In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through what to do with your messy first draft now that NaNoWriMo is over. Here's a preview of what's included:

[01:20] Everything we cover in today's episode can be used whether you participated in NaNoWriMo or not. All that matters is that you have a finished draft.
[02:30] Step #1: Take a break from your draft so that you can get some distance and give your imagination time to regenerate.
[03:30] Step #2: Read your draft to familiarize yourself with what you wrote and to see all of the story pieces that you have to work with. Don't make any changes yet!
[04:10] Step #3: Read your draft, again, with your editor's hat on. Focus on the big-picture elements of the story (genre, characters, structure, theme, point of view, etc.) and take notes on things you want to fix, add, delete, or change. Don’t make any changes yet, just take notes.
[09:10] Step #4: Make a plan for exactly HOW you’re going to tackle your revisions. When would you like to be done? How much time will you set aside each day/week/month to work on your revisions?
[10:20] Step #5: Get an outsider's perspective once you've done as much as you can on your own. Enlist the help of beta readers, a developmental editor, or even a book coach.
[11:30] When should you work with a professional editor or book coach? If you're just starting, or if your draft is a big mess, a book coach can help you start over from the ground up. If you have a finished draft, a developmental editor can help you figure out your next steps.
[12:55] Key points and episode recap.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode Freebie: The NaNoWriMo Editing Checklist (PDF)
• How to Choose the Right Genre for Your Story (podcast and article)
• 3 Ways to Figure Out the Theme of Your Story (podcast and article)
• 5 Questions to Help You Write Better Characters (podcast and article)
• How to Choose the Best POV for Your Story (article)

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