After finishing a novel, take a deep breath, put down the pen (or close the document), and relax. Be proud of your accomplishment. Just realize that there is a lot of work left before the novel is "done."
Allowing Your Novel to "Rest"
Just after finishing a novel, it is tempting to grab a red pen, mark through any grammatical errors, and call it finished. The novel took a long time to write: lots of starting and stopping, writing under various circumstances and moods, writing with heavy emotion.
Minor and major grammatical errors are to be expected, but what lots of eager first-time writers forget is that it's also natural for the novel to have plot holes, character flaws, over and underwriting, and inconsistencies in narrative voice.
Just after finishing the novel, your heart is so involved in the book itself, it is nearly impossible to effectively edit and see the book clearly for what it is. Therefore, allow your novel to rest for at least a month (six months being best).
The Conflict of the Novel
After picking up your novel with fresh eyes, it's time to figure out what your novel is all about. After reading through the book again, jot down a short summary of the book's storyline and theme (one or two sentences; no more than a paragraph).
Reread through the book, keeping the summary in mind. Mark through anything that does not relate to the storyline and theme. Ignore all typos and grammatical errors. Right now is all about the conflict: the heart of your novel.
The Pacing of the Novel
The pacing of the story is one of the most important parts of the book because it directly affects the conflict and how you build up to the conflict. If the pacing isn't working, chances are the conflict, suspense, and overall tone of the novel aren't working either.
Mark places where the pacing should be quicker or slower, based on the conflict and storyline. Check to see if the pacing changes accordingly.
The Characters of the Novel
Aside from the conflict, the characters are the most important thing in your novel. How else is a reader supposed to relate to, challenge, and learn from the novel but through the lovable, despicable, immature, genius, beautiful creatures we call characters?
Be sure the characters are well-developed. Don't just look into their lives as they are during the novel, but ask yourself where this character came from. What kind of life did he or she have as a child? What will he or she be doing when he is 80? What would he or she wear to the beach; what would he do if he won the lottery?
Questions like these help develop better, more realistic and relatable characters. Love your characters (or hate the despicable ones) and they will provide a great deal for you.
The Voice of the Novel
Notice the narration when you read through your novel. The narrator doesn't have to be reliable or likable, but he does need to suit the novel's needs. Harsh cynicism in a children's novel doesn't work well. Make sure the voice is consistent throughout, and consider making changes to ensure a unique voice.
Grammar and Typo Time
Chances are, if you're a grammar Nazi anyway, these little grammatical errors and typos have been driving you insane. While these won't ultimately make or break the novel, they are important to fix prior to submitting a manuscript.
Hiring a Professional and/or Submitting Your Manuscript
Although no writer wants to hear it, it's best to submit your manuscript to a professional editor who can view the novel without knowledge of its past and inspiration. Editors know the business well and can help tweak your novel to be marketable. Submitting your manuscript to a hundred publishing companies and receiving a hundred rejections is not only wasting time but also heart.
After paying an editor to help you fix the structural and minor flaws, submit your manuscript to publishing companies that are looking for novels similar to the one you've written. No point in sending a thriller to a romance publishing company, no matter how brilliant your novel may be.
Don't lose heart or sleep over rejection letters, they are a part of every writer's experience, even the best-known ones. Even if this novel doesn't gain acceptance by any publishing company, it is never a waste. You have learned a lot, and it could be the base for your next writing project.
Related Reading:
- How to Edit to Create an Interesting Short Story
- Editing Poetry for Empty Words
- How to Be More Creative
Megan B. Wyatt - Megan B. Wyatt has a BA in English, edits fiction manuscripts and currently works as an entertainment reporter in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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