Wonderful post, thank you! I needed that 🙂
Thanks so much!
thank you for this great advise !
I agree totally. This is really helpful, from a “pantser” type writer like myself. I really taking a lot of this to heart this book. I’m so excited to see the final product!
Very Helpful! Thank you.
Excellent advice, Carly!
This is all true!
Thank you so much! Great advice.
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!