SUBURBAN SYNTAX

Greetings, fellow scribblers! Welcome to the wondrous world of revision, where writers transform their messy manuscripts into literary masterpieces. If you’re an aspiring author who is having issues transitioning that messy first draft into something more readable, below you’ll find 8 helpful tips that I’ve used to polish rough manuscripts until they shine .

1. Embrace the Ugly Duckling Stage

First and foremost, remember that your first draft is like an awkward teenager going through a growth spurt. It might feel clumsy and unrefined, but that’s perfectly normal! Embrace the chaos and remind yourself that every great work of literature started with humble beginnings. Even the most successful authors have editors, and many prolific indie authors do much of their own editing these days! Gone are the stigmas of yesteryear when writers were warned to “never edit yourself”. These days, especially with modern technology, you can easily perform the first few rounds of editing to shape your manuscript for a professional edit later on.

2. Take a Break, You Deserve It

Once you’ve finished your first draft, resist the temptation to jump straight into revising. Give yourself a well-deserved break. Binge-watch your favorite shows, eat ice cream for breakfast, or embark on a spontaneous llama trekking adventure. Let your mind rejuvenate, so you can approach your manuscript with fresh eyes. Ballpark? At least three to five days for a short story, and three to four weeks (yes, I said weeks!) for a full novel-length manuscript.

3. Prepare for Battle

Revision is not for the faint of heart. Once it’s time to put on your armor and face the daunting task of scrutinizing your work, you must arm yourself. Colored pens, sticky notes, and a hefty supply of caffeine. You’ll need all the weapons in your arsenal to conquer the revision battlefield. Yes, you could edit on a screen, but I have found that a traditional paper printout, while much more effort, helps my eyes spot more errors.

Bonus tip: Courier New. 12 Point. Full double-spacing.

4. Start with the Big Picture

Begin by assessing the overall structure and plot of your manuscript. Are the characters well-developed? Does the story flow naturally? Do the twists and turns keep readers on their toes? Address any major issues and plot holes before diving into the nitty-gritty details, like line editing. Mark typos and “howlers” as you find them, but don’t spend too much mental energy on them in the first pass.

5. Sentence Surgery

Now it’s time to unleash your inner wordsmith. Analyze each sentence, paragraph, and chapter. Polish your prose like a master chef perfecting a recipe. Delete unnecessary adjectives, tighten your dialogue, and make every word count. Remember, brevity is the soul of wit and also the best way to avoid boring your readers. As an aside, I’ve noticed submission word counts dropping in the past few years. This just reinforces the need for concise writing as we collectively fight for audience attention against Tik Tok and other short-form entertainment.

6. Seek the Dreaded Typos

Beware, for lurking in the shadows of your manuscript are the pesky typos and grammatical errors. They’re like ninjas, waiting to sabotage your credibility. Hunt them down with the ferocity of a cat chasing a laser pointer. I’ve written on these tips in a previous post, and they still ring true. Use spell check, proofread diligently, and (if you’re on a budget) consider bribing a grammar-savvy friend with copious amounts of coffee.

7. Beta Readers to the Rescue

Once you’ve done a few editing passes, it’s time to release your manuscript into the wild and let the beta readers devour it. These brave souls will provide invaluable feedback that will help you fine-tune your work. Embrace criticism with open arms, but remember to filter out the overly harsh ones. Constructive feedback is the secret sauce that will elevate your manuscript to greatness. I ascribe to the “Rule of 3”. If three or more beta readers take issue with something, it likely needs changing.

8. The Final Polish

Congratulations! You’ve survived the revision process. Now it’s time for the final touches. Check formatting, ensure consistency, and give your manuscript that extra sprinkle of magic. Imagine you’re Leonardo da Vinci adding the final brushstrokes to the Mona Lisa. Your manuscript is a work of art, after all. Only now, should you begin the task of submitting to agents and publishers, if going traditional, or contacting a professional editor, if self-publishing.

Revision is a labor of love. It’s the secret ingredient that separates good writing from extraordinary writing. So, embrace the journey, laugh at your writing mistakes, and remember that perfection is an illusion. Even professional novels slip out the door of the big publishing houses with an error or two. Polish your manuscript with care, and one day, it will shine brighter than a supernova in the literary galaxy. Happy revising!