New Writer Revision Mistakes: Why I Hit Pause on My Novel

"Revision: It's all about the layers."

As a new novelist, there's a powerful pull to get to "The End." You pour your heart out onto the page, battle through plot twists, and finally, you've got a full manuscript. Then comes revision, and for a while, I thought I was on the home stretch. I was deep into a line-by-line pass, meticulously fixing grammar, smoothing out sentences, and feeling like I was so close to declaring my novel "done."

Honestly, it felt great to focus on those little details. It's easier to fix a comma or rephrase a clumsy sentence than to question the very foundation of your story. It made me feel productive, like I was truly polishing the final version of my book, inching closer to that thrilling moment of announcing it to the world. I was ready to hand it off to my proofreaders and celebrate!

But then, I had a jarring realization. As I looked back at the modules of some of the writing courses I'd taken, a lightbulb went off. I hadn't fully developed some of the concepts I'd learned – things like character arcs and crafting distinct individual voices for my characters. It hit me that I'd skipped over these crucial steps, or at least hadn't given them the attention they deserved.

Part of it, I think, was impatience. I was so eager to "tell" my story, to get it all down, that I rushed past some of the foundational work. The steps I overlooked, or didn't fully commit to, just didn't seem as important at the time. My thought was, "I can always come back and fix that later."

And there it is – the mistake a new writer can easily fall into. This is one of those classic new writer revision mistakes that can cost you time and effort later on.

The Feeling of Realization

Finding this out felt a little like hitting a wall. It was frustrating to realize I wasn't as close to "done" as I thought. There's a moment of disappointment, a feeling of "Darn, I have to go backwards now." But as I've sat with it, I've come to see it as a necessary and valuable detour. It's part of the learning curve for any new writer facing revision.

The thing is, there are so many layers to writing a book and revising it. It's not just about telling a story; it's about crafting an experience, building believable worlds and characters. From now on, until I truly feel my manuscript is as good as I can possibly write it, I will not hastily announce that I am done. I will put it in the hands of my proofreaders only then. And I will take as much time as I need. Period.

I hope sharing this helps other new writers avoid falling into similar new writer revision mistakes. Take your time, trust the process, and remember that sometimes, a step back is actually the biggest leap forward you can take for your novel.