10 Things to Do After You Finish Your First Draft & Begin Self-Editing Your Novel

So, you’ve just finished the first draft of your novel and you’re thinking of jumping into self-edits…

Or maybe struggling to throw that book out of the window (’cause you’ve already started your editing process and realized the big mess you’ve created!)

Or perhaps you’re like me and just want to fall asleep… yet you’re wide wake, wondering what to do with your life next!

Haha, we’ve all been there, done that.

In this post, I’m sharing 10 things I suggest doing right after you’re done with your first draft, so you can slowly ease into self-editing your novel without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Celebrate Your First Draft

Because not everyone has one and you do! That’s huge.

Even if you’re drowned in exhaustive edits right now, pause and celebrate the feeling of having finished your first draft.

The quality of the draft does not matter (yet), so take a moment to bask in that post-draft glow.

Share the news with a friend, go on a solo date with your favorite book, or just sleep all day (no shame, but I recommend something fancy to remember this moment by!).

The purpose of this step is to cement this feeling of achievement in your mind. Sometimes, we end up rushing into the editing process without realizing what you’ve actually gained with this first draft.

Remember, you don’t finish a novel every day, so this deserves a real celebration.

2. Step Away from Your Draft

Give yourself at least 2–3 weeks away from your manuscript. Personally I give 2 months.

This space creates breathing room and helps you emotionally detach from your story.

I believe this to be a necessary step in order to distinguish your writer-self from the editor-in-you-self. While as a writer, you’ve worked diligently to bring this story out on paper, you must approach it as an objective editor.

And to do that, all you need is time away.

Once you return, you’ll be able to look at your story with a fresh perspective and make observations you may have otherwise overlooked.

During your break, I suggest indulging in activities that fill up your creative cup such as taking a vacation, visiting family & friends, taking up a new hobby, or even reading books off your TBR pile.

Some writers like starting new writing projects, but personally, I don’t recommend this.

The idea is to let go of the writer within you and allow her to rest.

3. Send It to Alpha (or Beta) Readers

Pick two people to be your Alpha readers who you can trust with your manuscript

This has to be someone who won’t judge you and instead make you feel safe & empowered.

It could simply be your mom, your sister, your partner or just another writer friend. The idea is to get some general thoughts & first impressions on the story, not super critical or specific feedback.

Now, if you’ve edited this drafted several times already (i.e. if it isn’t a freshly finished early draft), then you could send it out to 3-5 beta readers.

Pick betas readers carefully because this time you’re looking for specific & useful feedback, so I do not recommend asking your family/friends. You could look for free betas in Facebook groups or online communities, or hire paid ones who have professional experience. A good thumb of rule is 2 paid beta + 2 free ones at minimum.

🌿 {P.S. I used to be a paid beta reader before I shifted to being a developmental editor. And sometimes, when I’m not in the midst of a busy editing season, I offer beta reading at an affordable rate. To inquire if I’m currently open for submissions, drop me an email at hello@kathansh.com with the genre & word count of your novel. Make sure to mention you’re specifically looking for beta reading only.}

4. Reconnect With Why You Wrote This Story

Make a big running list of all the things you love about your story.

This list will help you keep a track of the elements in your ultimate vision and what makes it worth it for you.

Then take a few minutes to journal on why this story matters to you.

• Why did you choose to write it?
• What will you lose if you don’t put it out in the world?
• What is it that you might gain if you do work on it?

Write in stream of consciousness mode and let your thoughts flow onto the paper.

I use this exercise to help my author clients stay grounded in the essence of their why power before they read my feedback and even think about editing.

It’s simple but super effective. You can refer back to this list each time you feel demotivated.

5. Do a Full Read-Through + Create an “Improvements” List

Start by reading your draft cover to cover… buuttt you’re not allowed to make any changes or revisions yet.

The goal with this read-through is to get familiar with your story as an objective reader, not the writer.

As you read, keep adding to your “things I love” list, and start a second list of “things that can be improved.”

If you notice changes you want to make or get new ideas to tweak things, mark it up in the in-line comments of your manuscript, but do NOT start editing/rewriting yet.

I suggest this method to my author clients as their first step of starting a self-edit because this awareness around how the story is moving across the page is the key to not getting stuck in endless edits.

Because once you’re fully aware, then you can intentionally consider what to change and why. Otherwise, you’ll keep tweaking and re-tweaking without any idea if it’s actually working.

6. Add in Feedback From Your Beta Readers

Once you’re done with your no-editing read-through, visit the feedback you received from your alpha or beta readers.

Add any helpful notes or suggestions from here to your two lists we discussed above.

This is where you begin combining your own instincts with outside perspectives which helps you spot both strengths and blind spots.

Remember, you’re still not supposed to be revising or editing anything.

I know it’s hard to control, but mastering this urge to tweak little things every time you look at the draft is a crucial skill.

This patience is exactly what will lead you to editing with complete creative control & confidence.

7. Sort Your Observations into Categories

Take your list of “improvements” and organize them into buckets like:

Characterization + Themes,

Structure + Pacing,

Voice, Narration & Perspectives

This helps you break down your editing into steps instead of feeling like you have to fix everything at once.

Try to club connected aspects together (like structure can go hand-in-hand with pacing, character interiority can pair with narration or perspective).

Don’t overthink it.

Just look at your improvements list and break it into similar categories that can be worked upon together in one sitting.

🌿 Most of my author clients find this to be the toughest step and I understand why. Because you might not know which aspects can be (or should be) worked upon together to make your editing most efficient. And I agree this isn’t as easy as this post makes it sound… so I’m considering writing a full blog post elaborating how to do this. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see that.

8. Choose One Focus Category to Start

Among all the categories you listed out earlier, now choose one core focus area that you will work upon first.

I always recommend starting with your story’s theme first.

• What is the point of your story?
• What do you want the reader to take away from it?

Second is your main character’s arc and journey.

• Is it naturally making sense with respect to your story’s theme?
• Is it consistent with your character’s intended personality?

Once those two are locked in, then look at the other categories and add a priority number to them. This way, you’ll know which changes to make first and which to touch upon later.

9. Edit One Layer at a Time

Editing in layers (multiple rounds) is my secret weapon as an editor.

After choosing one focus area, do the first layer edit keeping your eyes only on scenes and sections related to your chosen focus.

If you spot other issues in the manuscript, make a note of it in the comments or in your improvements list, but don’t start fixing it then and there.

Because if you start editing everything you notice, you’ll fall back into the cycle of never-ending edits.

That’s why I recommend editing in layers (in multiple rounds of edits), so you have a clear focus each time.

In the beginning, it may feel like you have too many layers to edit but once you begin, you’ll realize how it’s not about the number of layers at all.

The effectiveness of this system is in practicality of it to keep you sane with each intentional round of edit.

Eventually, this method will help you build real momentum without falling into the perfectionist spiral.

10. Hire a Developmental Editor

Once you’ve finished editing all the categories, it’s time to ask yourself the magic question:

Have I reached a point where I’ve done my best and I don’t know what more I could do with this book?

If your answer is no, you go back and keep editing.

If your answer is yes, you’re ready to hire a professional developmental editor.

But Srishti, why do I need a developmental editor?

Because self-editing can only take you so far. Once you hit the limit, your creative mind stops working and starts seeing your book as a project to be completed… that’s almost never ready to go out in the world.

Also, you’re still too close to your book as an author and you lack the objectivity required to see your work from a new angle.

You need a fresh pair of professional eyes who’ll tell you exactly how to turn this self-edited draft into a publish-worthy manuscript.

That’s where a developmental editor will help you.

And if you’re wondering where to find one, look no further… check out my 1:1 Developmental Editing Experience.