Your Next Draft

What happens in your scenes? Do they even matter to your book? Do they move the story forward and keep your readers engaged? Or are they . . . boring?In order for a scene to earn its place in your story, something needs to happen. It needs a story event, a single event that contributes to the larger plot.The thing is, it’s really easy to write scenes—thousands of words!—where nothing ever happens.A group of friends go to a restaurant and have a pleasant conversation. A woman sits in her favorite chair, sipping tea and thinking.These are normal things we do in everyday life. (And when we do them, we really enjoy them! They’re quite lovely, aren’t they?)But in stories, “scenes” like these will bore your readers to tears . . . unless something interesting happens. Conflict arises. Something changes.So I’ll ask you again: What happens in your scenes?Not sure? Not to worry. In this episode, I’m sharing five essential questions to help you figure out what happens in a scene—and why it matters to your story.These questions are deceptively simple. They won’t take long to answer. But they’ll give you so much invaluable insight into how and why your story is working—or where it’s not working, and how you can fix it.Plus, I’ll show you how to answer them using an example scene: the first scene of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T. J. Klune. Read the first scene for free here. (And if you love it, read the whole book—it's a good one!)Ready to answer all these questions for your scenes and make every page of your book un-put-down-able? Download the Scene Analysis Worksheet at alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet.And if you'd like expert feedback on your scenes, plus personalized strategies for how to make them even better, I'd love to help. Send me a note at alice@alicesudlow.com and tell me about your book!Links mentioned in the episode:Ep. 8: What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing ScenesThe opening scene of 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. 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 »

Great books are made of great scenes. Which means the skill of writing and editing amazing scenes is one of the most important skills you can learn if you want to create a novel readers will love. The thing is, though, readers don't think in terms of scenes. Chapters are clearly marked for readers, but scenes often aren't. Which means that when people make the jump from "reader" to "writer," they often don't know what scenes actually are.What is a scene? What elements must it include? What makes the difference between a scene readers want to skip and a scene that earns its place in your book? And how can you fix a boring scene?In this episode, I'll cover all that and more. You'll learn:The definition of a scene.Three simple ways to identify where your scenes begin and end.Why something MUST change in every single scene, plus how you can tell whether your scenes include a change.The six moments every scene MUST include in order to keep your readers engaged.How long (or short!) scenes can be, and how to find the right scene length for your novel.Why scenes are different from chapters, and how many scenes your book should include.What to do if you're not sure where the scenes in your current draft start and end.And I'll break all these elements down using an example scene: the first scene of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T. J. Klune. Read the first scene for free here. (And if you love it, read the whole book—it's a good one!)Ready to apply all these concepts to your book and make your scenes un-put-down-able? Download the Scene Analysis Worksheet at alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet.And if you'd like expert feedback on your scenes, plus personalized strategies for how to make them even better, I'd love to help. Send me a note at alice@alicesudlow.com and tell me about your book!Links mentioned in the episode:The opening scene of UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T. J. KluneThe Scene Analysis Worksheet: 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. 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 »

Writing your book doesn't have to take forever. Editing your book doesn't have to take forever.And in this episode, the fourth and final installment of our speedy writing and editing series, you'll learn seven strategies to make your editing process more efficient so you can finish your next draft—and then your next book—faster.We'll cover:How to make sure the changes you're making to your novel will work—before you edit a single word.Why taking extra time to practice the skill of editing one scene will have an outsized impact on your whole editing process.Why making reading a regular part of your life will help you edit faster and more effectively.Want more speedy tips? Check out episode 6 of the podcast for three more strategies to edit your novel faster. And check out episode 4 and episode 5 for tips on how to finish your first draft faster. Hint: these tips will be helpful in your editing process, too!Plus, get a quick-reference list of all ten speedy editing strategies by going to alicesudlow.com/editfast.And if you’d like expert editing support that will help you finish your next draft so much faster, I’d love to help. Send me a note at alice@alicesudlow.com and tell me about your book!Links mentioned in the episode:Find me on Instagram and FacebookHire me to edit your book: alicesudlow.com/contact or alice@alicesudlow.comGet your guide to all ten editing strategies: alicesudlow.com/editfastEpisode 2: How Many Drafts Does it Take to Edit a Book?Episode 3: How to Figure Out Which Draft You're Writing: First Draft, Second Draft, and MoreEpisode 4: 10 ProductivSend 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. 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 finish editing your next draft in just a few weeks.That’s right. You can finish it in three months—or less!The trick, of course, is to find the editing process that works for you. The process that keeps you focused, motivated, and inspired so you can make the right changes to your book every day.And in this episode, I’ll share three strategies I recommend to help you do just that.You’ll learn:How to set a deadline that keeps you on track—and ensures you actually finish!When to hire an editor—and why hiring an editor after your first draft can shave years off your editing process.Why shaking things up and editing in a different location than your writing space can give you an editing boost.Plus, get a free worksheet to guide you through setting your deadline for your next draft. Go to alicesudlow.com/deadline to get your worksheet.Want more speedy tips? There are more fast editing tips coming for you in the next episode, so be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss them.And be sure to check out episode 4 and episode 5 of the podcast for tips on how to finish your first draft faster. Hint: these tips will be helpful in your editing process, too!And if you’d like expert editing support that will help you finish your next draft so much faster, I’d love to help. Send me a note at alice@alicesudlow.com and tell me about your book!Links mentioned in the episode:Episode 4: 10 Productivity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft FasterEpisode 5: 11 Creativity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft FasterHire me to edit your book: alicesudlow.com/contact or alice@alicesudlow.comGet your free deadline worksheet: alicesudlow.com/deadlineSend 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. 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 »

Learn 11 strategies to boost creativity and get back in the flow of writing, including writing the worst sentence in the world and going on a walk. Discover effective techniques to finish your first draft faster, such as asking key questions when starting a scene and using writing sprints. Find your ideal writing environment by identifying when and where you write best, and enhancing your creativity through all five senses. Recap of tips, free download, and assignment to implement one idea provided.

Learn productivity tips to finish your first draft faster, including project management and replicating effective systems. Discover the importance of accountability partners, feedback, and joining a writing community for motivation and support. Explore the power of publicly announcing your book and not letting social media distract you from writing.

How many drafts does it take to write and edit an amazing book? Should you publish your book right after you finish your first draft? (No.) And how long will the editing process take?In this episode, I'll show you an overview of the full writing and editing process, plus an estimate of how many drafts it will take for you to finally finish your book.Download a guide to the four kinds of drafts at alicesudlow.com/4drafts.And if you liked what you heard, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss the next episode!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. 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 »

Learn how to determine which draft you're writing and what to do next. The podcast covers the importance of having a specific goal, understanding the different stages of editing a book, transitioning from draft point five to draft one, and setting goals for your current writing draft.

Finishing your first draft is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations! But wait, now what?If you feel like you've fallen off the map of the writing and editing process, don't worry. In this episode, I'll share the five things you should do right after you finish your draft.Editing your book? Take a moment to see whether you've done these five things.Download a guide to the five steps in the episode plus five more at alicesudlow.com/10steps.And if you liked what you heard, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss the next episode!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. 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 »

What do you do once you finish your first draft? What does “edit your book” actually mean? And how do you know when you’re ready to get published?Welcome to Your Next Draft.If you’re writing a novel and you’ve ever found yourself asking questions like these, you’re in the right place.I’m Alice Sudlow, a developmental editor, avid reader, and story nerd. Since 2016, I’ve helped dozens of writers write and edit books they’re truly proud of—and then publish stories readers love.In this podcast, I’ll show you how to finish your first draft, edit your next draft, and craft a publication-ready novel.Every week, I’ll share quick, actionable tips you can use right away to finish your next draft. In each episode, I’ll give you a bite-sized strategy for the writing and editing process to help you craft your best book.This podcast is perfect for you if you’re working on a novel. Are you on your first draft? Your second draft? Your tenth? Let’s finish your next draft and get you ready to publish.Stick with me, and with your editing process, and soon you’ll publish an amazing book!To find out more about this podcast and how I help writers publish their BEST books, go to https://alicesudlow.com/.And be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!Send 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 »