How to Revise a Novel: A Calm Approach to the Hardest Phase

craft creative writing creativity novel writing writing a book writing process Jul 15, 2025

Revision is where your novel transforms. Discover a steady, soulful approach to revising your manuscript in this clear, compassionate guide.

By Julie Tyler Ruiz

CONTENTS:

What does it mean to revise a novel?
Your novel revision plan in 4 key steps
Novel revision checklist before you start
Final revision tips

What does it mean to revise a novel?

Revision is where a draft becomes a story worth reading. It’s a structural, developmental, and often transformative phase where you reshape the heart of your story.

Revision and editing are aspects of the writing process that are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same. Editing tends to focus on the surface (tightening sentences, correcting grammar, improving flow), while revision goes deeper.

Revising a novel might entail efforts like:

Fixing plot holes
Restructuring chapters
Rewriting the opening scene
Completely changing the ending
Adding a whole new character
Cutting one entirely
Shifting the narrative voice
Drafting new passages while revamping old ones, blending fresh writing with what’s already on the page

When should you revise?

Although you can revise individual pieces of your book before a full draft is finished—especially if you see a major issue and have ideas for how to address it—the most effective revision usually happens once you’ve written your entire novel. That’s when you can truly see the big picture: your character arcs, your plot as a whole, your themes, your pacing. You’re no longer zoomed in on isolated scenes. You’re thinking like an architect rather than a bricklayer.

How long does revision take?

Revision rarely happens in a single pass. Most novelists go through multiple rounds, each one refining the manuscript further, starting with big-picture changes and working down to the sentence level.

Your novel revision plan in 4 steps

Once you’re ready to revise, it helps to have a plan to keep you focused on the changes that matter most and give your novel the best shot at success. These four steps will help you move through the process with clarity, intention, and momentum.

1. Get support from trusted readers or professionals.

Revision works best when you have as many eyes on your work as possible. Supporters such as critique partners, beta readers, a writing group, or professional editor can offer fresh perspectives on your manuscript, from general impressions to specific changes you might make to the novel.

Here's a list of targeted questions to ask your supporters:

Which scenes land strongest?
Are there moments that feel confusing or emotionally flat?
What do you love most about the story, and what do they wish there were more of?

Be proactive and curious. When you ask the right questions, you’re more likely to uncover what’s working and what your novel could become with a few bold changes.

Here are two articles to help you gather feedback:

2. Review the feedback and identify your big-picture priorities

Once you’ve gathered feedback, zoom out. Look for patterns and themes in the notes you’ve received. Does your pacing drag in the middle? Are your characters’ motivations unclear? Are readers confused about the stakes or tone? This is the moment to reconnect with your novel’s soul, its emotional heart, core themes, and narrative drive. Let those guide your revision priorities.

3. Make a task list that starts with the big stuff.

Now that you know what needs to shift, it’s time to make a roadmap. Begin with high-level changes like restructuring plot points, reshaping character arcs, or adjusting the narrative voice. Leave sentence-level tweaks for later.

For example, you might decide to rework the inciting incident so it carries more urgency, rewrite your climax for emotional payoff, or even change your novel from third person to first person to bring the voice closer. Big changes like these can lead to fresh energy and deeper alignment. And then once they’re in place, you’ll be better equipped to refine individual scenes and hone your unique voice.

Read "8 Advanced Strategies for Developing Your Writing Style" and "How To Start a Story: 12 Unique Approaches to Captivate Readers" to improve your writing skills and support your revision efforts.

4. Build a flexible schedule and give yourself space to explore.

Revision takes time. And it’s rarely linear. Some weeks you’ll fly through chapters and see a big difference for the better. Other weeks you’ll stare at the same page, waiting for the right solution to click. Instead of forcing a rigid deadline, build in buffers and breathing room.

Above all, be generous with yourself and release the pressure to speed through this phase of the writing process. Revision helps you uncover new layers of meaning, deepen your characters, and discover what your story truly wants to say. You and your book deserve that creative space.

Novel revision checklist before you start

While it's tempting to dive into revision the moment inspiration strikes, the most effective novel revision usually begins after you’ve written a complete first draft. That way, you’re not just reacting to isolated scenes, but revising with a full understanding of your story's structure, characters, and deeper themes.

That said, revision can start earlier in some cases, especially if you're discovering major issues mid-draft. This checklist is geared toward the big-picture overhaul that comes once you have that rough draft on paper. If you can answer yes to most (or all) of these questions, you’re likely ready to begin.

Do you have a full rough draft?

Having the full framework of your story on the page gives you something to shape. It doesn’t have to be polished or even reach the typical word count of a published novel (between 70,000 and 100,000 words). Your rough draft can be messy, meandering, or full of placeholders. But you do need a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a good sense of who the major characters are, deep down, before you can assess the whole.

Do you already have ideas for major changes to make?

If you're itching to cut that one flat subplot, deepen your main character’s motivation, or rewrite the story's ending entirely, that’s a good sign. It means you’ve already cultivated a revision mindset, seeing your story as something malleable, with potential to grow.

Are you clear on the difference between revising and editing?

Most editing focuses on sentence-level changes, such as tightening sentences, correcting grammar, and fixing typos. As we've explored in this article, revision involves major changes to structure, character arcs, pacing, theme, and other elements. It often involves rewriting entire scenes or scrapping them altogether, moving sections around, and even going back to earlier phases, like exploration, research, and outlining, to make your revisions more strategic and effective.

Knowing the difference between editing and revising helps you prioritize what phase you're in and avoid getting stuck polishing paragraphs that might not survive the next round.

Have you received (and reflected on) feedback?

Outside feedback helps you spot opportunities to improve your work. The best writing feedback comes from qualified sources, such as an experienced critique partner, a writing group made up of serious writers, a professional book editor, or book coach. Good feedback is actionable, honest, encouraging, and aligned with your writing goals. For example, maybe someone pointed out that your dialogue feels static and suggested ways to make it reveal character or drive the plot forward. Or maybe you were praised for an opening chapter that hooks the reader right away, confirming that you’re starting in the right place.

Once you've gotten good feedback, you need to process it and decide how you'll implement it. Are multiple people saying the same thing about a particular chapter? This could be a strong indicator that this chapter needs your attention. Are comments challenging you in a way that expands your vision for the book? It's time to advance your skills and level up!

Are you emotionally ready to engage with your book deeply again?

Revision asks as much of your heart as it does your head. You may need to let go of beloved scenes, confront weaknesses in the draft, or with discomfort as you reshape what you wrote, and muster your stamina for the long process ahead. Being ready emotionally goes beyond just feeling confident in your abilities and means being willing to recommit to the story, even when it’s hard.

For a novel-writing refresher, read "How to Write a Novel: 6 Key Steps + Why They Work."

Do you understand your story’s core (plot, characters, themes, message, voice)?

Before you revise, it helps to articulate what your novel is really about. Can you summarize your main character’s transformation? Identify the major themes or emotional arc? Pinpoint the tone and voice that feel most true to the story? The clearer you are on your book’s core elements, its very soul, the more confidently you can make revision decisions that align with it.

Need a boost before you revise?

If you’re feeling stuck or want to reconnect with the heart of your story, my free course Kickstart Your Page-turner in 21 Days is the perfect way to reignite your creative energy. You’ll brush up on essential storytelling skills, revisit your novel with fresh eyes, and revise with renewed purpose.

Grab the free course here and revise strong!

Final revision tips

Revision is where your novel begins to transform into a finished manuscript and the most authentic version of the story you set out to tell. It’s often the longest stage of the writing process, and the one that asks the most of you creatively, emotionally, and mentally. But it also offers the greatest rewards.

Keep these tips in mind to inspire you throughout the revision process:

Give yourself permission to take your time. Many writers are surprised by how long it takes to complete a book, not just the initial draft, but the layering, reshaping, and deepening that happen in revision. This phase is writing. Embrace the length of the journey as part of what makes the final product meaningful and strong.
Remember, revision turns the book into what it’s meant to be. Some of your best ideas will come not in the first draft, but in this stage, when your storytelling instincts are sharper, your characters more familiar, and your understanding of craft more refined. Each pass through the manuscript brings new clarity.
Trust your creative intuition. Of course, you should implement feedback and use planning tools to make decisions about your novel. But also pay attention to your gut. If a scene keeps tugging at you, asking to be rewritten, or if a section feels off no matter how polished it is, listen. Your internal compass knows more than you think. Revision is where that voice becomes one of your greatest assets.

Check out these articles for additional novel-writing support:

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