Advice for Rereading Your First Draft

Congrats! You've finished the first draft of your novel, and after a break, it's time to reread your first draft. The reread of your first draft is an important step! It is your chance to see your writing with fresh eyes and evaluate its structure, flow, and clarity. It’s not about perfection, but about evaluating what needs editing. Rereading your first draft can be difficult, though. You may be inclined to edit everything as you go, or maybe you get so discouraged with the writing, you think about quitting altogether. That's where we come in. Here is how to get the most out of that critical first reread, and enjoy the process!

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Know It'll be the Worst Draft

This may be a hard pill to swallow, but it's true. What you just wrote--the first draft--is going to be your worst writing of the process. And that's normal! Your first draft is supposed to be messy. It’s more of a brain dump than a masterpiece. So, while you're rereading your work, have grace and patience. Don't worry if there are inconsistencies, awkward dialogue, and scenes that don’t quite work. The goal of this reread isn’t to judge your talent, just to assess what you actually have on the page. If you approach this reread with the understanding that it’s the worst it will ever be, you'll likely feel less pressure.

Resist the Urge to Edit

While some authors do jump write into editing after finishing their first draft, it's a good idea to read the draft in its entirety before editing. This is because editing too early pulls you out of the "big-picture" mindset and drags you into sentence-level details before you’re ready. So, think of this reread just as an opportunity to gather information and jog your memory about the plot. It's not about rewriting scenes or deleting entire chapters.

Color-Code Your Notes

That being said, it can be helpful to take some notes and highlight passages when rereading the first draft. It's up to you if you decide to write comments or not, but it can be a beneficial practice. Using color-coded highlights or comments can help you organize your feedback without getting overwhelmed. For example: red for passages to delete, blue for character development issues, green for setting, yellow for pacing. This system will make your revisions more focused and efficient later on, and help you visually identify patterns in your writing.

List the Plot Holes

If you do make notes while rereading, it can also be helpful to list out the plot holes you're encountering. Plot holes are easy to miss when you’re deep in writing mode, but glaring during a reread. Keeping a list of any inconsistencies, unanswered questions, or missing information will help later on. You can even ask yourself: does every event have a cause and effect? Are my character's motivations clear? Does the timeline make sense? For tips on fixing plot holes, click on the button below!

How to Fix Plot Holes

Don't Doubt Yourself

Not doubting yourself is easier said than done, but it's important! While it's easy to spiral into self-criticism during a reread, remind yourself that it's part of the process. Every writer starts with a rough draft. Just completing an entire draft is wildly impressive, so be proud of yourself. And the fact that you're rereading it means you're committed to growth. So, instead of doubting your ability, recognize that identifying what's wrong is the first step toward making it right. You got this!

The reread of your first draft is an opportunity to evaluate what needs to change. By stepping back, thoughtfully reading, and resisting the urge to edit too soon, it'll be easier for you to recognize what works and what needs improvement. Trust the process and remember good writing really begins after editing!