Embrace the Imperfection of the First Draft

The first draft is not about producing a masterpiece—it’s about getting your story down on paper. Embrace the messiness, allow yourself to take risks, and don’t be afraid to write badly. Remember, you can’t revise or improve something that doesn’t exist, so the most important thing is to keep writing.

Assignment: Write your novel

By following these dos and don’ts, you’ll approach your first draft with the right mindset, making it easier to finish and, ultimately, refine into a story you’re proud of.

What’s the most challenging part of writing your first draft? Let me know in the comments below! Happy writing!

How to Revise and Edit the First Draft of Your Novel: Tips for Self-Editing

So, you’ve completed the first draft of your novel—congratulations! Finishing a draft is no small feat and is something worth celebrating. But as every writer knows, the first draft is just the beginning. Now comes the hard part: revising and editing.

The revision process is where your story takes shape, becomes polished, and transforms into the novel you envisioned when you first began writing. But revising a draft, especially a long one, can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you know what to cut, change, or keep? And what if you can’t afford to hire a professional editor?

Fear not! In this blog, we’ll walk through the essential steps to revising and editing your first draft. Plus, I’ll share some self-editing tips to help you refine your novel if hiring an expert isn’t in the budget.