Your Next Draft

What Makes a Story Excellent? (And How to Know When You've Reached It)

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is story excellence something you "know when you see it"—or can it actually be measured?Is excellence defined by hitting bestseller lists?...

What to Do When Feedback Gets You Stuck

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you get feedback that grinds you to a halt, there's a problem. But YOU are not the problem—the feedback is.Recently, a writer came to me wit...

3 Non-Obvious Problems Hiding in Well-Developed Drafts

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the line writing is lovely, but the story still falls flat, check for these surprisingly hard-to-spot problems.You’ve written a draft of your nov...

What Genre REALLY Measures (And Why Every Genre You Try Feels Wrong)

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when your genre just refuses to work?When you’ve tried every content genre you know—Action, Crime, Horror, Thriller, Performance, L...

Where the Turning Point Goes (And How to Know If Yours Is in the Right Place)

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re second-guessing your pacing, give your turning point this two-part check.Where the heck is the turning point?If you’ve ever tried to spo...

Turning Point: How to Find and Write the Moment That Changes Everything

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the hinge your entire story turns on—and one of the hardest story elements to identify and write.Can I be honest? I struggled with turning...

The Hidden Half of Your Protagonist's Goal (That Makes Story Structure Work)

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If your structure is perfect on paper, but your story still falls flat, this might be what you're missing.Have you ever structured a story with a...

When Should You Work With an Editor? (It's Earlier Than You Think)

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if you've already done enough to work with an editor—right now?You’ve been working on your novel for so long. Not just months—years, m...

How to Use Genre as a Revision Tool (with Savannah Gilbo)

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s what to DO with your genre once you know which one you’re writing.So you know your story’s genre.It’s an Action story with a Worldview ...

The 12 Core Genres That Power Every Great Story

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Genre isn’t what you think it is. Here’s how to use it better.Genre. Let me guess:It’s the bane of your existence. A convoluted soup of arbitrar...

How Great First Lines Make Readers Pay Attention (with Abigail K. Perry)

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a fiction writer in possession of a brilliant story must craft a captivating opening line.No pressure, rig...

Where Progressive Complications Go WRONG (and How to Fix Them)

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are your readers bored? Disappointed? Confused? Here's what that tells you about your story's middle.You’re stuck in the messy middle. Lan...

Make Sense of Your Messy Middle With the Most Underrated Story Element

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t need more filler. You need better progressive complications.Your inciting incident hooks your readers and promises them a story they’ll ...

How Great First Chapters Make Readers Care (with Abigail K. Perry)

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your first chapter has a monumental task: to make potential readers care about your book right away and hook them to keep reading.Every sentence is a ...

Inciting Incident: How to Revise an Unputdownable Beginning

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your inciting incident sets the stage for everything that follows. Here's what to revise so it can carry the story.A great inciting incident does...

What If You Do Everything Right and the Book Launch Still Goes Wrong? with A.S. King

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“It really broke my heart, actually. . . . For the rest of my life, it will break my heart.” A.S. King gets honest about what happened when the pu...

Think You Need a Line Editor? Try This First

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you need to hire a line editor? Or should you line edit your manuscript yourself?After all, you want to write an excellent novel. You know that gre...

How Surrealist Pantser A.S. King Revises Award-Winning Novels

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Revising is about making sure that you're saying what you want to say in the way you want to say it. . . . To me, revision is the sport. It&ap...

The Editor Life: 5 Days Behind the Scenes with Alice

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what an editor actually does all day?What it looks like to spend all day supporting writers in their stories?Or what your editor’s doi...

How to Use Revision Tools Like the Story Authority You Already Are with Brannan Sirratt

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When to use frameworks to solve your story problems—and when to trust yourself and lean on your own story authority. You’ve heard of Save the Cat...

Ask This Question When You’re Overwhelmed by Your Story

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Escape analysis paralysis with one powerful question. It’s deceptively simple—and yet it unlocks everything.If you’re like most of the writers I...

How Multiple Layers of Editing Combine to Perfect Your Story (with Cathryn deVries and Kim Kessler)

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The best novels combine rock-solid story structure with scenes that are unputdownable on every page. Here’s how one writer and two editors polished ...

What Is a Manuscript Evaluation? (And Do You Need One?)

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the most common developmental editing service you’ll see. Know what to look for and when (or if) you need one.If you google “developmental ...

Scene Workshop: Hook Your Readers in Chapter One with Cathryn deVries

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You get one shot to grab their attention. Don’t waste it with characters staring off into space.You've put all this work into uncovering your c...

The Unskippable Process to Create Unputdownable Books

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s unpopular, but essential if you’re aiming to craft your best work.Picture this: one year from now, you’re holding your book in your hands. ...

How to Edit Your Novel When Disaster Strikes

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your book is important. But sometimes, worthy interruptions will delay it for a while.For the last few months, this podcast feed has been quiet. It we...

How Taylor Jenkins Reid Crafts an Exceptional Opening Scene

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your reader experiences your story one scene at a time. Make every scene un-put-down-able.Great stories are made of great scenes.Sure, your novel has ...

2 “Showing” and "Telling" Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Show and tell your readers why time matters to your characters.Time matters.When you look up and it’s dark outside, time matters to you.When your ch...

3 “Telling” Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t lose your readers. Just tell them what time it is.The passage of time seems intuitive. It just happens, right? (Like, whether you want it to o...

Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your Novel

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is often overlooked, but it’s essential for great stories.How do you make time pass?Well, when you’re living your regular life in the real wo...

When Should You Practice, and When Should You Publish?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Write your best stories—and know when to let go and publish them.In order to write great books, you first have to learn how to write great books.But...

You Can't Skip Learning How to Write a Novel. Here's Why

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Before you can master writing great stories, you have to learn to craft great stories. When I was fifteen, I got my learner’s permit and began learn...

4 Tips for Your First Time Working With an Editor

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Because working with an editor should be delightful, not scary.Let's be honest. When you start working with an editor for the first time, it can ...

4 Tips to Find the Right Editor for Your Novel

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What you need to know BEFORE you start working with an editor—and how to tell if they’re the right fit for your novel.Working with a developmental...

Why Writers Resist Measuring Their Craft (And Why You Shouldn’t)

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What we get wrong about creativity—and the truth that will make your writing and editing so much more effective.Do you know how great stories work?S...

The Pros and Cons of Group Coaching for Writers

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why group coaching might be the perfect way to get feedback on your writing.When I was first getting started, I pictured editing like this:A writer wr...

5 Steps to Edit the Second Draft of a Novel

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The simple editing process to turn your messy first draft into a second draft you love.“I’ve written first drafts before, but I’ve never edited ...

Why a Page One Rewrite Is Actually Worth Celebrating

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It sounds scary, but it’s actually MAJOR editing progress.What if the best way to make progress on your novel . . .. . . is to go back to the beginn...

What It REALLY Means to Make Progress Editing Your Novel

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Editing progress doesn’t always look like you’d expect. Here’s how to recognize it.If your editing is going great, you’ll enjoy this episode. ...

The Most Joyful Editing Feedback I Ever Give

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s what happens when you absolutely NAIL IT in your story.Sometimes, you just nail it.The ideas click. The words flow. The revision works.Those ...

The Top 5 Lessons From Year 1 of Building My Editing Business

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your editing process has more in common with building a business than you might think.Editing a novel and building a business . . . well, they’re ac...

The Top 5 Editing Tips From Your Next Draft in 2023

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The year’s most popular editing tip, plus four more strategies I don’t want you to miss.What’s the best editing tip you’ve learned this year?I...

My Biggest Takeaway From Coaching Writers in 2023

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What dozens of manuscripts and dozens of writers all have in common.This weekend, I celebrated the one year anniversary of launching my editing busine...

How to Make Sure Even Your "Slow" Scenes Keep Your Readers Hooked

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Four questions to make every scene of your novel un-put-down-able.Some of your scenes are really exciting. They’re the big ones, the reasons why you...

How to Figure Out What Your Character REALLY Wants

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Make your readers care about your story by getting specific about what your protagonist wants—and why.What does your protagonist want?I bet you have...

Behind the Scenes of a Deep Dive Manuscript Evaluation

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The 7 layers of analysis I use to edit a fourth draft of a novel.I don’t know about you, but right now, my schedule is full. My days are packed with...

How to Flesh Out Flat Characters With Just 4 Questions

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The minimum viable character questionnaire to develop all your side characters.How do you flesh out a flat character? Create a cast your readers will ...

The Most Important Principle When Choosing Your Point of View

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Use the limitations of your POV to enhance your story.Your story’s point of view impacts everything. It shapes how your readers get access to inform...

What NOT to Say to Your Developmental Editor

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to make the most of your editor’s feedback—even if you disagree with it.If you want to make the most of your editor’s feedback, there’s on...

Use This One Editing Tip for Everything You Write

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to developmentally edit absolutely ANY piece of writing.There’s an editing tip that applies to literally every kind of writing.Bold statement, I...

[BONUS EP] How to Choose the Right Writing Resources for YOU Right Now, Part 2

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A simple decision-making framework to help you find YOUR best writing path.Yesterday, I shared a framework to help you make any decision about your wr...

How to Choose the Right Writing Resources for YOU Right Now, Part 1

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to answer the question, “When should I work with an editor?”Hire an editor. Join a writing course. Work with a book coach. Gather beta readers...

Scene Structure: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in the First Scene of How to Train Your Dragon

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

See the masterful story structure that undergirds the opening scene of How to Train Your Dragon.Great stories are built on great story structure. And ...

Act Structure: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in Act 1 of How to Train Your Dragon

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The story structure that makes the first act of How to Train Your Dragon work.One of my favorite things about the six elements of story structure is t...

Story Structure: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your Dragon

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

See the story structure that makes this brilliant movie work.The six elements of story are the essentials of great story structure. And in the last fe...

3 Ways to Apply the 6 Elements of Story Structure to Your Novel

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to use one story structure tool to edit every part of your story.The best story structure is the one you can apply to your story.For the last coup...

Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The story structure framework I use in every story I edit.What do fractals and nesting dolls have to do with story structure? More than you might thin...

The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A simple, flexible story structure framework that works for every kind of story.Great stories are built on great story structure.And while there are a...

Where Does Story Theory Come From, Anyway?

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Story theory doesn’t sap creativity—it helps us reflect truths about the human experience in our art.When you edit a novel, much of your job is to...

How to Read Like an Editor: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Every Book You Read

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Build a reading habit that helps you edit amazing novels.“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simpl...

One Insidious Cause of Disappointing Endings (and How to Fix It)

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does your story’s climax solve a problem that’s different from the one you have?The last thing you want is for the ending of your novel to disappo...

One Critical Problem You’ll Find in Boring Scenes (And How to Fix It)

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your characters MUST take action in every scene. Look out for scenes where they don’t.I’ve edited hundreds of scenes. (In fact, editing scenes is ...

What to Do When You Get Feedback From an Editor

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Gotten feedback from an editor? Use this process to turn developmental feedback into actionable edits.One of the most exciting moments in your book wr...

Your Story Has Deep Meaning. Do You Know What It Is?

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your story has the power to shape the way your readers think.So what is it communicating?That’s the topic of this episode. In it, I’m sharing why ...

How to Create an Editing Process That Works for You With Author JD Edwin

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A prolific author shares her editing process and strategies for designing the process that works for you.There are as many ways to edit novels as ther...

Extended Edition: How Spider-Man’s Leap of Faith Makes Us Feel Triumphant

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two editors break down how Spider-Man creates a transcendent moment of triumph that feels like story magic.Last month, I asked a big question:How do y...

The 3-Step Formula to Evoke Emotion and Make Your Readers Feel

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The best stories capture our emotions and make us feel so deeply, it seems like magic.The good news is, it’s not magic.Want to make your readers fee...

How Spider-Man (And All Great Stories) Makes Us Laugh, Cry, and Feel the Feels

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The magic of storytelling is in making your readers feel. Here’s how great stories capture emotion.One of my favorite questions to ask writers is, “...

3 Ways to Create a Scene List That Makes Your Editing Process (Almost) Easy

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A flexible method to create a scene list with exactly the information you need—no more, no less.For the last few weeks, I’ve been touting the magi...

2 Simple Strategies to Format Your Scene List

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plus, two scene list templates for you to download and customize.Your scene list is infinitely customizable. It can be as simple or as complex as you ...

4 Ways to Use a Scene List, Your Indispensable Editing Tool

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your scene list is your map to all your revisions. Here’s how to make the most of it.If you’re doing a developmental edit on your manuscript, you ...

How Do You Know When You're Done Editing Your Novel?

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is your novel ready to publish? Here’s how to tell when you’re finally done editing.One of the hardest parts of writing a book is knowing when to ...

Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stories are about change. Here’s how to craft compelling change in every scene, act, and novel.In fact, change is one of the fundamental things—ma...

5 Novel Editing Tips for When You’re Afraid You Don’t Have What it Takes

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Overwhelmed by your novel? Try these five strategies to edit with confidence.Sometimes, editing your novel feels really scary.Yep, I said it. Sometime...

4-Act Structure: The Simple Structure to Edit Your Novel (And Why 3 Acts Aren’t Enough)

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Three acts aren’t enough. If you’re stuck in the middle of your story, try this four-act structure instead.Recently, a writer told me she was stuc...

5 Free Ways to Get Feedback on Your Writing

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You can get fantastic feedback on your writing for free. But first, you need to know whom to seek out, when to ask for feedback, and what kind of feed...

3 Simple Steps to Edit Absolutely Anything in Your Novel

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most writers miss this simple editing principle. But when you understand it, when you truly master it, you have the power to craft your best story.Her...

8 Questions Your Editor Will Ask About Your Novel

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Answer these questions now to clarify your goals for your novel. Plus, they’ll prepare you to work with an editor when you’re ready for expert adv...

How to Identify Your Protagonist's Want and Need (And Why Those Matter to Your Plot)

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two simple questions to ensure your character development drives your plot.Every time I edit a novel, I ask two questions about the protagonist. They’...

Scene Workshop: Listen in on a Scene Edit with Author and Editor Kim Kessler

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what it looks like to get feedback from an editor?Recently, my friend Kim Kessler, herself a developmental editor and author, sent me a ...

What to Do When You Want to Quit Your Book

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wanted to quit your book?Here’s the good news, and the bad news: that’s a normal part of the book writing process.Every writer I kno...

2 Essential Questions to Craft a Compelling Character Arc

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you want readers to fall in love with your protagonist . . . . . . to remember them long after they finish your book . . .. . . then you need to cr...

Multiple Points of View: How Many POVs Does Your Novel Need?

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You can tell your story from any point of view you want. In fact, you can tell it from multiple points of view.So how many points of view should you u...

The Critical Point of View Mistake to Fix in Your Second Draft

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The point of view you choose for your novel shapes the information that you give your readers. And it shapes how your readers receive and interpret th...

How Long Should it Take for Your Character to Make a Decision?

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The most important moment in your story is the moment when your protagonist is faced with a decision.Do this or do that? Stay or go? Speak or remain s...

3 Ways to Organize the Chapters of a Novel

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Scenes and chapters are not the same.Scenes are the units of story writers use to craft amazing stories. They include one story event that moves the p...

How to Write a Scene of a Novel Using Story Structure

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Scene structure is a powerful tool for editing your scenes. But what about the writing process? How can you use structure to plan your scenes before y...

How to Edit a Scene of a Novel, Part 2

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In order to edit a scene effectively, you need to know what to change. The best edits are strategic, intentional, and target the most important proble...

How to Edit a Scene of a Novel, Part 1

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you edit a scene of a novel?In order to edit a scene effectively, you need to know a few things:What’s working in the scene,What’s not work...

How John Green Turns an Ordinary Moment Into an Exciting Scene

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best ways to learn how to edit your book is to study other excellent books.The best-sellers. The award winners. The ones your readers are r...

5 Essential Questions to Fix Boring Scenes

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What happens in your scenes? Do they even matter to your book? Do they move the story forward and keep your readers engaged? Or are they . . . boring?...

What Is a Scene? The Ultimate Guide to Write and Edit Amazing Scenes

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Great books are made of great scenes. Which means the skill of writing and editing amazing scenes is one of the most important skills you can learn if...

7 More Speedy Strategies to Edit Your Novel Faster

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writing your book doesn't have to take forever. Editing your book doesn't have to take forever.And in this episode, the fourth and final ins...

3 Speedy Strategies to Edit Your Novel Faster

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You can finish editing your next draft in just a few weeks.That’s right. You can finish it in three months—or less!The trick, of course, is to fin...

11 Creativity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft Faster

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever gotten stuck in your first draft? Hit writer's block? Lost all your inspiration and wondered what in the world would happen next?If...

10 Productivity Tips to Finish Writing Your First Draft Faster

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every great book begins with a first draft.And sometimes, it can feel like that first draft goes on forever. Have you ever spent months writing the fi...

How to Figure Out Which Draft You're Writing: First Draft, Second Draft, and More

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Which draft are you working on right now? If that question is easy to answer, fantastic! But if it's not, don't worry.You're not alone,...

How Many Drafts Does it Take to Edit a Book?

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How many drafts does it take to write and edit an amazing book? Should you publish your book right after you finish your first draft? (No.) And how lo...

What to Do When You Finish Your First Draft

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Finishing your first draft is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations! But wait, now what?If you feel like you've fallen off the map of the writin...

Welcome to Your Next Draft!

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do once you finish your first draft? What does “edit your book” actually mean? And how do you know when you’re ready to get publishe...