Q: What do I do when I have a finished first draft?

As I like to say, a first draft is NOT your book. A first draft is a first draft—a great beginning. From there I encourage you to self-edit and revise as much as possible. When you find yourself no longer making sweeping changes to your story or book, and just tweaking it here and there—it’s time to walk away, and share it with a feedback partner. That can look like a writing critique buddy, a Beta reader or an editor. The goal here is constructive feedback and the focus should be on what are the opportunities for growth and improvement. Make sure your reader enjoys the kind of book you’ve written. Bonus points if they fall into the category of your ideal reader.

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