In today's episode, we’re going to talk about how to edit your messy first draft without slipping into overwhelm. Here’s a preview of what’s included: [01:50] The very first thing you should do when you finish a first draft [04:15] A quick overview of the four editing phases, and how breaking your edits down into these phases will help you reduce overwhelm.[05:45] Phase 1: The “Story Level” edit[09:25] Phase 2: The “Scene Level edit”[13:35] How your editing plan might change depending on your publishing goals[14:30] Phase 3: The “Page Level edit”[16:20] Phase 4: The “Sentence Level edit”[19:35] My answer to writers who ask me, “Can I do these phases out of order?” (spoiler alert: my answer is almost always no)[20:00] FAQ: Is there a way to go through all four phases faster?[20:45] Key points and episode recapRate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know what your favorite part of the episode was, too! Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!Links mentioned in this episode:Episode Freebie: Your Next Steps DIY Editing ChecklistThe Spun Yarn Beta Reading ServiceProWritingAidHemingway EditorGrammarlyGrammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty TipsFREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!Support the show👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.