So, you’ve penned that first draft of your fantasy novel, haven’t you? It’s a glorious, sprawling beast, a true testament to your imagination and just getting it all onto the page. But let’s be real, it’s rarely a finished one. The real journey, the one that takes you from a raw idea to a published masterpiece, hinges on a critical, and often pretty daunting, phase: revision. This isn’t just about spell-checking, by the way; it’s a transformative process that breathes life, coherence, and impact into your fantastical world. I’m going to walk you through the actionable strategies for turning that rough gem of yours into a shimmering, irresistible manuscript.
Getting Into the Revision Mindset: Beyond the First Flush
Before you even think about opening your document, I want you to embrace a new mindset. Revision isn’t punishment; it’s refinement. It’s the moment when you step back from being the passionate creator and truly become the objective, discerning editor of your own work. This detachment? It’s crucial. Your first draft was all about discovery; your revisions are about clarity, impact, and making sure everyone understands your vision.
Here’s a tip: Take a break. Seriously. Step away from your manuscript for at least two weeks, a month if you can swing it. Go read other books, live your life. This creates the necessary distance so you can come back and see your work with fresh eyes, unclouded by the immediate thrill of creation.
The Global Pass: Macro-Level Revision
Your very first pass should be all about attacking the foundational elements of your novel. Think of this as sculpting the rough shape before you even start chiseling in the details. You’re looking at the whole forest, not the individual trees within it.
1. Plot and Pacing: Is Your Narrative Driving Forward?
Fantasy novels thrive on intricate plots, but let’s be honest, complexity can easily lead to confusion or the dreaded stagnation. Every single scene you’ve written has to serve the plot or character development.
- Arc Analysis: Does your protagonist have a clear, compelling arc? Is there a clear inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution? Map it out. If a scene doesn’t move the plot forward or deepen a character, you need to seriously question why it’s there.
- For example: If your hero spends three chapters wandering aimlessly in a magical forest without a clear goal or threat, that’s dead weight. Maybe they stumble upon a vital clue or encounter a mystical guardian who offers a cryptic warning – something that actually propels the story.
- Subplot Integration: Do your subplots weave organically into the main narrative? Are they actually enriching it without completely derailing it? Are they resolved in a way that feels satisfying?
- For example: A romance subplot should ideally reflect or complicate the main quest. If the hero’s love interest is also tied to the villain’s plans, that totally elevates the stakes. If the romance only serves as a distraction, it might need some re-evaluation.
- Pacing Check: Are there areas that just drag? Scenes that rush by too fast? Now’s the time to identify where you need to expand, condense, or simply re-sequence things.
- For example: Prolonged exposition about your magic system can bore a reader to tears. Try to reveal information through action and dialogue instead. Conversely, a rushed battle scene might need more detail to truly convey the chaos and stakes.
2. Worldbuilding Coherence and Consistency
Fantasy worlds are truly the beating heart of the genre. They absolutely must be immersive, logical (within their own established rules, of course), and consistent.
- Magic System Logic: Is your magic system clearly defined? Does it have consistent rules, limitations, and costs? You really want to avoid those deus ex machina moments where magic conveniently solves problems without any prior groundwork.
- For example: If your hero can suddenly conjure a powerful fireball to defeat a monster, but earlier was shown to only master minor illusions, you’ve got to explain that power surge. Did they unlock a new ability? Were they gifted a rare artifact?
- Lore Integration: Is your world’s history, culture, and mythology woven naturally into the narrative, rather than just being dumped in massive exposition blocks?
- For example: Instead of a paragraph explaining the ancient rivalry between two kingdoms, show it through a character’s prejudice, a historical ruin, or a tense diplomatic meeting.
- Geographical and Political Map: Have you actually accounted for travel times, political boundaries, and the impact of geography on your characters’ journeys?
- For example: If your hero travels a vast distance in a few days without explanation, that can really break immersion. Account for terrain, weather, and available transport.
3. Character Development and Motivation
Readers connect with characters. Your fantastical elements are merely the stage for human (or elf, or dwarf) drama.
- Motivation Clarity: What do your characters really want? Why do they want it? Are their motivations clear and consistent, even if they’re contradictory at times?
- For example: If your villain wants to destroy the world, what’s their underlying, relatable reason? Perhaps they lost everything and truly believe destruction is the only path to a new, better order.
- Character Arcs: Do your main characters change and grow over the course of the story? Are their internal conflicts as compelling as their external ones?
- For example: A timid farm boy who becomes a dragon rider should demonstrate tangible steps of growth – overcoming fear, learning to lead, making difficult choices.
- Voice and Distinction: Do your characters sound distinct? Can you tell who’s speaking from dialogue alone?
- For example: A cynical rogue’s dialogue should be sharp and sarcastic. A wise elder’s speech might be more measured and metaphorical. Avoid that generic dialogue that could be spoken by anyone.
4. Theme and Message
Every truly compelling story carries an underlying theme. What’s yours? Is it communicated effectively without being preachy?
- Identifiable Themes: Are themes like good vs. evil, courage, sacrifice, prejudice, or power clearly explored?
- Subtlety vs. Obviousness: You want to ensure your themes are woven into the story’s fabric, rather than stated directly.
- For example: Instead of stating “Prejudice is bad,” show it through the discrimination faced by a specific character and its devastating consequences.
The Line-by-Line Pass: Micro-Level Revision
Once your macro structure is solid, it’s time to zoom in on the prose itself. This is where you polish every sentence, ensuring clarity, impact, and beauty.
1. Show, Don’t Tell
This is the golden rule of writing, especially in fantasy where vivid imagery is paramount. Instead of telling the reader something, evoke it through action, dialogue, and sensory details.
- Action over Exposition: Instead of “The wizard was very old and powerful,” try writing: “His hands, gnarled like ancient oak roots, crackled with arcane energy as he raised them, the raw power thrumming in the air.”
- Emotional Revelation: Instead of “She was afraid,” try: “A cold knot tightened in her stomach, and her eyes darted to the shadows, heart hammering against her ribs.”
- Sensory Details: You want to engage all five senses. What do your characters see, hear, smell, taste, and feel?
- For example: Instead of “The feast was delicious,” describe “the rich aroma of roasted boar, spiced with rosemary, mingled with the sweet tang of apple cider, as musicians played a lively jig on hammered dulcimers.”
2. Word Choice and Precision
Every single word matters. Eliminate weak verbs, vague adjectives, and unnecessary adverbs.
- Strong Verbs: Replace weak verbs (is, was, said, walked) with active, descriptive ones.
- For example: Instead of “He walked quickly,” try “He strode,” “He sprinted,” “He lumbered,” “He darted.”
- Concrete Nouns: Use specific nouns instead of general ones.
- For example: Instead of “She looked at the building,” try “She gazed at the crumbling tower,” or “She stared at the obsidian citadel.”
- Adverb Elimination: Many adverbs signal a weak verb. Find a stronger verb instead.
- For example: “She ran quickly” becomes “She sprinted.” “He spoke loudly” becomes “He bellowed” or “He roared.”
3. Dialogue Crafting
Dialogue absolutely must sound natural, reveal character, advance the plot, and provide information.
- Authenticity: Read your dialogue aloud. Does it sound like real people talking? Avoid overly formal or expository dialogue.
- Subtext: What’s unsaid is often just as important as what’s said. Use subtext to hint at hidden motives or emotions.
- For example: A character who says, “Fine. I’ll do it,” through gritted teeth conveys a very different emotion than one who says it with a sigh.
- Dialogue Tags: Use “said” primarily. Avoid distracting or overly descriptive tags like “he expostulated” or “she ejaculated.” Reserve those for specific, impactful moments.
- Character Voice: As I mentioned before, ensure each character has a distinct way of speaking.
4. Sentence Structure and Flow
Varying sentence structure keeps your prose engaging and prevents monotony.
- Sentence Length: Mix short, punchy sentences for impact with longer, more complex ones for detail and atmosphere.
- Pacing with Structure: Short sentences can accelerate pacing; longer ones can slow it down for reflection or description.
- Read Aloud: This is invaluable for catching awkward phrasing, repetitive rhythms, and clunky sentences. Your ear will pick up what your eyes miss.
5. Eliminating Redundancy and Repetition
- Filter Words: Remove words that filter the reader’s experience, often telling rather than showing. Examples: “He saw,” “She felt,” “He knew,” “She heard.”
- For example: Instead of “He saw the dragon fly overhead,” write “The dragon flew overhead.”
- Unnecessary Qualifiers: Words like “just,” “very,” “really,” “a little bit,” “in order to.” Often, they can be removed without losing meaning.
- For example: “She was very tired” becomes “She was exhausted.” “He just wanted to leave” becomes “He wanted to leave.”
- Repetitive Phrasing: Are you using the same adjectives, verbs, or sentence constructions too often? Use a thesaurus (but sparingly, so you don’t sound artificial) or simply brainstorm alternatives.
The Polish Pass: Refinement and Final Checks
This is the last layer of buffing, ensuring your manuscript is professional and error-free.
1. Consistency Check (Beyond Worldbuilding)
- Character Details: Is your hero’s eye color consistent? Do names change spelling?
- Timeline: Are events occurring in the correct sequence? Do characters age appropriately?
- Magical Artifacts/Spells: Do your magical objects retain their powers and limitations throughout the story?
2. Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation
While this seems obvious, authors often miss errors in their own work because their brain “corrects” what it expects to see.
- Proofreading Tools: Use grammar checkers, but don’t blindly trust them. They are tools, not infallible editors.
- Read Backwards: Reading sentence by sentence, from the end of the manuscript to the beginning, can help you identify errors by breaking your brain’s natural flow and forcing it to focus on individual words.
- Different Mediums: Print out your manuscript and read it. The physical act of turning pages can reveal errors you missed on screen. Change the font or background color on your screen for a fresh perspective.
3. Formatting and Presentation
- Standard Manuscript Format: Ensure consistent margins, line spacing, font (usually Times New Roman or Courier, 12pt), and indentation. This makes your manuscript look professional and easy to read for agents and editors.
- Chapter Breaks: Are they clear and consistent?
- Scene Breaks: Use proper scene break indicators (e.g., three asterisks centered on a line).
Advanced Revision Strategies
These techniques can elevate your revision process even further.
1. The Reverse Outline
After your draft is complete, create an outline based on what you’ve actually written, not what you planned. This helps identify plot holes, pacing issues, and redundant scenes.
- For each chapter, list:
- Key plot points
- Character development
- New information revealed
- Purpose of the chapter
Then compare this to your intended outline or a standard story structure. Where are the gaps? Where does the story deviate unexpectedly (and not in a good way)?
2. Targeted Passes
Instead of trying to fix everything at once on a single pass, dedicate entire passes to specific elements.
- Character Pass: Focus solely on ensuring each character’s arc, motivation, and voice are strong.
- Worldbuilding Pass: Check consistency, logic, and integration of all magical and societal elements.
- Pacing Pass: Go through the story with a stopwatch, metaphorically. Where do things speed up? Slow down? Is that intentional?
- Show, Don’t Tell Pass: Highlight every instance where you tell instead of show, and then rewrite those sections.
3. Read Aloud (Seriously, Again)
I cannot stress this enough. Reading your entire novel aloud, from start to finish, is perhaps the most effective way to catch awkward phrasing, repetitive sentences, and unnatural dialogue. You’ll hear the rhythm, the flow, and where your prose stumbles.
4. Beta Readers and Sensitivity Readers
Once you’ve done all you can, fresh eyes are invaluable.
- Beta Readers: Select readers who align with your target audience. Give them specific questions:
- Where did the story drag?
- Were you confused by any part of the worldbuilding or plot?
- Did the characters feel real?
- What was your favorite/least favorite part?
- What questions did you have at the end?
- Sensitivity Readers: If your novel features diverse cultures, identities, or sensitive topics outside your lived experience, hire or consult a sensitivity reader. They can help you avoid unintentional harm or misrepresentation.
5. Professional Editor
This is the final, most crucial step for many. A professional editor offers an objective, expert perspective. They provide line edits, copy edits, and sometimes developmental edits (which focus on structure and plot) that can elevate your manuscript to publishable quality. Consider a developmental editor early in your process and a copy editor/proofreader for the final polish.
The Rejection of Perfectionism and the Embrace of Iteration
Revision is messy. You will delete beloved scenes, rewrite entire chapters, and question everything. This is normal. It’s a process of iteration. Your goal isn’t immediate perfection, but continuous improvement. Each pass brings you closer to the polished manuscript you envision.
Remember, the true magic of fantasy isn’t just in the dragons and spells, but in the story and the heart you pour into every word. Revision is how you ensure that heart beats strong and clear for every reader who enters your world.