#190. Novel Editing: 10 Steps to Editing Your First Draft

Congratulations! You"ve finished writing your first draft—an achievement that puts you ahead of countless aspiring writers who never make it past the dreaming stage.  But now you"re staring at your manuscript, wondering, "What next?"  Maybe you"ve tried jumping straight into revisions only to find yourself overwhelmed, confused, or just plain stuck. Or maybe you’re just avoiding it altogether. If your excitement about finishing your draft has given way to editing anxiety, you"re not alone. Every author—even the most seasoned professionals—reaches this crossroads, where the path forward seems foggy at best. Tune in to learn the exact novel editing framework that has helped my clients and students transform their messy drafts into completed manuscripts. You’ll hear me talk about things like:[06:21] The game-changing approach to organizing your editing notes that’ll prevent months of wasted time and getting stuck in "revision loops"[07:17] How mapping what you actually wrote (not what you intended to write) can expose the hidden strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript[10:05] The #1 mistake first-time novelists make when editing their messy first drafts (and how to avoid falling into this all too common trap)[16:05] The four-category sorting system that helps you prioritize feedback and make confident decisions about which changes to implement[23:22] How your publishing path impacts your editing to-do list (and which steps to take if you’re self-publishing or traditional publishing) If you"ve finally finished your first draft but find yourself paralyzed by the editing process, or if you"ve been revising the same chapters for months without making real progress, this episode gives you the clear, structured approach you need. 🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:Novel Editing Roadmap: 10 Steps To Editing Your First Draft (Free Guide)Want my entire step-by-step process for brainstorming, outlining, and writing your first draft? Click here to learn more about my Notes to Novel program. ⭐ Follow & Review If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week! Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025. FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author! Support the show 👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.