I recently finished the first draft of a novel — my eighth! For each of the previous seven novels, I’ve done anywhere from four to 12 rounds of revisions. Because I’m a quick writer who leaves some plot holes and empty sections in the novel while I’m drafting, I don’t plan to let anyone read this new novel for at least another draft. Which means I’m on my own for this first round of revision.

Luckily, I’m also a systems girlie, so I do have a finely-honed, oft-practiced revision routine. I follow these seven steps to set myself up for revising success.

1. Take a break after you finish drafting

Yes, I’m saying it! The first step is not an action step but a rest one! Listen, I know, trust me I know just how tempting it is to finish a draft and immediately turn back to page one and start re-reading. You’ve just spent anywhere from a few weeks to a few months or years drafting this book. You’re fired up, ready to go, and you want to start perfecting it. I get it.

But I cannot stress enough how crucial that break is. I usually try to take 1-2 weeks off between drafts, because that break from the story lets my subconscious do what it does best: overthink. In the time between finishing my latest draft and starting its revision, I kept a running document where I wrote down all my epiphanies and a rough list of steps to take for the next draft. Which leads me to the second step in the revision, which is…

2. Make a list of action steps

I did this in a notes app and started it even before finishing my draft. Anytime I realized I’d messed something up — whether it was following the wrong arc for my main character or giving someone the wrong career — I adjusted and then made a note of it. I have a list of items I need to research more in-depth, a few bullet points about story changes, a reminder that I need to make a calendar and a map cause this book is all over the place, etc.

This is going to be my blueprint for the next step in the process!

3. Do a read-through with fresh eyes

I like to print and bind my drafts, but I do think you can do this on a computer, using the comment feature in Word or Google. I read the whole book in a few sittings, marking the document up with my pen. This is not the time to do line edits unless you absolutely can’t help yourself (I can’t!), it’s more about the big picture. What works, what doesn’t, and what do you need to remember to rewrite in the next draft?

4. Write a reverse outline

The reverse outline is just an outline between drafts. You write it at the end of a draft, and it can look however you want it to. Maybe you’re a plotter who outlines in a spreadsheet; or you’re a pantser who just kind of follows the vibes; either way, I think the reverse outline is a really valuable step. It’s a way of taking stock of what exists and what you’re hoping to change.

5. Make a copy of the existing draft

Okay, listen. I know people who don’t do this and they scare me. Their brains are powerful and chaotic in ways I cannot even hope to emulate. If you’re like me, though, you’ll find it really helpful to create a fresh copy of your draft that you can mess around with. The existing version will remain in your files, so you can always go back to it, and the fresh copy gives you the freedom to move things around as needed.

6. Implement the changes

Revision rounds can be difficult because it’s hard if not impossible to quantify the work you’ve done. Some days, you might blaze through multiple chapters that were already pretty solid. Others, you might spend the whole day on one scene, or you may hit a snag that you need to spend time untangling and all you get done is brainstorming.

All of this is great progress, though! Go through the manuscript and fix everything, weaving in the new threads and tightening story arcs, amping the tension, diving deep into interiority, and in general making your story shine.

7. Repeat from Step 1 OR send to a beta reader!

Once you’re done, you’ve got two options: you can take another break and kick off the whole process from the beginning if you’re not sure the book is ready for others’ eyes; or, if you’re hungry for feedback, you can send it off to a beta reader. Either way, you’re back to taking a break from this project, so this is a great time to refill the well!

And that’s my seven-step guide to doing a round of solo revisions. Some of these tips may not work for you; heck, maybe none of them work for you! But I hope, at the very least, this has sparked your own imagination as you think through the best way to revise your novel. I can’t wait to see what you create!