You’re finally done with the writing portion of your book, and you’re ready to make revisions, but is now the time to make them? When you’re done with writing your book, it’s a huge win. It’s easy to want to jump right into the revision process so you can get your book out into the world as soon as possible. However, jumping right into revising your book could do more harm than good. Below, we’ll discuss why distance from your draft leads to better revisions.
Why Is Distance From Your Draft A Good Thing?
Think about it, you’ve been up close and personal with your work for quite some time. You’re likely exhausted and are maybe even experiencing burnout. Taking a little break is a great mental reset.
Give Yourself Time To Read Like A Reader
When you first finish your draft, you’re still in writer’s mode. If you try to read through your writing, your mind will likely fill in the gaps of what you want to read, as opposed to what you’re actually reading. This means that your writing may not flow well, there could be inconsistencies, and other mistakes that could have been missed. Distance from your draft will help change your mindset from writer to reader, so you can read it how it’s actually written.
Distance Allows Necessary Cuts To Be Made
When you first complete your book, you’re likely going to be attached to all of your material. Every word and sentence may feel like it’s absolutely necessary. However, taking a step back and returning to your work another time could give you a fresh perspective. You will be able to see what needs to be added or taken away. You may read something that doesn’t actually serve a purpose in your book and can be removed.
Give Yourself Time To Process
Even when you’re not actively typing, your brain is still working in the background on how you can improve your book. You may think of a better way to phrase a sentence or come up with a better plot in your story. Give yourself that time to ensure that you don’t develop better ideas later on. The last thing you’ll want is to come up with an idea for your book when it’s already in the finishing stages. You don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to your book.
How Long Should You Step Away From Your Draft?
There’s really no set-in-stone rule for how long you need to step away from your work. It’s ultimately up to you and your situation. The idea is that when you return to your work, you should feel relatively unfamiliar with it. You should feel more like a reader than a writer when you sit down for revisions. For longer drafts, try to take a week or so off to give yourself time to reset. If you’re feeling the effects of burnout, give yourself more time, if possible, to step away.
In Conclusion
In the end, distance from your draft is ideal. It gives you a chance to regroup, reset your perspective, and improve clarity.
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