What to do after you finish the first draft of your book?

What to do After You Finish the First Draft of Your Book

1. Let it rest. This part can be the most difficult.
2. Read it all the way through, once.
3. Revise.
4. Read it through again — out loud.
5. Make any final revisions.
6. Write a synopsis.
7. Write a query letter.
8. Figure out who to send the query letter to and go out on submission.

What is a best practice for getting started with writing your first draft?

Writing Your First Draft Tips Start writing from chapter five or 25, or from anywhere that inspires you. Start writing by saying something like, “Then, there I/he/she was…” Begin in the middle of a sentence, paragraph, or idea. Write as close to the end as you can get without stumping yourself.

How can I improve my first draft book?

How to Edit the First Draft of Your Novel

1. Let It Sit. Gaining perspective on your novel requires that you wait a little while before jumping into revisions.
2. Find Your Novel’s Purpose.
3. Read It Through.
4. List Your Problems.
5. Find Solutions.
6. Start Your Second Draft.
7. Seek Feedback.

Do you have to read your first draft before publishing?

What you’ve written is a first draft. If you want to write your very best book, there is a lot more work to do before you’re finished. Because I’m a book editor, I know that some writers submit their first draft to a publisher, possibly without ever re-reading their work.

What happens after the first draft of a book?

Especially your first book. It shifts something in your psyche. You know you can do it, now, and nothing can ever take that away from you. That’s a feeling I want for every writer who has ever dreamed of writing a book. But once you’ve finished that first draft — there’s still work to do.

Should you buy a copy of your first draft?

If you’ve just finished writing your first draft, I highly recommend buying a copy. Read it while your book rests. And then go through the book chapter by chapter and do the work on your manuscript. Eventually you won’t have to make so many revision passes. I can do all of the work at once now for a couple of reasons.

What should you do after you finish your first draft?

But once you’ve finished that first draft — there’s still work to do. Let it rest. This part can be the most difficult. You’re riding high on excitement over finishing that first draft and you want to get to work on it. I get it. But letting your manuscript rest so that you can come back to it with fresh eyes is important.