Practical Mindset Tools for Writers

There’s often an urgency when a fiction author is in revision. Maybe you’ve been here. You’ve typed The End on that last page and are ready to publish. All that stands in the way is that pesky thing called revision. 

Most novels are upwards of 350 pages. Let’s be realistic: It can be overwhelming to say the least, especially if you’re new to revision. It’s easy to get burned out during one pass of revision. Most manuscripts require multiple passes required to prep your story for publication. 

So you don’t succumb to overwhelm, here’s how to have a healthy mindset as you revise your manuscript.

Revision Takes Time

Holding onto the understanding that revision takes time is one way to avoid drowning in revisions. This is temporary. It’s critical to keep in mind that revision takes time to work your way through the project. It’s equally critical that you remember it won’t last forever.

Break It Down Into Smaller Tasks

You’ve heard the proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Your revisions might feel like that thousand mile journey. Breaking the revision down into smaller tasks will help you focus on each task rather than the whole revision.

This can be addressing specific issues one at a time that your developmental editor or book coach has brought up. This could be following a book like Seven Drafts by Allison K. Williams, focusing on different aspects of the story in each pass, like theme or pacing and making sure they’re sound before the next pass.

Taking the manuscript one step at a time will help you have a healthy mental perspective as you work through revisions.

Step Away from the Manuscript

There may be times when, for your personal well-being, you need to step away from the manuscript to take a breather. Here are some ideas about ways to step away from the manuscript that will help the process and allow you to still make progress.

Use the Pomodoro Method

Set a timer to work uninterrupted for 25 minute sessions.

Then give yourself a 5-minute break to check texts, email, grab a snack, move your body. (Here’s a good video of yoga for writers, it’s 29 minutes, but you could do it in 5-minute intervals).

One benefit of the Pomodoro Method is to mentally focus for short bursts of time, with short breaks to take care of other things you need to do. I find it’s easier to focus, knowing I can look at a text in a few minutes when my timer goes off.

When I use this method for working, I’ll be honest, I still get distracted. When I’m in a flow state, if I think of something I need to do out of my primary focus, I make a note, then move back to my task. It helps to prevent me from having a monkey brain—you know the one, swinging from one thing to another and not being productive on any one thing.

Schedule breaks between revision passes

When you’re on a break, make it a total break from thinking about your story.

Schedule breaks to what works with your deadline, but still allows your brain to think about something else entirely. A break that’s too short won’t allow you to mentally release the work. However, a break that’s too long might cause a risk of losing momentum.

At the end of a longer session, take time to take care of your mind body and soul. Find a task or activity that allows you to leave the revisions behind or refreshes your soul.

• Move your body—Take a walk. Play a game of pickup basketball. Go for a run. Have a solo dance party.
• Look at something green. According to medical experts, this reduces eye strain and has the potential to benefit eyesight.
• Do something creative, revision is analytical. Setting aside the revisions to do something creative that you enjoy will help to refresh your mind and soul.

The Take Away

Step away from revisions to find refreshment in productive ways. Then, bring your refreshed mind into revisions so you can refocus on revisions with a clear mind. The goal is to finish well.

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Dealing with overwhelm in your revisions and not sure if you’re revising the right things?

I’ve created a 14-page guidebook to help you reduce word count. It can be used as you walk through a story that doesn’t need to be reduced too. The guidebook contains 30 tactics to reduce word count. It can be used to cut words or as a process to improve your story. The guidebook takes you from the story level all the way to examine each sentence. Make sure you’re delivering an engaging story from page one to The End.

Click here to sign up for your free download. (You’re free to unsubscribe at any time.)