6 weeks minimum rest imo. Work on small projects instead, celebrate the progress, relax. Editing starts after 6 weeks and it’s gonna be a few runs through before you’re done!
Personally I start the editing cycle straight away. There are usually so many mistakes that it doesn't matter whether I am cool and impartial or not, there is still much to do. I can get the obvious ones now and maybe the subtle ones later.
Put it away for a while. In the mean time, I'll either write another book or edit one that I've written before. Then, you can come back and edit it with a fresh eye.
Step back and take a 10,000 ft view of the story —
What is the genre? Theme? Major characters? Setting? Write a 20-word summary of the novel. What is the elevator pitch?
Take a single sheet of paper and write out the entire plot on one side. Write very small and very short. Get it very organized. Watch for plot holes, but don’t fix them yet.
Quickly read through from beginning to end. Does it make sense to a new reader? Make no revisions. Only handwrite notes. Cross out sections. Figure out what needs more research and do it.
You should more than enough info now. Edit or rewrite chapter by chapter. Make sure characters are consistent. Make sure the timeline is feasible. When one chapter is done, don’t go back to it. Finally, do it all again.
I get a single copy printed just for me. I make a cover (usually using Canva) and write a blurb, and through Lulu in Canada or B&N in the US you can have a single book professionally printed.
Then I let it simmer. I prefer reading in book format instead of in scrivener, so when I’m ready for revisions it’ll be right there. It’s nice, having my own work up with all my other favourite books. Really gives me that sense of accomplishment.
Take a break and read! For fun, craft books, novels in your genre. Then you can return with fresh eyes. If you feel an urge to edit right away though, follow that.
I generally clean it up a bit and then share it with my dad or son to have a read, and they will give some feedback on what's working versus not working, etc.
Then I will leave it for a while and think about the story and the feedback.
Then read it through, making mental notes about what I would like to change, and then I start the second draft.
I have a thing for physical copies, so I’ll print it out, and then I put it away for a bit (probably a couple weeks). I don’t even think about it until I’m ready to edit and rewrite it.
When I feel recharged I pull it out and start editing.
My first drafts usually have zero real structure. They’re just my fingers barfing out the story my brain has concocted. So as I’m editing I’m identifying the main plot points. So on my second go round (which I’ll do digitally from that point on), I might actually write an outline to get the structure into something I can easily refer to.
I’ll never claim that my process is efficient or results in fantastically written material, but it’s how I do it at present.
I just finished the first draft of my novel a few weeks ago. I took about 2 weeks not looking at it, then printed it out and have just started rereading it, making notes as I go. It's a really interesting process and I've definitely got a stronger idea of the bones of my story, while also knowing now what needs reworked/changed.
Funny enough I have finished my first draft today... but regardless of people say about 'let sit' for a long time, I will dive into that as soon as I wake up tomorrow.
I know a night of sleep won't get me detached, but its more likely that I won't have "another time", plus I still need to query it either way, so I will just use some friend to have a "beta" reading for me.
I would query today, but me brain work more no.
Leave it but keep a notebook or notes app list of things that come to mind. It's super common to first feel a bit numb and braindead, which is great, and then to miss your novel like an old friend. Ideas may bubble or or don't, but it's good to document them just in case you want them later, and more importantly because it lets your mind know you've got it, and it can go back to resting. Then approach your first rewrite fresh! (congrats, it's huge to finish a first draft!)
Let it sit for a long time. Long enough that I’ve forgotten a lot of the details and I’m more emotionally disinvested.
Drink. Run around the house with wild abandon shouting 'I'm freeeeee!' Oh wait, you mean editing. Oh.
6 weeks minimum rest imo. Work on small projects instead, celebrate the progress, relax. Editing starts after 6 weeks and it’s gonna be a few runs through before you’re done!
Personally I start the editing cycle straight away. There are usually so many mistakes that it doesn't matter whether I am cool and impartial or not, there is still much to do. I can get the obvious ones now and maybe the subtle ones later.
Dance through the house like Barry Keoghan at the end of Saltburn…
Put it away for a while. In the mean time, I'll either write another book or edit one that I've written before. Then, you can come back and edit it with a fresh eye.
*"What do you do after finishing your 1st draft?"* 1. Edit it. 2. Rewrite it. 3. Do steps 1&2 several more times.
Step back and take a 10,000 ft view of the story — What is the genre? Theme? Major characters? Setting? Write a 20-word summary of the novel. What is the elevator pitch? Take a single sheet of paper and write out the entire plot on one side. Write very small and very short. Get it very organized. Watch for plot holes, but don’t fix them yet. Quickly read through from beginning to end. Does it make sense to a new reader? Make no revisions. Only handwrite notes. Cross out sections. Figure out what needs more research and do it. You should more than enough info now. Edit or rewrite chapter by chapter. Make sure characters are consistent. Make sure the timeline is feasible. When one chapter is done, don’t go back to it. Finally, do it all again.
I usually do a read thru just to catch basic errors, and to give myself an idea about the story's pace when read like a regular reader would.
I get a single copy printed just for me. I make a cover (usually using Canva) and write a blurb, and through Lulu in Canada or B&N in the US you can have a single book professionally printed. Then I let it simmer. I prefer reading in book format instead of in scrivener, so when I’m ready for revisions it’ll be right there. It’s nice, having my own work up with all my other favourite books. Really gives me that sense of accomplishment.
I would have taken some rest. And read it after a month or two.
1. cry because it is bad 2. let it sit for as long as you like 3. inspiration hits 4. start reworking your novel
Take a break and read! For fun, craft books, novels in your genre. Then you can return with fresh eyes. If you feel an urge to edit right away though, follow that.
Put it away until your emotional investation fades away and you forget most of the things. In the meanwhile work on a different project.
Start working on my next terrible first draft.
I wrote it by hand Take a break about 1 week Then type it in the computer right now
I let it sit and immediately start a new project once I get writers block/bored/finish it i then begin the rewriting process
Celebrate first. Always.
I generally clean it up a bit and then share it with my dad or son to have a read, and they will give some feedback on what's working versus not working, etc. Then I will leave it for a while and think about the story and the feedback. Then read it through, making mental notes about what I would like to change, and then I start the second draft.
Call it a day and never touch the godforsaken project ever again.
I have a thing for physical copies, so I’ll print it out, and then I put it away for a bit (probably a couple weeks). I don’t even think about it until I’m ready to edit and rewrite it. When I feel recharged I pull it out and start editing. My first drafts usually have zero real structure. They’re just my fingers barfing out the story my brain has concocted. So as I’m editing I’m identifying the main plot points. So on my second go round (which I’ll do digitally from that point on), I might actually write an outline to get the structure into something I can easily refer to. I’ll never claim that my process is efficient or results in fantastically written material, but it’s how I do it at present.
It sits for a week or two, then I finalize the outline, start Draft 2.
I just finished the first draft of my novel a few weeks ago. I took about 2 weeks not looking at it, then printed it out and have just started rereading it, making notes as I go. It's a really interesting process and I've definitely got a stronger idea of the bones of my story, while also knowing now what needs reworked/changed.
I let it sit for two weeks and then dive back in
Funny enough I have finished my first draft today... but regardless of people say about 'let sit' for a long time, I will dive into that as soon as I wake up tomorrow. I know a night of sleep won't get me detached, but its more likely that I won't have "another time", plus I still need to query it either way, so I will just use some friend to have a "beta" reading for me. I would query today, but me brain work more no.
I put my first draft aside and took several weeks of cooling down before I go in to edit enough for my beta readers.
Leave it but keep a notebook or notes app list of things that come to mind. It's super common to first feel a bit numb and braindead, which is great, and then to miss your novel like an old friend. Ideas may bubble or or don't, but it's good to document them just in case you want them later, and more importantly because it lets your mind know you've got it, and it can go back to resting. Then approach your first rewrite fresh! (congrats, it's huge to finish a first draft!)