How to get your novel draft ready to sell
I’ve received a lot of emails lately asking what to do after you finish your first draft—so today I’m sharing the steps I recommend to my coaching clients.
First, take a break. Your brain needs a breather, so take at least a week off. And don’t even peek at your manuscript during that time—you’re still too close to it to be able to see it clearly. If you’re worried you’ll turn into a sloth if you don’t work during your regular writing time, use it to update your website, read about how to write faster, or do some other marketing-related task. Whatever you do, don’t start a new project (which will dampen your enthusiasm for this one) or work on your draft.
Then, print your draft. After a week has passed, print your entire book and read it straight through, start to finish. Don’t scribble in the margins or do line edits; just do your best to read the story like a reader. After you’ve done that, give it another thorough read and begin to take note of what doesn’t feel right about the story and characters. (So much may change during edits that there’s no point in polishing your sentences just yet.)
If it’s your first book, consider hiring a developmental editor. Listen: you don’t need the most amazing editor to improve your writing. Simply employing the services of someone who understands plot and character and routinely helps authors who write in your genre can be incredibly helpful in figuring out where your draft needs work. Developmental edits typically run $1,500 to $5,000; ask fellow writers or members of professional organizations (such as the Women’s Fiction Writers Association or Romance Writers of America) for recommendations.
Tight on cash? Consider beta readers. These are readers of your genre who are willing to read your draft and provide feedback (typically for free). They may be friends or family members, or people you don't know; just make sure they regularly read the kind of book you're trying to write.
Now, this is important: in order to get useful feedback, make sure you ask specific questions (instead of just asking, “What did you think?”). For example:
What were your favorite parts?
What worked for you?
What didn’t feel realistic?
When did the novel slow down or drag on?
Which characters were your favorite, and why?
Which were your least favorite, and why?
What would you like to have seen more of?
Edit the same way you write: beginning to end, during your regular writing time. Jumping around tends to lead to a frankenstory, which is why I recommend going through your draft in a linear fashion first. After your first front-to-back edit, you can address issues piecemeal.
Do not rush your revise. If you’re rushing, it’s a sign you don’t believe you'll sell it and don’t trust yourself. Plus, rushing doesn’t give your mind the space it requires to process and fix your story. Take at least three to four weeks to revise. That doesn’t mean toiling for hours every single day; usually one to three hours, Monday through Friday will get the job done.
And remember: your manuscript doesn’t have to be perfect to be ready to send to agents—but it should read like a book you’d personally pick up at the bookstore or library. If you can get it to that stage, the odds are in your favor.