What to do before embarking on a revision of your book

Also, introducing No Time to Write Club!

Fourteen super important steps to take before you start a major revision of your book. DO NOT SKIP ANY! Then, I’ll introduce my new Substack, No Time to Write Club.

My WIP, ready to undergo its first revision. Also my favorite set of colored gel pens, because are you even a writer if you don’t have favorite pens?

First things first. What to do before embarking on a revision:

1. Write the story from beginning to end. Then celebrate! You wrote a book, you apex badass you.

2. If this is a first draft, read it yourself before you do anything. Then go back to step one and fix all the glaringly obvious stuff. Okay? Do you have an imperfect but solid second draft? Move on to step 3.

3. Send to critique partners with questions and guidance for the type of feedback you want. Agree on a time frame with them—let’s say two weeks. (No less. I don’t care how fast they read.) Two weeks off will let you really come back to this thing with fresh eyes. Perfect! Thank them profusely and promise to return the favor.

4. Op…