I've revised quite a few novels and drafts. This is how I go about it:
1. put book aside for at least 3 months 2. read book 3. look at reviewers' comments (are there patterns? Stuff they mention several times?) 4. makes notes of 'easy' things to change (such as more/less setting, or better explanation of a concept or less infodumping - whatever) 5. Think about 'hard' suggestions, which require you to cut/add/change the plot and/or characters. Keep in mind where you want to story to go and the overall picture of the story in your mind. 6. do not give in to all your reviewers' wishes. If you do, you'll have a bland book no one will hate but no one will love either. 7. with all the above storybuilding behind you WRITE A SYNOPSIS
Up till now, you've done NO edits to the book
8. Divide your novel into three or four manageable 'units' where the end of each section represents closure of a certain part of the book. Write down what has to be covered in each part, and, more importantly, what happens in your first draft that is superfluous. 9. Tackle the book chapter by chapter until you're done.
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1. put book aside for at least 3 months
2. read book
3. look at reviewers' comments (are there patterns? Stuff they mention several times?)
4. makes notes of 'easy' things to change (such as more/less setting, or better explanation of a concept or less infodumping - whatever)
5. Think about 'hard' suggestions, which require you to cut/add/change the plot and/or characters. Keep in mind where you want to story to go and the overall picture of the story in your mind.
6. do not give in to all your reviewers' wishes. If you do, you'll have a bland book no one will hate but no one will love either.
7. with all the above storybuilding behind you WRITE A SYNOPSIS
Up till now, you've done NO edits to the book
8. Divide your novel into three or four manageable 'units' where the end of each section represents closure of a certain part of the book. Write down what has to be covered in each part, and, more importantly, what happens in your first draft that is superfluous.
9. Tackle the book chapter by chapter until you're done.