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
Behind the Scenes of a Deep Dive Manuscript Evaluation
The 7 layers of analysis I use to edit a fourth draft of a novel.
I don’t know about you, but right now, my schedule is full. My days are packed with editing. I have several manuscripts I’m absolutely loving on my desk right now, so many pages to read, and so many notes to share with writers.
With all this editing, I didn’t have time to put together a typical episode of Your Next Draft for you. So . . . I’m doing something a little different today.
I’ve decided to pull back the curtain on the editing I’m doing right now, this week, on the manuscript I’m currently reading.
In this episode, you’ll get a glimpse of how I think about a manuscript as I edit it. You’ll see:
- The 7 (yes, 7!) levels of analysis I’m applying as I read
- The stage of the editing process this manuscript is in
- How I know what levels of editing are right for this manuscript at this stage
- The things I’m not editing in this manuscript right now
- That I really, really, really love editing (so much that I peaked on the mic a few times as I recorded. Sorry!)
- And more!
If you’ve ever wondered what a developmental editor is thinking when they’re editing a novel . . .
. . . well, this is it. These are my thoughts, almost in-the-moment, as I edit a manuscript I’m loving.
Huge shoutout to author J. D. Edwin, whose manuscript this episode is about, and who gave me the all clear to share a glimpse at our process together. She’ll be delighted if you check out her books at jdedwin.com.
They’re really good books. (Yes, I’m a bit biased, because I edited them. But still. They’re really good.)
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Check out J. D. Edwin’s books: jdedwin.com
- Listen to J. D. talk about her editing process: How to Create an Editing Process That Works for You With Author JD Edwin
- See whether I’m the right editor for your novel: alicesudlow.com/wishlist
- Reach out and let’s talk editing your novel: alicesudlow.com/contact
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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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