3 Strategies for Layering Your Revisions
Though it might feel less efficient than trying to tackle everything in your manuscript at once, revising in layers is my favorite way to beat revision overwhelm and make real, meaningful changes to a manuscript.
Last week, I talked about my top revision tips (you can read that whole post here). The #1 tip I wrote about: revising in layers.
In this post, I’m digging a little deeper, unpacking exactly what that advice means and how you can apply it in your own writing process. This is the exact step-by-step process I suggest for my editing clients before they implement my feedback on their manuscripts (they just get my specific guidance about the elements of their manuscript to address).
Let’s dive in!
Step #1: Make big, story level decisions first.
Before you start rewriting a single word, you have some high-level decisions to make. This step is critical because thinking about the big picture helps you strategize before you’re in the weeds so that your actual writing time can be better spent.
At this stage, think about structure, character arcs, plot, and conflict. You can also make some big worldbuilding decisions that you’ll have to implement throughout the manuscript. Same goes for high-level characterization decisions you need to make.
I recommend approaching this process using a reverse outline. Sketch out exactly happens in the manuscript, summarizing each scene or chapter in 1-2 sentences each. Then, go back and look for plot holes, gaps in the development of your character’s arc, and places where you can amplify the conflicts in your story. (Not sure where to start? You can hire me to do this part for you! Learn more about my editing services here).
Don’t just think about the scenes that you need to add. Also, look for scenes that aren’t pulling their weight and need to be cut or significantly altered.
Now you’re reading for the next step!
Step #2: Make a checklist of revisions, additions, and deletions.
Once you’ve identified what needs to change in step one, gather all of your notes and revision ideas. Now, go back to the outline you created based on your manuscript.
Add a new summary for each new scene that you want to add. Make a note of the scenes that you want to delete from your manuscript. If a scene requires significant revisions, make a note of those as well.
If there are high-level changes that will apply to every scene in the novel (for example, a change to a character’s backstory/personality or a change to the worldbuilding that applies to multiple settings), I recommend noting those at the top of your revised outline.
This outline becomes your brand new revision checklist, guiding you through every adjustment that you need to make. With this plan in hand, you’re officially ready for step three.
Step #3: Rewrite your manuscript, implementing changes as you go.
I recommend working through that outline/ revision checklist one scene at a time. Rewrite scenes that need to be revised, cut the scenes that you’ve decided to get rid of, and write new scenes that you planned in your outline.
For the best results, I recommend actually rewriting the entire manuscript. As in, re-type every single chapter, paragraph, and sentence—no copy-pasting allowed! I got this technique from Matt Bell’s book Refuse to Be Done and it’s a game-changer. Too often, authors try to revise but just end up shuffling around sentences and paragraphs without making the big, impactful changes that their story needs. Retyping forces you to critically examine each part of your manuscript and actively choose to rewrite the parts that deserve to end up in your manuscript and leave the rest behind.
If working through the book linearly isn’t working for you, bouncing around the manuscript can also work. Just make sure to eventually revisit every scene in your manuscript during the revision process. At some point, you will need to revise the parts that aren’t as exciting to make sure those scenes are just as strong as the parts you love. If you keep avoiding a scene to the point that you just can’t force yourself to work on it, your book may be trying to tell you something. Reconsider whether that scene actually belongs in your manuscript. And if it doesn’t, start cutting and figure out what should go in the gap instead.
If you’re working with multiple plots, timelines, or viewpoint characters, you could also consider working through one sequence at a time instead of working on them all at the same time. I’m using this technique with my current work-in-progress. I have three viewpoint characters who are separated for most of the narrative. Instead of rewriting my second draft in chronological order, I rewrote one character’s story at a time so that I could give that character my full attention as I rewrote their sections. Then, I put those chapters back in story order for the next step!
Step #4: Read Your Manuscript and Plan.
Now, it’s time to sit down and read your manuscript. As you work, try to shut off your writer’s brain and pretend that you’re coming to this manuscript as a reader. Think about what it feels like to experience your story. Are there parts when it slows down, and you feel bored? Parts that are moving so quickly they feel underdeveloped?
After you finish this read, make a list of changes that you want to make in your next round of revisions. This list becomes your checklist for the next step.
Step #5: Revise, revise, repeat.
Once you’ve completed your read through, it’s time to figure out what to tackle in your next round of revision. For some writers, that will mean another round of story-level revisions. Others will be ready to move on to line-editing and copy-editing. It all depends on the complexity of your draft, and how much you were able to clean up between the first and second draft. There isn’t a specific number of drafts that you need to reach before your book is “done” and there’s no magic number of revisions that will guarantee that your book is ready for revision. Your book will take as many rounds of editing as it takes.
In my experience, it can actually be beneficial to slow down and focus on a small subset of craft techniques in each round of revisions. One round could focus on setting description and characterization. Another round could focus on dialogue and action beats.
My advice. Take things slow and don’t be afraid to put in the time to achieve excellence in your writing!
