by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan
Congratulations! A completed first draft is a tremendous accomplishment. Now you’re probably wondering what to do next. I highly recommend celebrating. After I finish a manuscript, I like to treat myself to a latte and a new book written by a favorite author. Perhaps you’ve toiled over your future best-seller for years and deserve a party. Good for you! Many people start writing a story, but a significantly smaller percentage make it all the way to The End. A finished first draft is worthy of a festive occasion.
This is also a great time to let that first draft rest. There’s something about putting space between the writer and the story that pays off later during the revision process. So, take a step back, exercise your creativity in an alternative outlet, then revisit your manuscript in two weeks or a month.
When your break is over, change the font, send the document to your e-Reader or print a paper copy. The key is to examine your story in a slightly different format. This helps identify the areas that need improvement and will lessen the chance that you just skim the document without making changes. Many authors will attest to the fact that revising and rewriting is where the magic happens. Don’t be afraid to cut useless adverbs, delete rambling bits of dialog, or fill in a plot hole. Change is good!
This next step might provoke some anxiety, and I completely understand. Sharing our stories can be scary. However, it’s important for writers to seek constructive feedback. Accepting other people’s opinions about our writing is part of the process. If you don’t already have a craft partner or a critique group, now is the time to build those connections. Find another writer or a reader who is familiar with the genre you’re writing and ask them to read your first three chapters. If you find a generous friend who will read the whole story, that’s even better. Remember that in the writing world, critique is a two-way street so be sure and extend the same courtesy and read your writing friend’s work with a careful eye as well. And if you’ve been wounded in the past by a judge’s comments in a contest or criticism that felt harsh and unfair, well, I’ve been there too. The best way to move forward is to try again.
Once you’ve received feedback, apply it to your manuscript. Continue revising and rewriting until you’ve polished the whole story. Then read it out loud from beginning to end. If this isn’t feasible, prompt your computer to read it to you. I promise you’ll be amazed at the overused words and phrases you hadn’t noticed until now.
A word of caution here: resist the temptation to tinker indefinitely. I’ve observed many a writer still working on the same story they were working on when I met them at a conference five years ago. Don’t be that writer. Sharing your work is hard and scary, but you never know what doors will open if you don’t ever knock.
Now it’s time to write a compelling pitch. I’m not going to lie, this part can hurt a little, but learning to describe your story in a few succinct sentences is a crucial step in the journey toward publication. If you’re querying an agent, this is the part that grabs their attention. If you’re independently publishing this story, the pitch is what sells the book. You’ll need a concise yet compelling description that hooks your potential readers.
Finally, release this beautiful story into the wild. Research the publishing industry and query an agent. Take that pitch you’ve crafted and use it in a Twitter pitch contest (there are several held throughout the year). Find a contest and submit your entry. If you’re considering independently publishing your novel, hire a developmental editor with a stellar reputation. While you wait for responses, maintain momentum and start writing your next book.
This cowboy can charm almost anyone…
Except the mother of his surprise baby girl.
Former bull rider Landon Chambers has made mistakes. Big ones. But discovering that he’s the father of a sweet little girl might be the best thing ever. Now Landon just has to convince her mother, navy diver Kelsey Sinclair, that his wild, troubled cowboy days are over. But Kelsey’s not quite sure she can trust Landon with her little girl…or her cautious heart.
Heidi McCahan writes uplifting inspirational romance novels set in small towns. Readers fall in love with her flawed characters who desperately need second chances. A perfect day for Heidi includes a huge cup of strong coffee, dark chocolate, and reading books with happy endings. She makes her home in North Carolina with her handsome husband, three amazing boys, and the world’s greatest goldendoodle. The Bull Rider’s Fresh Start, Heidi’s next novel with Harlequin Love Inspired, releases August 24, 2021.