REVISION and EDITING - Arabella Sheen

 

WEEK ONE – REVISION  and  EDITING

The words have been written and the story told. Congratulations on completing your novel! That’s a huge achievement. Now that the manuscript is done, here are some key steps an author should consider doing next:

1. Revision and Editing

2. Decide on a Publishing Path

3. Build Your Author Platform

4. Marketing and Promotion

5. Legal and Business Considerations

6. Plan Your Next Steps

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting several blogs that cover these steps in more detail, and I hope they'll be useful to you.

Happy writing…

Arabella Xx

Revision and Editing

Self-editing: Review your manuscript multiple times for structure, plot consistency, pacing, character development, and grammar.

You’ll often find your first draft is missing elements in the story, so a read-through, adding to the gaps in the plot, might be a good idea at the revision stage. You might also discover paragraphs or even pages that are redundant to the story. They will affect the pacing and should be deleted.

Beta readers: Share your manuscript with trusted readers to get feedback from fresh perspectives. Your beta readers will tell it like it is. Listen to them. Very often, some good advice will come your way.

Professional editing: If you have the budget to do so, hire a developmental editor and/or copy editor to polish your manuscript professionally.

Revising and editing a novel is both an art and a discipline. It’s where a decent draft becomes a compelling story. Here are the key things to consider at each level of revision:

1. Big Picture Revisions (Structural or Developmental Editing)

Focus: Story structure, plot, characters, pacing

Plot coherence: Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end? Are there logical plot developments and satisfying resolutions?

Character development: Are characters multi-dimensional? Do they have arcs? Do they grow and develop throughout the story? Are their motivations clear and believable? Have they changed for the better by the end of the story, or have they retained their character flaws?

Pacing: Are any parts too slow or rushed? Are tension and stakes sustained throughout?

Theme and tone: Is the tone consistent? Are the themes coming through clearly?

World-building (for genre fiction): Are the rules of the world clear and consistent? Is the setting vivid without being overwhelming?

 

2. Scene-Level Revisions

Focus: Scene dynamics, changes, dialogue, beats

Scene purpose: Does each scene move the story forward or reveal something essential?

Conflict and tension: Does each scene have tension, stakes, or emotional weight?

Show vs. Tell: Are emotions and actions shown rather than explained?

Dialogue: Is it natural, purposeful, and true to each character’s voice?

Transitions: Do scenes and chapters flow smoothly? Is the passage of time clear?

You might want to mark each scene’s purpose in the margin—if it doesn’t have one, consider cutting or revising it.

 

3. Line-Level Editing

Focus: Language, clarity, consistency

Clarity and flow: Are sentences clear and well-structured? Is the prose smooth?

Voice: Does the writing have a consistent and compelling narrative voice?

Repetition: Are certain phrases, ideas, or descriptions overused?

Word choice: Are verbs strong and precise? Are metaphors fresh?

Consistency: Are names, timelines, and character traits consistent?

You might want to read chapters aloud to catch awkward phrasing or rhythm issues.

 

4. Copyediting and Proofreading

Focus: Grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting

Grammar and punctuation: Are there errors in sentence construction or dialogue punctuation?

Typos and spelling: Are all words spelled correctly, especially homophones (e.g., “their” vs. “there”)? Are you writing for the American reader eg. spelled/spelt color/colour?

Formatting: Are chapter headings, margins, and paragraph styles consistent?

Continuity: Are small details (eye color, weather, dates) consistent throughout?

You might find software tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid helpful—but don’t rely on them completely.

 

5. Feedback Integration

Use feedback from beta readers, critique partners, or editors to guide revisions.

Weigh suggestions carefully: if multiple readers mention the same issue, it likely needs attention.

 

General Mindset Tips

Be ruthless: “Kill your darlings” when something doesn’t serve the story.

Take breaks: Time away from the manuscript gives a fresh perspective.

Work in layers: Focus on different levels (structure, line, polish) in separate passes.

Happy revision and editing...

Arabella Xx

Be sure to watch out for seasonal updates and the latest news about my books as they fall into your email inbox. Sign up for my newsletter HERE