Your scene list is your map to all your revisions. Here’s how to make the most of it. If you’re doing a developmental edit on your manuscript, you need a scene list. Seriously—I can’t think of a single book I’ve edited without one. Why? What makes a scene list so essential? That’s what I’m covering in this episode of Your Next Draft. You’ll learn: 4 ways that a scene list will make your editing process clearer, easier, and less overwhelming How to use a scene list to plan your edits BEFORE you c...
May 30, 2023•18 min•Ep. 29
Is your novel ready to publish? Here’s how to tell when you’re finally done editing. One of the hardest parts of writing a book is knowing when to let go. After all, you don’t want to write just any book. You want to write something amazing! But at the same time, you could tinker with your manuscript forever, always finding something new to change. And if you’re always editing . . . well, you’ll never publish. So how do you know when you’re done? This question is really personal, and it differs ...
May 23, 2023•25 min•Ep. 28
Stories are about change. Here’s how to craft compelling change in every scene, act, and novel. In fact, change is one of the fundamental things—maybe the fundamental thing—that makes stories useful, interesting, and fun. How do you make sure something changes in your story? And not just any change, but the right change? Let me introduce you to one of my favorite editing concepts: the value shift. Master value shifts, and you’ll find that crafting the perfect change in every story you write beco...
May 16, 2023•25 min•Ep. 27
Overwhelmed by your novel? Try these five strategies to edit with confidence. Sometimes, editing your novel feels really scary. Yep, I said it. Sometimes, you get overwhelmed. You feel stuck. You wonder, do you even have what it takes to edit a book? I’m a professional editor, and even I feel that way sometimes. Right now, I’m working on a new novel from a fantastic author. And halfway through, I started wondering . . . is this book too good for me to edit it? Is it beyond me? In fact, I got so ...
May 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 26
Three acts aren’t enough. If you’re stuck in the middle of your story, try this four-act structure instead. Recently, a writer told me she was stuck in the middle of her story. She’d written the complete first draft. She’d gotten an editor’s feedback. She was editing her second draft, and she’d made it just past the fifty percent mark. And then . . . she got stuck. After all that, she had no idea what should come next. No idea how to make everything from the midpoint to the climax interesting . ...
May 02, 2023•20 min•Ep. 25
You can get fantastic feedback on your writing for free. But first, you need to know whom to seek out, when to ask for feedback, and what kind of feedback to ask for. Ask the wrong people, and you’ll get uncritical praise, unhelpful critique, or even rejection. But ask the right people . . . Ask the right people, and you’ll get feedback that: Helps you finish your first draft Prepares you to work with an editor Helps you integrate a professional editor’s notes You can even get the kind of feedba...
Apr 25, 2023•23 min•Ep. 24
Most writers miss this simple editing principle. But when you understand it, when you truly master it, you have the power to craft your best story. Here it is: When you’re doing a developmental edit on a story, you can change absolutely anything . It sounds obvious, yet it’s so hard to do. In this episode, I’ll show you why—and share a simple three-step process that will give you editing superpowers. You’ll learn: How to go beyond line edits and start editing story events 3 steps to make develop...
Apr 18, 2023•27 min•Ep. 23
Answer these questions now to clarify your goals for your novel. Plus, they’ll prepare you to work with an editor when you’re ready for expert advice. When you reach out to an editor (like me!), they’ll have a lot of questions about your novel. After all, your editor is stepping into the middle of a writing, editing, and publication process that started long before they get to read your manuscript. The more information you can give your editor about your story, your process, and what success mea...
Apr 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 22
Two simple questions to ensure your character development drives your plot. Every time I edit a novel, I ask two questions about the protagonist. They’re deceptively simple questions, but they reveal so much about the character. More than that, they reveal how the story should end . In other words, these two questions are the keys to: . . . your character development, . . . your climax, . . . and your resolution. In this episode, I’ll walk you through these essential questions: What does your ch...
Apr 04, 2023•22 min•Ep. 21
Ever wondered what it looks like to get feedback from an editor? Recently, my friend Kim Kessler, herself a developmental editor and author, sent me a scene of the novel she’s working on. I read it and prepared some notes for her. Then, we hopped on a call to talk through my feedback. And we recorded the whole conversation! In this episode, you’ll hear exactly how developmental editing works. I walk Kim through the same process I use for all my editing clients. You’ll hear the questions I ask he...
Mar 28, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 20
Have you ever wanted to quit your book? Here’s the good news, and the bad news: that’s a normal part of the book writing process. Every writer I know has struggled to make it through the middle of their novel. They’ve all been tempted to quit the book they’re currently working on and start over with a better story idea. So if you’re feeling ready to ditch this book idea and start writing something better . . . . . . you’re not alone. Before you quit, though, I want to share a few truths with you...
Mar 21, 2023•22 min•Ep. 19
If you want readers to fall in love with your protagonist . . . . . . to remember them long after they finish your book . . . . . . then you need to craft a compelling character arc. To do that, you need to know: who is your protagonist? What makes them unique? How do they grow and change? Why is their story worth telling? And you can figure all that out by answering just two essential questions. These questions are deceptively simple. But when you dig in and explore them, you’ll learn so much a...
Mar 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 18
You can tell your story from any point of view you want. In fact, you can tell it from multiple points of view. So how many points of view should you use? What will most effectively communicate your story to your readers? And how many points of view is too many? That’s what this episode is all about. I’m breaking down the strengths and pitfalls of using multiple points of view. You’ll learn: How using multiple points of view can enhance the story 2 pitfalls of having too many point of view chara...
Mar 07, 2023•23 min•Ep. 17
The point of view you choose for your novel shapes the information that you give your readers. And it shapes how your readers receive and interpret that information. Which means your point of view actually shapes the story itself. And that’s a really big deal! The challenge is, point of view can be tricky to master. There are nearly unlimited ways you can craft your point of view. And there are just as many point of view mistakes you can make. In this episode, I’m sharing the most important mist...
Feb 28, 2023•19 min•Ep. 16
The most important moment in your story is the moment when your protagonist is faced with a decision. Do this or do that? Stay or go? Speak or remain silent? Flee or fight? In fact, your protagonist will face dozens of decisions throughout your novel. They’ll face at least one in every scene: moments where they experience a crisis, when whatever happens next hinges on the decision they make. But how long should this moment take? Does your protagonist need to waffle between two options for severa...
Feb 21, 2023•31 min•Ep. 15
Scenes and chapters are not the same. Scenes are the units of story writers use to craft amazing stories. They include one story event that moves the plot forward. Chapters are the units of story that readers see. Writers divide their books into chapters in a variety of ways in order to shape the way their readers experience the book. How do these work together? How can you craft chapters that are the best fit for your book? In this episode, I’ll show you three ways that authors divide their boo...
Feb 14, 2023•18 min•Ep. 14
Scene structure is a powerful tool for editing your scenes. But what about the writing process? How can you use structure to plan your scenes before you write—and make it that much easier to edit those scenes later? In the last few episodes, we’ve talked a lot about scenes: what they are, how they work, and how to edit them. And I’ve received tons of insightful questions about all this scene theory. So in this episode, I’m answering your questions about scenes. From Evan and Samrobb: What can yo...
Feb 07, 2023•15 min•Ep. 13
In order to edit a scene effectively, you need to know what to change. The best edits are strategic, intentional, and target the most important problems with effective solutions. How do you figure out what those edits are? Ask the right questions. In this episode, you’ll discover six questions that will help you identify what’s working and what’s not in the beginnings and endings of your scenes. Then, they’ll show you exactly how to fix the weak spots. You’ll learn: How to start your scenes at e...
Jan 31, 2023•28 min•Ep. 12
How do you edit a scene of a novel? In order to edit a scene effectively, you need to know a few things: What’s working in the scene, What’s not working in the scene, and What specific changes you’ll make to the words on the page that will fix the things that aren’t working. That last one is the most important, and often the hardest to figure out. How do you identify the specific changes that will improve your scene? Ask the right questions. In this episode, you’ll learn 12 questions that will s...
Jan 24, 2023•41 min•Ep. 11
One of the best ways to learn how to edit your book is to study other excellent books. The best-sellers. The award winners. The ones your readers are reading and loving. So in this episode, that’s what we’re going to do. I’m breaking down the first scene of Looking for Alaska by John Green to show you how it works. Looking for Alaska was best-selling author John Green’s debut novel. It won the 2006 Printz award, the highest award in young adult literature. And in 2019, it was adapted into an eig...
Jan 17, 2023•28 min•Ep. 10
What happens in your scenes? Do they even matter to your book? Do they move the story forward and keep your readers engaged? Or are they . . . boring ? In order for a scene to earn its place in your story, something needs to happen. It needs a story event, a single event that contributes to the larger plot. The thing is, it’s really easy to write scenes—thousands of words!—where nothing ever happens. A group of friends go to a restaurant and have a pleasant conversation. A woman sits in her favo...
Jan 10, 2023•21 min•Ep. 9
Great books are made of great scenes. Which means the skill of writing and editing amazing scenes is one of the most important skills you can learn if you want to create a novel readers will love. The thing is, though, readers don't think in terms of scenes. Chapters are clearly marked for readers, but scenes often aren't. Which means that when people make the jump from "reader" to "writer," they often don't know what scenes actually are. What is a scene? What elements must it include? What make...
Jan 03, 2023•33 min•Ep. 8
Writing your book doesn't have to take forever. Editing your book doesn't have to take forever. And in this episode, the fourth and final installment of our speedy writing and editing series, you'll learn seven strategies to make your editing process more efficient so you can finish your next draft—and then your next book —faster. We'll cover: How to make sure the changes you're making to your novel will work—before you edit a single word. Why taking extra time to practice the skill of editing o...
Dec 27, 2022•31 min•Ep. 7
You can finish editing your next draft in just a few weeks. That’s right. You can finish it in three months—or less! The trick, of course, is to find the editing process that works for you. The process that keeps you focused, motivated, and inspired so you can make the right changes to your book every day. And in this episode, I’ll share three strategies I recommend to help you do just that. You’ll learn: How to set a deadline that keeps you on track—and ensures you actually finish ! When to hir...
Dec 20, 2022•23 min•Ep. 6
Have you ever gotten stuck in your first draft? Hit writer's block? Lost all your inspiration and wondered what in the world would happen next? If so, you're not alone. That's a totally normal part of the writing process. The tough news is, part of your job as a writer is . . . to write anyway. Your challenge is to push through it and write when you're inspired and when you're not. But the good news is, you don't have to stay stuck in the struggle. You can use a variety of strategies to boost yo...
Dec 13, 2022•20 min•Ep. 5
Every great book begins with a first draft. And sometimes, it can feel like that first draft goes on forever. Have you ever spent months writing the first draft of a book? Years? If so, you’re not alone. It’s easy to get stuck in the middle of a draft. Or spend years trying to write the perfect first draft . . . and never finish. Or stop writing before you even start! But you can’t edit—or publish —a book you haven’t written. Which means your first task is to finish your first draft. How do you ...
Dec 06, 2022•23 min•Ep. 4
Which draft are you working on right now? If that question is easy to answer, fantastic! But if it's not, don't worry. You're not alone, and in this episode, I'll show you how to find out which draft you're writing—and what to do next. Download a quiz to find out which draft you're currently working on at alicesudlow.com/draftquiz . And if you liked what you heard, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! Send me a Text Message! Want my support in your revision?...
Nov 29, 2022•20 min•Ep. 3
How many drafts does it take to write and edit an amazing book? Should you publish your book right after you finish your first draft? (No.) And how long will the editing process take? In this episode, I'll show you an overview of the full writing and editing process, plus an estimate of how many drafts it will take for you to finally finish your book. Download a guide to the four kinds of drafts at alicesudlow.com/4drafts . And if you liked what you heard, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe ...
Nov 29, 2022•19 min•Ep. 2
Finishing your first draft is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations! But wait, now what? If you feel like you've fallen off the map of the writing and editing process, don't worry. In this episode, I'll share the five things you should do right after you finish your draft. Editing your book? Take a moment to see whether you've done these five things. Download a guide to the five steps in the episode plus five more at alicesudlow.com/10steps . And if you liked what you heard, be sure to rate, re...
Nov 29, 2022•27 min•Ep. 1
What do you do once you finish your first draft? What does “edit your book” actually mean ? And how do you know when you’re ready to get published? Welcome to Your Next Draft. If you’re writing a novel and you’ve ever found yourself asking questions like these, you’re in the right place. I’m Alice Sudlow, a developmental editor, avid reader, and story nerd. Since 2016, I’ve helped dozens of writers write and edit books they’re truly proud of—and then publish stories readers love. In this podcast...
Nov 20, 2022•3 min
