What to do after finishing your first draft: A guide for new authors

Congratulations! You’ve typed that last sentence, hit save and your first draft is complete. It’s a big moment, so take a second to bask in it. Whether your manuscript is 50,000 or 100,000 words long, getting it all out on paper (...or, screen, I suppose) is a massive achievement. 

But now what?

As tempting as it might be to share it with the world straight away, the road to publication is a little longer than you might expect. Don’t worry, though—I’m here to guide you through what to do next. Here are a few important steps you should consider before thinking about sending your baby out into the wild.

First things first—step away from your manuscript. 

Give yourself some breathing room—a couple of weeks is best! You’ve likely been immersed in your story and stepping back will allow you to return with fresh eyes. 

This break may help you spot plot holes, inconsistencies or those awkward sentences that you missed when you were too close to the story.

While beta readers are optional (I’ll talk more about them later), self-editing is absolutely something I'd recommend all writers do. The first draft is often only the beginning of refining your work and self-editing sets you up for success straight from the start.

Here are a few key things to look for when self-editing:

• Structure: Does your story flow logically? Are the chapters in the right order?

• Repetition: Do certain words or phrases crop up a little too often?

• Pacing: Are there any parts that drag or scenes that feel rushed?

• Characters: Are your characters consistent and developed? Do they have believable motivations?

It’s tempting to skim through but taking the time to make these initial edits can save you a lot of work later down the line.

Beta readers can be invaluable, especially if they’re your target audience. They can help provide feedback on whether your story resonates well with them, if the characters are relatable or if there are any glaring issues. 

However, it's important to remember that beta readers are often not professionals, so their feedback—while helpful—is subjective. 

Some might focus on the plot, while others might give you advice on things like dialogue.

My tip? Use beta readers to get a feel for your story’s readability but don’t rely on them to catch all the technical errors or structural issues. That’s where professional help comes in.

This is the step where your manuscript gets the polish it truly deserves. You’ve done the hard work, but no matter how many times you self-edit, a fresh set of professional eyes can transform your manuscript. 

A good editor won’t just look for grammar and punctuation errors—they’ll assess the overall structure, pacing, character development and more. Plus, they can help you refine your voice, ensuring it shines throughout your story and helping you to connect with your key demographic.

You might be wondering: why not just self-edit and call it a day? 

As the writer, you’re often too close to your work. You’ve been living in this world for months, maybe even years, so spotting flaws or areas for improvement can be tricky. This is totally normal and collaboration with someone who has experience doing and knowledge of how to refine stories is the key.

A professional editor can spot inconsistencies that beta readers or self-editing might miss, strengthen weak areas in your manuscript—whether it’s dialogue or plot structure—and ensure that your book is ready for submission to agents or self-publishing. 

If you’re new to the world of editing, it’s easy to get confused by the different terms. 

Here’s a quick rundown of the three key forms of editing most editors offer:

• Developmental Editing: This looks at the big picture—story structure, pacing and character arcs, etc. It’s the most in-depth review and comes early in the process and before your story's plot is set in stone. 

• Copyediting (sometimes used interchangeably with line editing): This focuses on sentence structure, grammar, spelling and style. It’s the polish that comes after developmental editing.

• Proofreading: This is a high-level review and final check for typos, punctuation errors and formatting issues once the story has been locked in.

The editing process can feel overwhelming, but it’s an essential step in getting your manuscript to a professional standard. It can really make the difference between a good book and a great book that will stand the test of time. 

Even after editing, there’s still work to do. Expect feedback that may require significant changes, however, don’t let this discourage you—every great book has gone through multiple drafts and revisions. 

Editing isn’t about pointing out what’s wrong; it’s about helping you craft the best version of your story.

The path from first draft to publication can seem daunting, but each step is a chance to make your manuscript the best it can be. While self-editing and beta readers are useful, there’s no substitute for professional editing to ensure your book reaches its full potential.

So, when you’re ready to take that next step, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you turn that rough draft into something you’ll be proud to share with the world.

Happy writing!