Editing the Structure

The simple editing process to turn your messy first draft into a second draft you love.

“I’ve written first drafts before, but I’ve never edited a second draft. How do you actually do it?”

A writer asked me this a few days ago. And they’re not alone—it’s a question I hear a lot.

How do you actually edit a novel? Is there a process? A system? A strategy? Something, anything, to guide you after you finish the first draft?

Yes. Yes, there’s a process to edit a novel.

Better yet, it’s a simple process. (That doesn’t mean it’s easy—don’t get those confused. But it’s not complicated.)

And in this episode, I’ll walk you through this process step by step.

You’ll learn:

• The 5-step editing process I use with all my one-on-one clients
• How to customize this process to make it work for YOU
• The trap you risk falling into if you don’t use this process
• Where the REAL work of developmental editing happens (hint: it’s not about changing the words in your manuscript!)
• Why this process will make your editing clearer, more effective, and more efficient
• And more!

If you’ve ever felt lost, confused, daunted, or completely overwhelmed by the very idea of editing your novel—

—or if you’ve been editing, but you can’t tell whether you’re making progress or just spinning your wheels—

—then this episode is for you.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Work with me: alicesudlow.com/contact
• Ep. 31: 3 Ways to Create a Scene List That Makes Your Editing Process (Almost) Easy
• Story Structure: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
• Character Arcs: Three-Act or Four-Act Structure: Which Is Best for Your Novel?
• Theme: Your Story Has Deep Meaning. Do You Know What It Is?
• Point of View: The Most Important Principle When Choosing Your Point of View

Send me a Text Message!

Want my support in your revision?

In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

Get started by telling me about your story here.

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