How to start, continue, and finish editing your novel

Rome wasn't built in a day. Nor will your novel be reader-ready after one round of editing.

That's why editor and author Kris Spisak compares revision to using a Swiss Army knife — you'll need a different tool at different times.

Still, while your approach to each phase can vary, there's a general order of operations when it comes to editing your own novel.

Spisak arranges her seven self-editing methods in a suggested order for authors at Writer's Digest. 

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