Your Next Draft
Supporting fiction writers doing the hard work of revising unputdownable novels. The novel editing process is the creative crucible where you discover the story you truly want to tell—and it can present some of the most challenging moments on your writing journey.
Developmental editor and book coach Alice Sudlow will be your companion through the mess and magic of revision. You’ll get inspired by interviews with authors, editors, and coaches sharing their revision processes; gain practical tips from Alice’s editing practice; and hear what real revision truly requires as Alice workshops scenes-in-progress with writers.
It’s all a quest to discover: How do you figure out what your story is truly about? How do you determine what form that story should take? And once you do, how do you shape the hundreds of thousands of words you've written into the story’s most refined and powerful form?
If you’ve written a draft—or three—but are still searching for your story’s untapped potential, this is the podcast for you. Together, let’s dig into the difficult and delightful work of editing your next draft.
Your Next Draft
How to Read Like an Editor: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Every Book You Read
Build a reading habit that helps you edit amazing novels.
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
This quote from Stephen King gets shared a lot in writer circles.
But I have a confession: when I became an editor, I fell into a reading slump. Worse, I stayed in the slump for several years. (After all, Stephen King was talking about writers, not editors, right?)
Last year, I read 58 books, nearly three times the books I read the year before. And this year, I’m on track to surpass that again.
So in this episode, I’m sharing all about how to read in a way that benefits your writing and editing.
How did I get out of the reading slump? And how has reading more impacted my editing? It’s all in the episode.
You’ll learn:
- 5 strategies to use your reading to improve your editing
- The mindset shift that transformed how I read
- The 4 types of books I recommend you read
- How to gamify your reading (and why I’m so fun to watch movies with)
- How complicated it used to be to listen to audiobooks (I felt ancient describing this, but it was not that long ago)
Plus, a few years ago, I created a robust reading tracker spreadsheet so I can quickly reference books when I’m editing. Want to steal my reading tracker? Download my "Read Like an Editor" Reading Tracker here.
Let’s be honest: you and I are in the book industry because we love stories.
I hope this episode gives you strategies to leverage your reading in your editing process.
But more than that, I hope it inspires you and helps you reinvigorate your own reading habit.
Happy reading!
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Download my “Read Like an Editor” Reading Tracker: alicesudlow.com/reading-tracker
Want my support in your revision?
In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Get started by telling me about your story here.
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"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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