Your Next Draft

Most writers miss this simple editing principle. But when you understand it, when you truly master it, you have the power to craft your best story.Here it is:When you’re doing a developmental edit on a story, you can change absolutely anything.It sounds obvious, yet it’s so hard to do. In this episode, I’ll show you why—and share a simple three-step process that will give you editing superpowers.You’ll learn:How to go beyond line edits and start editing story events3 steps to make developmental editing almost easyHow to figure out what your story is really aboutWhat to do when something’s not working in your storyHow to uncover infinite possibilities for your storyHow to choose the BEST plot points for every moment of your storyWhy this kind of editing is so FUNAnd more!Plus, I’ll show you exactly how this editing process works with a real example.I’ve chosen the best highlights from my editing session with Kim Kessler. Listen to us apply this process step-by-step to edit Kim’s scene.Want to hear the full editing session? Listen to Kim’s edit here!By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear process to use to edit your own scenes—or even your entire novel. This is one you’ll want to save to revisit again and again!Links mentioned in the episode:Read the transcript of this episodeRead the scene Kim and I editedListen to Kim’s full editing sessionMeet Kim KesslerSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Answer these questions now to clarify your goals for your novel. Plus, they’ll prepare you to work with an editor when you’re ready for expert advice.When you reach out to an editor (like me!), they’ll have a lot of questions about your novel.After all, your editor is stepping into the middle of a writing, editing, and publication process that started long before they get to read your manuscript.The more information you can give your editor about your story, your process, and what success means to you, the better.In this episode, you’ll learn eight questions I ask writers when they reach out to me.You can even download them in a worksheet to fill out your answers as you listen. Grab the worksheet here.Treat that worksheet as a living document. It’s your guide to your novel and your goals.And when you’re ready to work with an editor, it will help you answer any questions they ask so you can find the editor who’s the best fit for you and your novel.Links mentioned in the episode:Get the worksheet: alicesudlow.com/editorquestionsTell me about your book: alicesudlow.com/contactSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Two simple questions to ensure your character development drives your plot.Every time I edit a novel, I ask two questions about the protagonist. They’re deceptively simple questions, but they reveal so much about the character.More than that, they reveal how the story should end.In other words, these two questions are the keys to:. . . your character development,. . . your climax,. . . and your resolution.In this episode, I’ll walk you through these essential questions:What does your character want?And what does your character need?You’ll learn:Where to find your character’s want and need in your story (hint: one is clear at the beginning, and one is clear at the end)How to combine the want and need for an amazing climax5 tips to find YOUR protagonist’s want and needWhy these questions are perfect for the editing process AND when you’re writing your first draftAnd more!Plus, I’ll show you an example of character wants and needs at play in a fantastic novel: The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik. It’s a perfect illustration of how these questions impact character development and plot.How about your story? What does your protagonist want? And what do they needLinks mentioned in this episode:Get the Character Arc Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/characterworksheetEp. 18: 2 Essential Questions to Craft a Compelling Character ArcTHE LAST GRADUATE by Naomi NovikSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

In this episode, the host and guest dive into a real-life scene edit. They discuss the process of developmental editing, including specific recommendations and questions asked. They touch on the nerves associated with working with an editor and the value of editing sessions. Key moments include the importance of knowing the purpose of the novel, analyzing the scene's atmosphere and character desires, creating tension and conflict, and the significance of turning points and decision-making in storytelling.

Have you ever wanted to quit your book?Here’s the good news, and the bad news: that’s a normal part of the book writing process.Every writer I know has struggled to make it through the middle of their novel. They’ve all been tempted to quit the book they’re currently working on and start over with a better story idea.So if you’re feeling ready to ditch this book idea and start writing something better . . .. . . you’re not alone.Before you quit, though, I want to share a few truths with you.Your book idea isn’t the problem.Quitting this book won’t make the next book easier.You have what it takes to finish—and it’s worth seeing this book through to the end.Don’t believe me? Hit play and find out what I told a writer recently who emailed me to ask whether she should quit her book.Then, get back to writing!You’ve got this. And I’m cheering you on the whole way through!Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 4: 10 Productivity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft FasterEp. 5: 11 Creativity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft FasterEp. 6: 3 Speedy Strategies to Edit Your Novel FasterEp. 7: 7 More Speedy Strategies to Edit Your Novel FasterSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

If you want readers to fall in love with your protagonist . . . . . . to remember them long after they finish your book . . .. . . then you need to craft a compelling character arc.To do that, you need to know: who is your protagonist?What makes them unique? How do they grow and change? Why is their story worth telling?And you can figure all that out by answering just two essential questions.These questions are deceptively simple. But when you dig in and explore them, you’ll learn so much about what challenges your character faces and all the ways they’ll grow.I ask these questions every time I work with a writer. And over and over, they lead us to breakthroughs about the writer’s protagonist—and the arc of their entire story.Ready for the questions? Listen in! You’ll learn:The two essential questions for brilliant character arcsMore than a dozen insights you’ll gain just by asking themHow to identify your character’s most important changeHow to use that change to shape your story’s plotAnd more!Plus, I’ll show you how I would answer these two questions for the character arc in a novel I love: LITTLE THIEVES by Margaret Owen.And I’ve created a worksheet to help you answer these questions for your character, too. Get the worksheet at alicesudlow.com/characterworksheet.Links mentioned in the episode:Get the Character Arc Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/characterworksheetLITTLE THIEVES by Margaret OwenSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

You can tell your story from any point of view you want. In fact, you can tell it from multiple points of view.So how many points of view should you use? What will most effectively communicate your story to your readers? And how many points of view is too many?That’s what this episode is all about. I’m breaking down the strengths and pitfalls of using multiple points of view.You’ll learn:How using multiple points of view can enhance the story2 pitfalls of having too many point of view charactersA simple principle to help you find the perfect number of points of view for your novel4 qualities of great point of view charactersAnd more!Plus, I’ll share examples of some multiple point of view novels I love—and what makes them work so well.Are you working on a multiple point of view novel? Use the questions in this episode to make sure every single point of view is serving your story well.And be sure to download the worksheet to get all those questions in one place. Grab the worksheet at alicesudlow.com/multipov.Links mentioned in the episode:THE GUEST LIST by Lucy FoleyWONDER by R. J. PalacioEp. 16: The Critical Point of View Mistake to Fix in Your Second DraftDownload the Multi POV Quiz: alicesudlow.com/multipovSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

The point of view you choose for your novel shapes the information that you give your readers. And it shapes how your readers receive and interpret that information.Which means your point of view actually shapes the story itself. And that’s a really big deal!The challenge is, point of view can be tricky to master. There are nearly unlimited ways you can craft your point of view. And there are just as many point of view mistakes you can make.In this episode, I’m sharing the most important mistake I see writers make in their point of view. Here it is:Being inconsistent.Ever find yourself accidentally switching between first person and third person point of view? Or between past and present? Or between multiple characters’ perspectives?Those are inconsistencies. And they’ll distract, confuse, and frustrate your readers.Not to worry, though! In this episode, you’ll learn:Why point of view inconsistencies matterHow to spot inconsistencies in your own writingWhen in the editing process you should correct point of view inconsistenciesWhat to do if you’re not sure you’ve caught them all (hint: don’t panic!)And more!Plus, I’ve put together a worksheet for you to reference and practice. In it, I’ll show you what a consistent point of view looks like, and how to spot an inconsistent point of view shift.Then, challenge yourself to spot all the point of view inconsistencies I’ve hidden in the practice exercise.Get the worksheet at alicesudlow.com/povworksheet and practice your point of view skills.Then, pull out a scene of your novel and clean up any point of view inconsistencies you find!Links mentioned in the episode:Point of View Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/povworksheetSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

The most important moment in your story is the moment when your protagonist is faced with a decision.Do this or do that? Stay or go? Speak or remain silent? Flee or fight?In fact, your protagonist will face dozens of decisions throughout your novel. They’ll face at least one in every scene: moments where they experience a crisis, when whatever happens next hinges on the decision they make.But how long should this moment take? Does your protagonist need to waffle between two options for several pages in every scene? Do they even need to know the full weight of what they’re deciding?In this episode, I’m sharing the art and science of the perfect crisis. You’ll learn:When to write a very long crisis and make your character’s decision-making process very clearHow to write a short and snappy crisis your reader might not even notice (but YOU know it’s there!)Why there MUST be consequences for your character’s choiceHow to include a crisis in every scene WITHOUT making your character annoyingly indecisiveHow to create far-reaching consequences of the crisis choice—even if your character can’t predict them in the momentAnd more!Plus, I’ll break down the opening scenes of two novels with very different crises.You’ll see how Natalie C. Parker writes a five-page-long crisis in Seafire—and why it works.And you’ll see how Naomi Novik writes a crisis so short you could blink and you’d miss it in Spinning Silver. Yet the choice the protagonist makes sparks the conflict of the whole book.A well-written crisis can be the absolute best moment in a scene. Find out how to master the crisis in this episode!This episode was inspired by a listener question from David. Thanks, David!Have an editing question you’d like answered? Send me an email at alice@alicesudlow.com with the subject line “Podcast Question,” and I’ll keep it in mind for future podcast episodes!Links mentioned in the episode:SEAFIRE by Natalie C. ParkerSPINNING SILVER by Naomi NovikEp. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing ScenesEp. 11: How to Edit a Scene of a Novel, Part 1Download the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheetSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

Scenes and chapters are not the same.Scenes are the units of story writers use to craft amazing stories. They include one story event that moves the plot forward.Chapters are the units of story that readers see. Writers divide their books into chapters in a variety of ways in order to shape the way their readers experience the book.How do these work together? How can you craft chapters that are the best fit for your book?In this episode, I’ll show you three ways that authors divide their books into chapters. Plus, I’ll show you examples from novels ranging from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to Hank Green’s An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.You’ll learn:Why there’s no “right” number of scenes that must go in every chapter2 essential principles to help you organize the chapters in your bookHow the number of scenes in a chapter impacts the reader’s experience3 common ways authors organize scenes into chaptersAnd more!This isn’t a comprehensive list of every possible way to organize your chapters. Study your favorite novels, and you’ll find so many creative ways that authors arrange the chapters in their books.But the principles I’m sharing in this episode will be helpful to you no matter how you decide to organize your chapters.This episode was inspired by a listener question from Kathi. Thanks, Kathi!Have an editing question you’d like answered? Send me an email at alice@alicesudlow.com with the subject line “Podcast Question,” and I’ll keep it in mind for future podcast episodes!Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing ScenesPRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane AustenSEAFIRE by Natalie C. ParkerRADIO SILENCE by Alice OsemanAN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING by Hank GreenRED, WHITE AND ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuistonSend me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »