This week, I’m talking about my favorite topic: revision!

Revision a novel is a lot like climbing a mountain. It’s difficult, requires planning, and not everyone who starts out will reach the end. I don’t want your novel to end up in the back of a drawer or some dusty corner of your hard drive, so let’s talk about why revision is so overwhelming and how you can make the revision process work for you.

Here are four reasons revision is overwhelming:

1. You haven’t trained before starting your climb (you don’t yet have the skills to revise)
2. You haven’t mapped out the right route (you don’t have a clear revision strategy)
3. You’re trying to climb alone (you don’t have emotional support or critical support)
4. You don’t know what the peak looks like (you don’t have a clear vision for your finished book)