Revision Happens in Waves

Revision. It can bring feelings of dread. It can also bring feelings of excitement - one step closer to finishing your novel.

But revision is not just one little thing you check off on your list. Revision happens in waves. One pass through the manuscript is not revision. It takes a lot of passes, focusing on different aspects of the novel each time. Only when you have this focus with your revision will you truly make progress and ride the wave into the shore of a complete and sparkly clean manuscript.

Otherwise you'll feel like this guy:

and the amounting waves of all of the work you have to do will keep crashing down on you. 

Breaking up the revision process into smaller parts helps you tackle revising with a clear, focused perspective. 

Look at the point of view from which you are writing. Look at your characters and how they develop. Are they consistent throughout? Look at your plot. Tension. The nitty gritty. But not all at once. One thing at a time so you can be consistent and come out on top.

I've found this method very helpful over the summer, and I hope it helps you too.

Don't get caught in the relentless pounding of the overwhelming amount of revision you have to do. Ride each wave in style, and see the beauty that comes of it.