If you haven’t read it already, please read Part 1 and Part 2 first.
WHERE TO NOW?
You’ve read your first draft, noted changes needed and you’re ready to start editing. Where to begin?
If you have holes or inconsistencies in your plot, I’d start there. But you don’t have to. There’s just something nice about having an airtight plot though…
You could also:
1. Add setting.
2. Work on dialogue.
3. Flesh out characters, make them more ‘real’.
4. Go chapter by chapter and ‘perfect’ each one, taking it from the beginning, using your notes as a guide.
I will work on plot elements first, deleting and adding whatever is needed till the plot makes sense. Then I will most likely go chapter by chapter, working first on setting, then characters, then dialogue. I’ll make sure each scene has sufficient tension.
It’s really up to you, where you take your story from here. And I wish you all the best!
Revising Your Rough Draft Part 1
Revising Your Rough Draft Part 2