19 June 2026·3 min read
What to fix first when everything needs fixing
Sentence edits can feel manageable when the bigger revision feels hard to begin.
It’s easy to start revising on page one and spend the afternoon polishing sentences. That can be useful, but not if you later decide to remove the scene.
Before working line by line, take a look at the larger changes you’re considering. It may save you from polishing passages that won’t stay.
Start with the larger questions
Look at the shape of the story, then the scenes that carry it. Sentence work is often easier once you know which scenes belong.
You don’t have to follow a rigid order. The aim is to avoid spending most of your energy on details while a larger decision remains unresolved.
One sheet of paper first
Write one line per chapter describing what happens and what changes.
Reading the outline on one page may show repetition or gaps that are hard to see inside the prose. Use it to choose a manageable starting point for the next pass.
Read more
These books explore the ideas in more detail, with examples you can try in your own work.
Stein on Writing · Sol Stein
Practical guidance on revision, with exercises to try on a draft.
On Writing · Stephen King
A memoir of writing alongside advice on drafting and revision.
Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure · James Scott Bell
Practical ways to examine plot and structure when a draft feels stuck.
For feedback on your own draft, Karlove offers a letter with examples from your pages, reviewed by Aksel before it's sent.
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