A Simple Guide to Editing Your Novel First Draft

So you finished your first draft, and that alone is a big thing. Most people don’t get this far. Now you open it again, you read a few pages, some parts feel okay, and some feel strange. A few lines make you wonder what you were even thinking about when you wrote them. This moment is normal, even if it doesn’t feel good.

Editing sounds scary because people make it sound technical. Like it’s all rules, grammar, and red pens. In reality, it’s not. Editing is simply you sitting with your story and asking some simple questions. Does this even make any sense? Does this part drag? Do I even need this scene?

Your first draft can be rough. It’s allowed to talk too much and allowed to go in circles. That’s how stories come out the first time. You were figuring things out as you wrote. Of course, it’s messy.

Editing is just the second pass. You’re calmer now, and you know the story. Also, you are no longer in a rush to get it out of your head. You are only helping your readers to get along with the tone without feeling lost. This blog will allow you to go through the procedure most simply.

Editing Your Novel’s First Draft

Before you fix sentences or cut scenes, you need to slow down and reset your head. Editing works best when you stop seeing your draft as “perfection” and start seeing it as a work that is in progress. This small change makes every next step simpler and less emotional. Still, if doing all this is a bit complicated, then you may get a Literary Agent for expert help.

Step 1: Step Away Before You Start Editing

This step may feel a bit boring, but it is more important than people admit. When you complete a draft, your head still feels inside the story. You remember what you wanted to say and not what is actually on the page. If you edit in a rush, you will miss problems because your brain fills the gaps for you.

So, you must take a break. A few days is good and a week is even better. During that time, don’t reread, don’t tweak lines, and let the draft cool off so you can see it fresh later.

Here is what this looks like in real life.

Before the break (how it feels):

“I know this scene works, and I can see it clearly in my head.”

After the break (what you notice):

“Why did this scene take five pages? Nothing actually happens.”

That distance helps you read like a stranger, not the writer.

Here’s a guide for taking a break

Draft Length	Break Time
Short novel	3–5 days
Full novel	7–14 days

You’re not being lazy, but you’re giving your story space to breathe.

Step 2: Read Your Draft like a Reader and Not a Writer

When you open your draft, make sure you edit right away. Don’t fix lines, don’t correct words, just read. Try to read it the way a normal reader would. A reader doesn’t know your plans, but they also don’t know what’s coming next. All they know is what’s on the page in front of them.

As you keep reading, pay attention to your reaction. Where do you get bored? Where do you feel confused? Where do you want to skip ahead?

Those moments matter more than grammar.

A simple trick that helps is to keep a notebook or a blank document open. When something feels off, you must write a short note and then move on. Not a long explanation, just quick thoughts.

Examples of real notes:

“This chapter starts too slowly.”
“Why is she angry here?”
“Too much backstory”
“Good scene, don’t cut.”

Before and after mindset

Before (writer brain):

“This makes sense because I know the backstory.”

After (reader brain):

“I don’t know why this matters yet.”

That shift is decisive, and it shows you what needs work without touching a single sentence yet.

Editing starts with noticing, not fixing.

Step 3: Cut the Weak Parts

Everyone is right when they say this part hurts a little. When you read your draft, you’ll find lines and scenes you enjoy. They sound nice, they feel clever, but they don’t really help the story move forward. Editing means being honest about that.

You’re not cutting because it’s bad writing, but you’re cutting because it’s not doing its job. Many new writers think that cutting will make their book emptier or shorter. Mostly, it does the opposite. The story feels clearer and stronger.

A real example

Before editing:

The room was full of quiet sadness that reminded her of her childhood. She missed her old house, the smell of dust, and the way time always felt slow back then.

After editing:

The room felt heavy, like the house she grew up in. Same feeling, fewer words, and more impact. Ask one simple question. For every scene or paragraph, ask:

Is it only pushing the story, or is it also revealing something important?

If the answer is no, then mark it. You don’t need to delete it forever. Just move it out of the draft.

This step matters even more if you plan to work with editors later, whether that’s through custom children’s book publishing services or traditional routes. A cleaner draft makes every next step easier.

Keep It If It…	Cut It If It…
Moves the plot	Repeats old info
Shows character	Exists “just because.”
Creates tension	Slows everything down

Cutting is not a failure if it’s care.

Step 4: Fix Clarity Before You Worry About Style

This is where many writers get distracted. They start polishing sentences before the meaning is clear. That usually leads to beautiful lines that still confuse the reader. Clarity always comes first.

Ask yourself simple questions as you edit.

Who is in this scene?
What do they want?
What just changed?

If you can’t answer those simply, the reader won’t be able to do it either.

A clear before-and-after example:

Before editing:

She looked at him, not sure, as the weight of everything pressed down on the moment.

It sounds good, but it’s vague.

After editing:

She looked at him and wasn’t sure whether to tell the truth or walk away.

Exact moment, but with a clear choice and a stronger scene.

Another common problem is unclear actions.

Before:

He was standing there and thinking about what had happened.

After:

He was standing at the door, replaying her last words and realising he was about to lose her.

Now the reader can feel and see the moment. This step is also essential if you ever plan to pitch your book or look for help from a children’s photobook publishing agency. Clear storytelling always comes before pretty writing.

Step 5: Smooth the Words, Don’t Show Off

This is the part many writers rush into too early. You start fixing lines because it feels productive. But now that your story is clear, this step actually makes sense.

Read out your pages loudly. If something feels uneven or awkward in your mouth, it will feel the same to the reader. You need to keep the words in the proper flow.

Before:

He proceeded toward the door hesitantly.

After:

He walked to the door hesitantly.

Same meaning but cleaner and natural.

Another one writers often miss:

Before:

She nodded her head silently.

After:

She nodded.

Say things once, say them clearly, and then move on.

What to fix at this stage

Long sentences that feel tiring
Words you wouldn’t say out loud
Repeating the same ideas differently.

Agents and editors, including those you might meet when you try to get a Literary Agent, don’t want perfect writing. They want clear writing that feels honest. This step isn’t about sounding impressive, but it’s about sounding real.

Final Thoughts

Editing your first draft may sound weird, but it is messy. Some parts you love, and some parts make you want to cry, and this is okay. You don’t have to fix everything at once. Just read it, change the parts that confuse you, and cut the parts that slow the story down. Keep moving and doing it in small steps.

Some days it will feel fun, and some days it will feel like a slog. That’s normal too. It doesn’t mean your story is bad, but it means you’re figuring it out. Remember, even a messy draft can turn into something outstanding.