December 24, 2024 • 27 mins
Is the thought of revising your first draft making you nauseous? I got you. These mindset tips will ease revision anxiety for good.
It's one thing to pour your heart into writing a first draft. However, facing revisions and sharing your story with others can feel raw, uncomfortable, and downright scary.
Not to worry. Every writer struggles with this novel writing phase, and that's why I've brought together four brilliant book coaches and editors to share their mindset wisdom to make the first draft revision process less scary and more exciting.
Here's what we talk about:
[02:48] Why you should absolutely love your "hot mess" first draft—it's exactly what it needs to be right now.
[08:01] The right (and wrong) people to ask for first draft feedback and how to prepare yourself emotionally for their response.
[12:40] A practical approach to handling hard-to-hear feedback so that it feels less personal and more purposeful.
[19:05] A unique 3-step revision process that transforms how you think about your first draft to turn it into a ‘must-read’ success.
[22:59] Why comparing your revision journey to other writers only holds you back—and what to focus on instead.
Tune into this episode to discover how to shift your mindset from revision fear to revision readiness. You'll walk away with practical strategies that make revisions less overwhelming, feedback less personal, and the entire process more purposeful.
And this is precisely what you need to turn your first draft into a story readers love.
🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:
- Stacy Frazer’s website and Instagram
- Michelle Regenold’s website and Instagram
- Leslie Horn’s website and YouTube
- Caryn DeVincenti’s website and Instagram
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
First drafts are supposed to look like a hot mess
on a bad hair day.
They are supposed to be missingthings and filled with
inconsistencies and plot holes,absence setting and really bad
dialogue.
If your first draft looks likethat, then you did it right and
you're going to make it betterthrough editing in phases.
Now, revision is a big ask andit will likely take you longer
(00:23):
than you think maybe even longerthan it took you to write the
first draft, and you need toknow that that's normal.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy
podcast.
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So, whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
(00:53):
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
In today's episode, we're goingto talk about what it means to
get your mindset right forrevision, and I thought this
would be a good topic to tackletoday, because at the time this
episode airs, it's almost theend of December and many writers
(01:15):
participated in NaNoWriMo, orNational Novel Writing Month,
last month, or a variation ofNaNoWriMo Plus.
I know that many writers whofinished their first draft in
the last 12 months will beworking on revisions come the
new year.
So I felt like this was theperfect time to talk about
revisions and, specifically, Iwanted to share some mindset
(01:36):
hacks or some tips to help youprepare for and navigate your
own revisions, because, let's behonest, revisions are not
always easy right and mindsetplays a huge role in your
ability to work throughrevisions.
So that's what we're going totalk about today, and I thought
it would be fun for you to hearfrom some other editors and
coaches, not just me.
(01:57):
So, without further ado, let'sdive into the first tip from
Stacey Fraser, and she's goingto share some tips for how to
approach the revision process.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Hello, fiction Writing Made Easy listeners.
My name is Stacey Fraser andI'm an author accelerator,
certified fiction book coach andthe host of the Write it Scared
podcast.
My work is to empowercommercial fiction writers to
work through their self-doubtand learn the craft so that they
can write books that they areproud of, through my small group
book coaching cohorts andprivate book coaching.
Today, I'm here with a mindsettip to help you find more
(02:31):
acceptance and joy in the messyprocess of revising your first
draft, because staring at a pileof words that you now need to
organize into a reader-readynovel can feel daunting.
Like where do you start?
You might even feel like you'llnever figure this out, but you
will.
The first part of my tip isjust to remind you to be
(02:52):
grateful for all those cringyfirst draft words and the effort
that you put forth to make them.
They had to come first, soplease see the gain here and not
just the gap.
Remember to focus on how faryou've come.
No one writes a perfect firstdraft, and so you may be looking
at yours and maybe you've readthrough it and at this point
(03:12):
you're thinking, oh my gosh,what have I done?
Don't worry, first drafts aresupposed to look like a hot mess
on a bad hair day.
They are supposed to be missingthings and filled with
inconsistencies and plot holes,absence setting and really bad
dialogue.
If your first draft looks likethat, then you did it right and
(03:33):
you're going to make it betterthrough editing in phases.
Now, revision is a big ask andit will likely take you longer
than you think, maybe evenlonger than it took you to write
the first draft, and you needto know that.
That's normal.
And though it feels like a big,daunting task and it might be
hard to know where to begin, ithelps to remember that revision
(03:54):
is just a process, a processwith steps which you can break
down into manageable bites.
And that's the second part of mytip is just to narrow the focus
and home in on fixing one thingat a time, because if you try
to fix everything all at once inone pass, you will get
overwhelmed and you will freeze,because you'll be toggling back
and forth between the structureand the seams and the logic and
(04:16):
the lines, and you won't end upfixing things that matter, that
make the story stronger.
So instead, fix the big issuesfirst.
Start with the story structureand the logic and the character
arcs and the conflict.
And if you don't know how to dothat, then it would be a great
time to reach out for help froma book coach who focuses on
revision.
So fix one thing and then moveon, and don't forget to
(04:39):
recognize your effort and yourprogress.
And when you come acrosssomething super cringy, like a
terrible patch of dialogue or ascene with zero setting, but
you're not focused on correctingthat specific issue right now,
then just make yourself a noteand reassure yourself that you
will come back to it in a laterpass.
Approaching your revision in astepwise fashion fixing the
(05:00):
major issues first, leaving theless critical issues for later
will result in far lessheadaches and it will ensure
that you are fixing things thatmake the story stronger as you
go forward, and it's going tohelp you learn a repeatable
editing process that you willbecome more efficient with over
time.
You just have to learn to eatthe revision elephant one nibble
at a time until it's gone, andset yourself up to be successful
(05:23):
by managing your expectationsand often lowering them.
Remember, this is a longprocess.
You don't have to fixeverything all at once.
You are not in a race.
Focus on training your brain toignore the smaller issues in
the manuscript until the largerones are fixed, and remember to
acknowledge your progress.
And here's my parting thought.
Revision can be a tiringprocess, so make sure that you
(05:47):
are well-rested and have thestamina to start, and that you
rest in between each of thosesteps, congratulate yourself on
your progress and alwaysremember to look at your gain
and not just your gap.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I love all of this so much and I particularly latched
onto what Stacey said about therevision process taking longer
than you'd probably expect.
I do think that's true and I'veseen it with many of the
writers I work with.
So I think, if I were topiggyback on what Stacey shared,
it's also about managing yourexpectations around revisions.
So, yes, go through therevision process in phases and
(06:27):
also expect that it's probablygoing to take you longer to fix
those big picture issues, likeanything with your plot and your
characters, things like that.
It's going to take you longerto do that than it will to go
through and correct smallerthings like updating a name or
correcting any spelling orgrammar issues.
Now, I know that might soundobvious, but this funny thing
happens when we're in the weedsof revisions.
(06:48):
We don't really think aboutstuff like this, right, we just
kind of dive in and then we getoverwhelmed.
So I always like to remind youof the things I see other
writers do that both work anddon't work, so that your
revisions can go smoothly.
So thank you so much for thistip, stacey.
I totally agree with everythingyou said.
And next up we have a tip fromMichelle Regenold and she's
going to talk to us aboutpreparing your heart and your
(07:10):
mind to ask for feedback.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Hi, I'm Michelle Regenold.
I coach writers of middle gradeand young adult novels.
Asking for feedback on yournovel can be hard.
You want your reader to lovethe story as much as you do, so
the first thing to do whenyou're considering asking for
feedback on your novel is toassess your own readiness to
receive feedback.
Have you put your novel awayfor at least a week?
(07:37):
After your novel's been out ofsight and out of mind for a
while, can you look at it againwith a touch of objectivity?
Can you see things you'd liketo improve?
If you can answer yes to eachof those questions, then you're
open to receiving feedback.
If you answered no to one ormore of them, you're not as open
to feedback.
Yet.
Put your novel away for a bitlonger.
(07:59):
Then assess your readinessagain.
Once you've determined you areready to get feedback on your
novel.
Who should you ask?
Consider people you alreadyknow.
Do any of them read the kind offiction that you write?
Are any of them writersthemselves?
Family and friends may say theywant to read your novel, but
unless they are steeped inknowledge of the genre you write
(08:20):
and are willing to give youhonest feedback, they tend not
to be very helpful.
If you're in a writing group ora critique group, fellow
members may be open to swappingmanuscripts for feedback.
But again, be aware of theirknowledge of the genre you're
writing in and the age groupyou're writing for.
For example, if you're writingsweet historical romance for
(08:42):
adults, someone who writesmiddle grade horror may not be
the best fit.
If you find someone you know toread your manuscript, it will
help them, help you if you givethem a few questions to consider
as they read.
For example, you could ask yourreader to stop after chapter
one and briefly explain whatthey think is going to happen
next.
(09:02):
Would they keep reading?
Why or why not?
Also, what do they think yourbook is about?
If there's something you'reparticularly interested in, you
can ask for your reader'sthoughts on that too.
You can also ask them to jotdown what they're thinking at a
few different spots in the book,like the halfway point and the
climax.
This kind of reader can tellyou about their experience with
(09:23):
your novel, where they stoppedreading, where they found the
characters or actionunbelievable, things like that.
That is all useful information.
For more thorough feedback withsuggestions about how to improve
your manuscript, you may needto turn to a professional.
Professionals who read and givefeedback on whole novels have
different titles.
They can include book coachesand developmental editors.
(09:46):
Some literary agents and bookeditors provide freelance
editing services too, and so dosome published authors.
If you decide to pay forfeedback on your whole novel,
you definitely want to findsomeone who specializes in the
kind of fiction you're writing.
Their expertise in your genrewill pay off in the more
specific suggestions they'llprovide.
(10:08):
Now, as tough as it is to askfor feedback on your novel, it
can be even tougher to receiveit.
One way to dip your toe intothe feedback waters is to start
with a critique at a writingconference.
Conferences often offercritiques from agents, editors
and published writers of thefirst 10 pages of your novel for
(10:28):
an extra fee, and conferencesare a way to meet other writers
who might be interested inswapping feedback with you.
After you receive feedback onyour novel, keep in mind that
you can ignore anything thatdoesn't resonate with you.
Feedback is one person'sopinion and you are the boss of
your own story.
Good luck with your writing.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, thank you for this tip, michelle.
I love what you said aboutasking the right people for
feedback.
I cannot express how often Imeet a writer who is ready to
give up on their writing, notbecause of their skill level or
their creativity or anythinglike that, but because of
feedback they receive from thewrong type of person.
So what do I mean by this?
Well, imagine someone like yourbest friend's brother who reads
(11:14):
books, but they read sci-fi andyou're writing a thriller.
So you get feedback fromsomebody who doesn't even read
in your genre, who may or maynot even want to do you this
favor.
Right?
Maybe they're just doing it fortheir sister or for the family
connection or whatever.
I see stuff like this happen allof the time, and even with the
best intentions, unless theperson giving feedback is an
(11:34):
avid reader and knows your genreand all the things that
Michelle said, it usuallydoesn't turn out well.
So just something to keep inmind if you are planning to
reach out for feedback.
Luckily, there are many writersout there who you can do a
story swap with.
There are beta readers andprofessional coaches, and there
are professional coaches andeditors to help you with
feedback as well.
All right next up, we have atip from Leslie Horn, and
(11:57):
Leslie's going to talk to usabout what to do once you get
feedback back from your coach oryour editor or your beta
readers or whoever you've sharedyour story with.
So let's go ahead and diveright into Leslie's tip.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Hello writers.
My name is Leslie or, as youmay have seen me around the
internet, xp Lovecat my name,which is a little homage to
1920s cosmic horror writer HPLovecraft.
I am a developmental editor andbook coach for fantasy, sci-fi
and horror, and I love helpingwriters through the revision
process of their novels andshort stories.
Today we're diving into how todeal with negative feedback.
(12:34):
Whether you're a new writer orhave been at it for years, the
reality is that negativefeedback can sting.
You might feel great about yourstory, confident in your
characters, your plot, yourstyle, and then someone comes
along with a whole lot of notesand suddenly you're put on the
defensive.
But my story is great.
How could they give this typeof feedback?
Certainly they can't be rightright, but feedback can be an
(12:59):
opportunity to refine your workand ultimately get it closer to
your vision.
So I have three tips fordealing with negative feedback
to share ultimately get itcloser to your vision.
So I have three tips fordealing with negative feedback
to share.
The first tip is to pausebefore reacting to any feedback.
When we receive negativecriticism, especially on
something so personal as ourwriting, it's normal to feel
defensive or hurt, but if yourespond right away, you're
likely reacting emotionally,which could potentially close us
(13:21):
off to valuable insights.
Now, I feel like most of usfundamentally know this, but we
forget to implement it.
So anytime you send yourwriting out for feedback
critique partner, beta reader,editor make yourself a post-it
note or write in your calendarto take a break after reading
feedback.
Then, when you receive saidfeedback, take a literal break
(13:42):
from your manuscript afterreading it, go for a walk, let
the notes sit for a few days.
This gives you time to let thefeedback sink in so when you
come back to it, you'll havemore clarity.
When you make a habit ofpausing and reflecting, you're
less prone to burnout ordiscouragement.
You can then approach feedbackwith a balanced mindset, helping
you make decisions thatgenuinely benefit your story
(14:02):
rather than reacting based on atemporary emotion.
Genuinely benefit your storyrather than reacting based on a
temporary emotion.
The next tip is a big one and issomething I still struggle with
sometimes, and that is toseparate your worth from your
work.
As writers, our stories feellike a part of us, but it's
crucial to remember thatfeedback is about the work, not
you as a person.
Your talent and your story'scurrent draft are two separate
(14:25):
things.
This mindset of attaching worthto your draft can lead to
giving up, procrastinating ornever even sharing your work.
Try reframing your mindsetaround feedback.
Think of yourself as astoryteller in progress, and
every draft is a stepping stonetoward improvement.
One helpful exercise is to behyper aware of the language you
use when reacting to feedback.
(14:46):
So, instead of saying somethinglike I need to be better,
instead think of it as my storyhas room to improve.
It's a small mental shift, butit reminds you that every draft,
no matter where it's at, canimprove, and that's not a
judgment of you.
Once you separate your identityfrom your draft, you can
approach feedback with a lighterheart.
You're no longer questioningyour worth and instead just
(15:09):
looking at ways to make thestory stronger.
The third and final tip that Ihave around feedback is for you
to evaluate against your storygoals.
When you receive feedback, it'simportant to consider whether
it supports the direction youwant to take your story.
I always recommend startingwith an open mindset.
Every beat of feedback has thepotential to help your story
(15:29):
resonate with readers more andbring you even closer to the
vision you had for your story.
However, writers who don'tevaluate feedback in relation to
their story goals can easilylose track of their vision.
Without a clear sense of whatthe story is fundamentally about
its themes, tone, characterarcs and key conflicts it's easy
to fall into the trap of tryingto please everyone.
(15:51):
So instead, take time to writeout your main story goals to
serve as your North Star.
Then, once you receive feedback, take each suggestion and ask
yourself does this change,support or enhance my story's
goals?
Once you start evaluatingfeedback against your story
goals, the revision processbecomes less overwhelming.
You'll feel more in control ofyour story's direction, while
(16:13):
also staying open and optimisticabout the possibility that this
piece of feedback could helpyour story shine brighter.
Embracing feedback doesn't meanyou have to change everything
about your story or bend toevery critique.
Instead, it's about approachingeach piece of feedback with
curiosity, open-mindedness andthe confidence to know what will
or won't serve your vision.
(16:34):
So next time you receivefeedback, take a deep breath and
remind yourself that it's anopportunity to refine and
strengthen your work.
You're still in control.
You decide what changes toembrace and what to let go of,
and with each piece of feedback,you're not only growing your
story, you're growing as awriter.
Trust the process, stay true toyour voice and let feedback be
(16:55):
one of the tools that helps youcreate a story you are proud of.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
These are such great tips and thank you to Leslie for
sharing those tips with us.
I particularly liked what shesaid.
These are such great tips andthank you to Leslie for sharing
those tips with us.
I particularly liked what shesaid about taking a break to let
the feedback marinate.
This is so, so important, and Iknow how tempting it is to fire
off an email right after youreceive your feedback,
especially if that feedbackdidn't feel very good to receive
.
But this kind of goes back towhat Michelle talked about.
(17:22):
If you trust that the personyou ask for feedback has good
intentions, then that means theyprobably are trying to be
helpful.
Now, this is not to say thateveryone who gives feedback does
it in a constructive way.
Some people just don't know howto do that.
But let's say that you did getconstructive feedback and it
just stings a bit because oftenfeedback does no matter what the
(17:44):
intentions of the person givingyou feedback are.
So that time and space awayfrom the feedback and your
manuscript is so crucial becauseit allows you to take a breath
and come back to everything withfresh eyes and an open mind,
and that's a much better placeto make progress from than a
place of being defensive or hurtand, like Michelle said, you
(18:05):
don't have to agree with all ofthe feedback.
Just be open to it, becausethat could make all the
difference.
So, Michelle, thank you forsharing these tips with us.
I think you're spot on witheverything you said, and next up
we're going to hear fromCorinne DeVincenti.
She's got a really fun way oflooking at the writing and
editing process.
I don't want to spoil any of itfor you, so let's just dive
(18:25):
right into Corinne's tip.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Hello fans of the Fiction Writers Made Easy
podcast.
I'm Corinne DiVincenti, thewrite coach, a graduate
gemologist turned writer,teacher and author accelerator,
certified book coach, and thankyou, savannah Gilbo, for having
me on your show.
With experience in both thejewelry industry and writing,
I've discovered a surprisingconnection between these crafts.
(18:52):
Revising a first draft is a lotlike unearthing and polishing a
gemstone.
So today I'm sharing actionabletips to help you turn your
first draft from a rough, uncutstone into a story that sparkles
.
Tip number one unearth the rawmaterial.
A gemstone straight from theearth looks rough and
(19:12):
unappealing.
Before cutting a lapidary,someone who facets and polishes
gems examines it for potential.
Your first draft is like thatraw gem.
It won't look perfect at first,but it's brimming with
possibility.
Natural diamonds take millionsof years to form.
After mining, there's stillneat cutting and polishing.
(19:33):
Writing is similar.
It requires time and patience.
Rushing through edits can leaveyour story flawed.
Approach revisions in focuspasses Maybe one for structure,
one for character development,one for style and grammar.
Breaking it into smaller stepsprevents premature submissions.
Remember a gemstone and a storycan't be rushed to brilliance.
(19:59):
Tip number two trim whatdoesn't serve the core.
A lapidary cuts away excessmaterial to reveal a gem's
beauty when revising, think likea gem.
Cutter, trim scenes, dialogueor even characters that don't
serve your story.
Ask yourself does this sceneadvance the plot or reveal
(20:19):
something new about thecharacter?
Cut whatever doesn't add value.
Your readers want the polishedstory, not the excess material.
Tip number three put it ondisplay.
Once a gemstone is polished andmounted, it's ready to be
showcased.
Similarly, once your story isedited, it's time to share it
(20:40):
with readers.
Seeking feedback might feeldaunting, but it's a crucial
step in getting your storypublication ready.
My advice Share your manuscriptwith beta readers, critique
partners or a trusted expert,like a book coach.
Think of their feedback as thefinal polish.
It smooths out the rough edgesand helps your story shine
(21:02):
before it's presented to theworld.
Okay, writers, I hope you foundthese pearls of wisdom helpful.
Do you see what I did there?
The fact that you're listeningto this podcast shows your
commitment to honing your craft.
Remember, your first draft islike that rough gemstone.
It may not look perfect now,but with time, effort and
patience, it will becomesomething truly magnificent.
(21:24):
Thank you for listening andpatience.
It will become something trulymagnificent.
Thank you for listening and abig thanks to Savannah for
having me on the show.
Take care and keep polishingyour prose.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I love this tip from Corinne, and I especially love
thinking of your first draftlike that raw uncut gemstone,
and I couldn't help but think,as Corinne was sharing that tip,
that a raw uncut gemstone isstill very beautiful, right?
And so I think we should alsolook at our first drafts that
way as well, which kind of goesback to what Stacey said in the
(21:57):
tip that she shared earlier.
We want to be grateful for ourfirst drafts, even if they're
messy, because without thatfirst draft we would have
nothing to edit, right.
So in that way, I do thinkfirst drafts are actually kind
of beautiful All right.
Now I want to share one finaltip with you, and this is a tip
from me.
So, as you revise your draft, Iwant you to be on the lookout
(22:18):
for instances where you compareyourself to other people or your
work to other books.
This is such a common thing, Isee, and it really doesn't serve
you at all.
So let's say you're in awriting group and you suddenly
find yourself comparing yourediting process to someone
else's.
Maybe they're making moreprogress than you or going
through their edits faster.
(22:39):
Either way, comparing yourprocess or timeline to theirs is
an unfair comparison.
In most cases, you don't knowwhat's going on in their life.
Maybe they have more time toedit than you do.
Maybe they're not doing as deepor as quality of an edit as
you're doing.
Maybe they have outside helpthat you don't know about.
You know, there are just somany unknowns that it becomes a
(23:02):
really unfair comparison, andit's an unfair comparison that
doesn't serve you.
The same thing is true ofpublished novels, right?
I see this happen a lot, so welook at our favorite books and
we compare our work in progressto those books, only to feel
like we're coming up short.
Well, of course, our messyfirst drafts don't compare to
final published books, right?
(23:23):
So this is another unfaircomparison.
Now, I know you've probablyheard this advice before, but I
do think it bears repeating,especially as we're talking
about mindset traps and mindsettips to help us through the
revision process.
So avoid the comparison gamewhile you're revising.
Actually, I'd like you to avoidit always if possible, and
(23:45):
focus on running your own race,because focusing on your own
work in progress and your ownrevisions, that's what's going
to get you to the finish linequicker and in the way that you
want to, rather than spending somuch time and energy comparing
yourself to other people andother books.
That's not going to get you tothe finish line quick, all right
.
So I hope at least one of thetips that was shared in today's
(24:07):
episode resonated with you, andI hope these tips make your
revisions a whole lot easier.
A big thank you to Stacey,michelle, leslie and Corinne for
sharing their expertise andtheir words of wisdom with us,
and if you want to get in touchwith Stacey, michelle, leslie or
Corinne, I will have all theirwebsites and social media stuff
linked up in the show notes.
(24:27):
If any one of these tipsresonated with you in particular
, I'm sure they would just loveto hear from you, so maybe send
them a little note on socialmedia or reach out to them
through their website if youfeel so inclined.
So that's it for today'sepisode.
As always, thank you so muchfor tuning in and for showing
your support.
(24:48):
If you want to check out any ofthe links I mentioned in this
episode, you can find them inthe show notes listed in the
description of each episodeinside your podcast player or at
savannahgilbocom forward slashpodcast.
If you're an Apple user, I'dreally appreciate it if you took
a few seconds to leave a ratingand a review.
Your ratings and reviews tellApple that this is a podcast
(25:09):
that's worth listening to and,in turn, your reviews will help
this podcast get in front ofmore fiction writers just like
you.
And while you're there, goahead and hit that follow button
, because there's going to beanother brand new episode next
week, full of actionable tips,tools and strategies to help you
become a better writer.
So I'll see you next week anduntil then, happy writing.
First drafts are supposed to look like a hot mess
on a bad hair day.
They are supposed to be missingthings and filled with
inconsistencies and plot holes,absence setting and really bad
dialogue.
If your first draft looks likethat, then you did it right and
you're going to make it betterthrough editing in phases.
Now, revision is a big ask andit will likely take you longer
(00:23):
than you think maybe even longerthan it took you to write the
first draft, and you need toknow that that's normal.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy
podcast.
My name is Savannah Gilbo andI'm here to help you write a
story that works.
I want to prove to you thatwriting a novel doesn't have to
be overwhelming, so each week,I'll bring you a brand new
episode with simple, actionableand step-by-step strategies that
you can implement in yourwriting right away.
So, whether you're brand new towriting or more of a seasoned
(00:53):
author looking to improve yourcraft, this podcast is for you.
So pick up a pen and let's getstarted.
In today's episode, we're goingto talk about what it means to
get your mindset right forrevision, and I thought this
would be a good topic to tackletoday, because at the time this
episode airs, it's almost theend of December and many writers
(01:15):
participated in NaNoWriMo, orNational Novel Writing Month,
last month, or a variation ofNaNoWriMo Plus.
I know that many writers whofinished their first draft in
the last 12 months will beworking on revisions come the
new year.
So I felt like this was theperfect time to talk about
revisions and, specifically, Iwanted to share some mindset
(01:36):
hacks or some tips to help youprepare for and navigate your
own revisions, because, let's behonest, revisions are not
always easy right and mindsetplays a huge role in your
ability to work throughrevisions.
So that's what we're going totalk about today, and I thought
it would be fun for you to hearfrom some other editors and
coaches, not just me.
(01:57):
So, without further ado, let'sdive into the first tip from
Stacey Fraser, and she's goingto share some tips for how to
approach the revision process.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Hello, fiction Writing Made Easy listeners.
My name is Stacey Fraser andI'm an author accelerator,
certified fiction book coach andthe host of the Write it Scared
podcast.
My work is to empowercommercial fiction writers to
work through their self-doubtand learn the craft so that they
can write books that they areproud of, through my small group
book coaching cohorts andprivate book coaching.
Today, I'm here with a mindsettip to help you find more
(02:31):
acceptance and joy in the messyprocess of revising your first
draft, because staring at a pileof words that you now need to
organize into a reader-readynovel can feel daunting.
Like where do you start?
You might even feel like you'llnever figure this out, but you
will.
The first part of my tip isjust to remind you to be
(02:52):
grateful for all those cringyfirst draft words and the effort
that you put forth to make them.
They had to come first, soplease see the gain here and not
just the gap.
Remember to focus on how faryou've come.
No one writes a perfect firstdraft, and so you may be looking
at yours and maybe you've readthrough it and at this point
(03:12):
you're thinking, oh my gosh,what have I done?
Don't worry, first drafts aresupposed to look like a hot mess
on a bad hair day.
They are supposed to be missingthings and filled with
inconsistencies and plot holes,absence setting and really bad
dialogue.
If your first draft looks likethat, then you did it right and
(03:33):
you're going to make it betterthrough editing in phases.
Now, revision is a big ask andit will likely take you longer
than you think, maybe evenlonger than it took you to write
the first draft, and you needto know that.
That's normal.
And though it feels like a big,daunting task and it might be
hard to know where to begin, ithelps to remember that revision
(03:54):
is just a process, a processwith steps which you can break
down into manageable bites.
And that's the second part of mytip is just to narrow the focus
and home in on fixing one thingat a time, because if you try
to fix everything all at once inone pass, you will get
overwhelmed and you will freeze,because you'll be toggling back
and forth between the structureand the seams and the logic and
(04:16):
the lines, and you won't end upfixing things that matter, that
make the story stronger.
So instead, fix the big issuesfirst.
Start with the story structureand the logic and the character
arcs and the conflict.
And if you don't know how to dothat, then it would be a great
time to reach out for help froma book coach who focuses on
revision.
So fix one thing and then moveon, and don't forget to
(04:39):
recognize your effort and yourprogress.
And when you come acrosssomething super cringy, like a
terrible patch of dialogue or ascene with zero setting, but
you're not focused on correctingthat specific issue right now,
then just make yourself a noteand reassure yourself that you
will come back to it in a laterpass.
Approaching your revision in astepwise fashion fixing the
(05:00):
major issues first, leaving theless critical issues for later
will result in far lessheadaches and it will ensure
that you are fixing things thatmake the story stronger as you
go forward, and it's going tohelp you learn a repeatable
editing process that you willbecome more efficient with over
time.
You just have to learn to eatthe revision elephant one nibble
at a time until it's gone, andset yourself up to be successful
(05:23):
by managing your expectationsand often lowering them.
Remember, this is a longprocess.
You don't have to fixeverything all at once.
You are not in a race.
Focus on training your brain toignore the smaller issues in
the manuscript until the largerones are fixed, and remember to
acknowledge your progress.
And here's my parting thought.
Revision can be a tiringprocess, so make sure that you
(05:47):
are well-rested and have thestamina to start, and that you
rest in between each of thosesteps, congratulate yourself on
your progress and alwaysremember to look at your gain
and not just your gap.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I love all of this so much and I particularly latched
onto what Stacey said about therevision process taking longer
than you'd probably expect.
I do think that's true and I'veseen it with many of the
writers I work with.
So I think, if I were topiggyback on what Stacey shared,
it's also about managing yourexpectations around revisions.
So, yes, go through therevision process in phases and
(06:27):
also expect that it's probablygoing to take you longer to fix
those big picture issues, likeanything with your plot and your
characters, things like that.
It's going to take you longerto do that than it will to go
through and correct smallerthings like updating a name or
correcting any spelling orgrammar issues.
Now, I know that might soundobvious, but this funny thing
happens when we're in the weedsof revisions.
(06:48):
We don't really think aboutstuff like this, right, we just
kind of dive in and then we getoverwhelmed.
So I always like to remind youof the things I see other
writers do that both work anddon't work, so that your
revisions can go smoothly.
So thank you so much for thistip, stacey.
I totally agree with everythingyou said.
And next up we have a tip fromMichelle Regenold and she's
going to talk to us aboutpreparing your heart and your
(07:10):
mind to ask for feedback.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Hi, I'm Michelle Regenold.
I coach writers of middle gradeand young adult novels.
Asking for feedback on yournovel can be hard.
You want your reader to lovethe story as much as you do, so
the first thing to do whenyou're considering asking for
feedback on your novel is toassess your own readiness to
receive feedback.
Have you put your novel awayfor at least a week?
(07:37):
After your novel's been out ofsight and out of mind for a
while, can you look at it againwith a touch of objectivity?
Can you see things you'd liketo improve?
If you can answer yes to eachof those questions, then you're
open to receiving feedback.
If you answered no to one ormore of them, you're not as open
to feedback.
Yet.
Put your novel away for a bitlonger.
(07:59):
Then assess your readinessagain.
Once you've determined you areready to get feedback on your
novel.
Who should you ask?
Consider people you alreadyknow.
Do any of them read the kind offiction that you write?
Are any of them writersthemselves?
Family and friends may say theywant to read your novel, but
unless they are steeped inknowledge of the genre you write
(08:20):
and are willing to give youhonest feedback, they tend not
to be very helpful.
If you're in a writing group ora critique group, fellow
members may be open to swappingmanuscripts for feedback.
But again, be aware of theirknowledge of the genre you're
writing in and the age groupyou're writing for.
For example, if you're writingsweet historical romance for
(08:42):
adults, someone who writesmiddle grade horror may not be
the best fit.
If you find someone you know toread your manuscript, it will
help them, help you if you givethem a few questions to consider
as they read.
For example, you could ask yourreader to stop after chapter
one and briefly explain whatthey think is going to happen
next.
(09:02):
Would they keep reading?
Why or why not?
Also, what do they think yourbook is about?
If there's something you'reparticularly interested in, you
can ask for your reader'sthoughts on that too.
You can also ask them to jotdown what they're thinking at a
few different spots in the book,like the halfway point and the
climax.
This kind of reader can tellyou about their experience with
(09:23):
your novel, where they stoppedreading, where they found the
characters or actionunbelievable, things like that.
That is all useful information.
For more thorough feedback withsuggestions about how to improve
your manuscript, you may needto turn to a professional.
Professionals who read and givefeedback on whole novels have
different titles.
They can include book coachesand developmental editors.
(09:46):
Some literary agents and bookeditors provide freelance
editing services too, and so dosome published authors.
If you decide to pay forfeedback on your whole novel,
you definitely want to findsomeone who specializes in the
kind of fiction you're writing.
Their expertise in your genrewill pay off in the more
specific suggestions they'llprovide.
(10:08):
Now, as tough as it is to askfor feedback on your novel, it
can be even tougher to receiveit.
One way to dip your toe intothe feedback waters is to start
with a critique at a writingconference.
Conferences often offercritiques from agents, editors
and published writers of thefirst 10 pages of your novel for
(10:28):
an extra fee, and conferencesare a way to meet other writers
who might be interested inswapping feedback with you.
After you receive feedback onyour novel, keep in mind that
you can ignore anything thatdoesn't resonate with you.
Feedback is one person'sopinion and you are the boss of
your own story.
Good luck with your writing.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, thank you for this tip, michelle.
I love what you said aboutasking the right people for
feedback.
I cannot express how often Imeet a writer who is ready to
give up on their writing, notbecause of their skill level or
their creativity or anythinglike that, but because of
feedback they receive from thewrong type of person.
So what do I mean by this?
Well, imagine someone like yourbest friend's brother who reads
(11:14):
books, but they read sci-fi andyou're writing a thriller.
So you get feedback fromsomebody who doesn't even read
in your genre, who may or maynot even want to do you this
favor.
Right?
Maybe they're just doing it fortheir sister or for the family
connection or whatever.
I see stuff like this happen allof the time, and even with the
best intentions, unless theperson giving feedback is an
(11:34):
avid reader and knows your genreand all the things that
Michelle said, it usuallydoesn't turn out well.
So just something to keep inmind if you are planning to
reach out for feedback.
Luckily, there are many writersout there who you can do a
story swap with.
There are beta readers andprofessional coaches, and there
are professional coaches andeditors to help you with
feedback as well.
All right next up, we have atip from Leslie Horn, and
(11:57):
Leslie's going to talk to usabout what to do once you get
feedback back from your coach oryour editor or your beta
readers or whoever you've sharedyour story with.
So let's go ahead and diveright into Leslie's tip.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Hello writers.
My name is Leslie or, as youmay have seen me around the
internet, xp Lovecat my name,which is a little homage to
1920s cosmic horror writer HPLovecraft.
I am a developmental editor andbook coach for fantasy, sci-fi
and horror, and I love helpingwriters through the revision
process of their novels andshort stories.
Today we're diving into how todeal with negative feedback.
(12:34):
Whether you're a new writer orhave been at it for years, the
reality is that negativefeedback can sting.
You might feel great about yourstory, confident in your
characters, your plot, yourstyle, and then someone comes
along with a whole lot of notesand suddenly you're put on the
defensive.
But my story is great.
How could they give this typeof feedback?
Certainly they can't be rightright, but feedback can be an
(12:59):
opportunity to refine your workand ultimately get it closer to
your vision.
So I have three tips fordealing with negative feedback
to share ultimately get itcloser to your vision.
So I have three tips fordealing with negative feedback
to share.
The first tip is to pausebefore reacting to any feedback.
When we receive negativecriticism, especially on
something so personal as ourwriting, it's normal to feel
defensive or hurt, but if yourespond right away, you're
likely reacting emotionally,which could potentially close us
(13:21):
off to valuable insights.
Now, I feel like most of usfundamentally know this, but we
forget to implement it.
So anytime you send yourwriting out for feedback
critique partner, beta reader,editor make yourself a post-it
note or write in your calendarto take a break after reading
feedback.
Then, when you receive saidfeedback, take a literal break
(13:42):
from your manuscript afterreading it, go for a walk, let
the notes sit for a few days.
This gives you time to let thefeedback sink in so when you
come back to it, you'll havemore clarity.
When you make a habit ofpausing and reflecting, you're
less prone to burnout ordiscouragement.
You can then approach feedbackwith a balanced mindset, helping
you make decisions thatgenuinely benefit your story
(14:02):
rather than reacting based on atemporary emotion.
Genuinely benefit your storyrather than reacting based on a
temporary emotion.
The next tip is a big one and issomething I still struggle with
sometimes, and that is toseparate your worth from your
work.
As writers, our stories feellike a part of us, but it's
crucial to remember thatfeedback is about the work, not
you as a person.
Your talent and your story'scurrent draft are two separate
(14:25):
things.
This mindset of attaching worthto your draft can lead to
giving up, procrastinating ornever even sharing your work.
Try reframing your mindsetaround feedback.
Think of yourself as astoryteller in progress, and
every draft is a stepping stonetoward improvement.
One helpful exercise is to behyper aware of the language you
use when reacting to feedback.
(14:46):
So, instead of saying somethinglike I need to be better,
instead think of it as my storyhas room to improve.
It's a small mental shift, butit reminds you that every draft,
no matter where it's at, canimprove, and that's not a
judgment of you.
Once you separate your identityfrom your draft, you can
approach feedback with a lighterheart.
You're no longer questioningyour worth and instead just
(15:09):
looking at ways to make thestory stronger.
The third and final tip that Ihave around feedback is for you
to evaluate against your storygoals.
When you receive feedback, it'simportant to consider whether
it supports the direction youwant to take your story.
I always recommend startingwith an open mindset.
Every beat of feedback has thepotential to help your story
(15:29):
resonate with readers more andbring you even closer to the
vision you had for your story.
However, writers who don'tevaluate feedback in relation to
their story goals can easilylose track of their vision.
Without a clear sense of whatthe story is fundamentally about
its themes, tone, characterarcs and key conflicts it's easy
to fall into the trap of tryingto please everyone.
(15:51):
So instead, take time to writeout your main story goals to
serve as your North Star.
Then, once you receive feedback, take each suggestion and ask
yourself does this change,support or enhance my story's
goals?
Once you start evaluatingfeedback against your story
goals, the revision processbecomes less overwhelming.
You'll feel more in control ofyour story's direction, while
(16:13):
also staying open and optimisticabout the possibility that this
piece of feedback could helpyour story shine brighter.
Embracing feedback doesn't meanyou have to change everything
about your story or bend toevery critique.
Instead, it's about approachingeach piece of feedback with
curiosity, open-mindedness andthe confidence to know what will
or won't serve your vision.
(16:34):
So next time you receivefeedback, take a deep breath and
remind yourself that it's anopportunity to refine and
strengthen your work.
You're still in control.
You decide what changes toembrace and what to let go of,
and with each piece of feedback,you're not only growing your
story, you're growing as awriter.
Trust the process, stay true toyour voice and let feedback be
(16:55):
one of the tools that helps youcreate a story you are proud of.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
These are such great tips and thank you to Leslie for
sharing those tips with us.
I particularly liked what shesaid.
These are such great tips andthank you to Leslie for sharing
those tips with us.
I particularly liked what shesaid about taking a break to let
the feedback marinate.
This is so, so important, and Iknow how tempting it is to fire
off an email right after youreceive your feedback,
especially if that feedbackdidn't feel very good to receive
.
But this kind of goes back towhat Michelle talked about.
(17:22):
If you trust that the personyou ask for feedback has good
intentions, then that means theyprobably are trying to be
helpful.
Now, this is not to say thateveryone who gives feedback does
it in a constructive way.
Some people just don't know howto do that.
But let's say that you did getconstructive feedback and it
just stings a bit because oftenfeedback does no matter what the
(17:44):
intentions of the person givingyou feedback are.
So that time and space awayfrom the feedback and your
manuscript is so crucial becauseit allows you to take a breath
and come back to everything withfresh eyes and an open mind,
and that's a much better placeto make progress from than a
place of being defensive or hurtand, like Michelle said, you
(18:05):
don't have to agree with all ofthe feedback.
Just be open to it, becausethat could make all the
difference.
So, Michelle, thank you forsharing these tips with us.
I think you're spot on witheverything you said, and next up
we're going to hear fromCorinne DeVincenti.
She's got a really fun way oflooking at the writing and
editing process.
I don't want to spoil any of itfor you, so let's just dive
(18:25):
right into Corinne's tip.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Hello fans of the Fiction Writers Made Easy
podcast.
I'm Corinne DiVincenti, thewrite coach, a graduate
gemologist turned writer,teacher and author accelerator,
certified book coach, and thankyou, savannah Gilbo, for having
me on your show.
With experience in both thejewelry industry and writing,
I've discovered a surprisingconnection between these crafts.
(18:52):
Revising a first draft is a lotlike unearthing and polishing a
gemstone.
So today I'm sharing actionabletips to help you turn your
first draft from a rough, uncutstone into a story that sparkles
.
Tip number one unearth the rawmaterial.
A gemstone straight from theearth looks rough and
(19:12):
unappealing.
Before cutting a lapidary,someone who facets and polishes
gems examines it for potential.
Your first draft is like thatraw gem.
It won't look perfect at first,but it's brimming with
possibility.
Natural diamonds take millionsof years to form.
After mining, there's stillneat cutting and polishing.
(19:33):
Writing is similar.
It requires time and patience.
Rushing through edits can leaveyour story flawed.
Approach revisions in focuspasses Maybe one for structure,
one for character development,one for style and grammar.
Breaking it into smaller stepsprevents premature submissions.
Remember a gemstone and a storycan't be rushed to brilliance.
(19:59):
Tip number two trim whatdoesn't serve the core.
A lapidary cuts away excessmaterial to reveal a gem's
beauty when revising, think likea gem.
Cutter, trim scenes, dialogueor even characters that don't
serve your story.
Ask yourself does this sceneadvance the plot or reveal
(20:19):
something new about thecharacter?
Cut whatever doesn't add value.
Your readers want the polishedstory, not the excess material.
Tip number three put it ondisplay.
Once a gemstone is polished andmounted, it's ready to be
showcased.
Similarly, once your story isedited, it's time to share it
(20:40):
with readers.
Seeking feedback might feeldaunting, but it's a crucial
step in getting your storypublication ready.
My advice Share your manuscriptwith beta readers, critique
partners or a trusted expert,like a book coach.
Think of their feedback as thefinal polish.
It smooths out the rough edgesand helps your story shine
(21:02):
before it's presented to theworld.
Okay, writers, I hope you foundthese pearls of wisdom helpful.
Do you see what I did there?
The fact that you're listeningto this podcast shows your
commitment to honing your craft.
Remember, your first draft islike that rough gemstone.
It may not look perfect now,but with time, effort and
patience, it will becomesomething truly magnificent.
(21:24):
Thank you for listening andpatience.
It will become something trulymagnificent.
Thank you for listening and abig thanks to Savannah for
having me on the show.
Take care and keep polishingyour prose.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
I love this tip from Corinne, and I especially love
thinking of your first draftlike that raw uncut gemstone,
and I couldn't help but think,as Corinne was sharing that tip,
that a raw uncut gemstone isstill very beautiful, right?
And so I think we should alsolook at our first drafts that
way as well, which kind of goesback to what Stacey said in the
(21:57):
tip that she shared earlier.
We want to be grateful for ourfirst drafts, even if they're
messy, because without thatfirst draft we would have
nothing to edit, right.
So in that way, I do thinkfirst drafts are actually kind
of beautiful All right.
Now I want to share one finaltip with you, and this is a tip
from me.
So, as you revise your draft, Iwant you to be on the lookout
(22:18):
for instances where you compareyourself to other people or your
work to other books.
This is such a common thing, Isee, and it really doesn't serve
you at all.
So let's say you're in awriting group and you suddenly
find yourself comparing yourediting process to someone
else's.
Maybe they're making moreprogress than you or going
through their edits faster.
(22:39):
Either way, comparing yourprocess or timeline to theirs is
an unfair comparison.
In most cases, you don't knowwhat's going on in their life.
Maybe they have more time toedit than you do.
Maybe they're not doing as deepor as quality of an edit as
you're doing.
Maybe they have outside helpthat you don't know about.
You know, there are just somany unknowns that it becomes a
(23:02):
really unfair comparison, andit's an unfair comparison that
doesn't serve you.
The same thing is true ofpublished novels, right?
I see this happen a lot, so welook at our favorite books and
we compare our work in progressto those books, only to feel
like we're coming up short.
Well, of course, our messyfirst drafts don't compare to
final published books, right?
(23:23):
So this is another unfaircomparison.
Now, I know you've probablyheard this advice before, but I
do think it bears repeating,especially as we're talking
about mindset traps and mindsettips to help us through the
revision process.
So avoid the comparison gamewhile you're revising.
Actually, I'd like you to avoidit always if possible, and
(23:45):
focus on running your own race,because focusing on your own
work in progress and your ownrevisions, that's what's going
to get you to the finish linequicker and in the way that you
want to, rather than spending somuch time and energy comparing
yourself to other people andother books.
That's not going to get you tothe finish line quick, all right
.
So I hope at least one of thetips that was shared in today's
(24:07):
episode resonated with you, andI hope these tips make your
revisions a whole lot easier.
A big thank you to Stacey,michelle, leslie and Corinne for
sharing their expertise andtheir words of wisdom with us,
and if you want to get in touchwith Stacey, michelle, leslie or
Corinne, I will have all theirwebsites and social media stuff
linked up in the show notes.
(24:27):
If any one of these tipsresonated with you in particular
, I'm sure they would just loveto hear from you, so maybe send
them a little note on socialmedia or reach out to them
through their website if youfeel so inclined.
So that's it for today'sepisode.
As always, thank you so muchfor tuning in and for showing
your support.
(24:48):
If you want to check out any ofthe links I mentioned in this
episode, you can find them inthe show notes listed in the
description of each episodeinside your podcast player or at
savannahgilbocom forward slashpodcast.
If you're an Apple user, I'dreally appreciate it if you took
a few seconds to leave a ratingand a review.
Your ratings and reviews tellApple that this is a podcast
(25:09):
that's worth listening to and,in turn, your reviews will help
this podcast get in front ofmore fiction writers just like
you.
And while you're there, goahead and hit that follow button
, because there's going to beanother brand new episode next
week, full of actionable tips,tools and strategies to help you
become a better writer.
So I'll see you next week anduntil then, happy writing.
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