You wrote a novel! Now what?Literary agent and editor Elizabeth Kracht shares her wisdom about tackling the edits on your novel.

Objectivity is one of the most difficult things for writers to apply when it comes to editing their own work. As an agent and freelance editor—having helped develop hundreds of manuscripts and having read many more—I’ve seen the subtlest of problems become the difference between a manuscript that is ready for traditional publishing and one that is not. Here are six tips from the agent/editor perspective to help you think about your work with objectivity as you approach your revision.

1. Structure

Think of the structure of your novel as a road map for the reader. A disorganized structure can add confusion for the reader. I rarely see “parts” work in a manuscript. If you have alternating POV chapters, make sure they alternate evenly or repeat systematically (e.g., one to one, or three to one). Make sure your chapter lengths are fairly even—twelve to fifteen pages, longer if literary. Pay attention to how you use breaks within chapters, and be consistent.

2. Themes

Agents and editors are looking for rich and layered projects. One way to add layering to your manuscript is to think about what three or four themes your project addresses: What are your characters struggling with? Take the time to write these themes down. When you’ve finished your revision, take a look at each chapter, and note which one or two themes you’re addressing in each. If you can’t identify the themes, find opportunities in each chapter to bring them in or build them. Themes can also help bring the internal nature of your characters to life.

3. Chapter Arc

Approach your chapters as if they were stand-alone short stories. Too often the chapters I see don’t have enough happening in them to warrant a full chapter. I often suggest authors compound and edit down chapters so they have rich and layered chapters. Strive for chapters that have the feel of a beginning, a middle, and an end. What three things in each chapter are driving the story and characters forward (e.g., themes, plot points, and important clues)?

4. Timekeeping 

Think about time in your novel, and remember the reader can make logical jumps in time without you (the author or narrator) having mentioned time has passed. Don’t indulge the feeling that you need to account for every movement of your characters’ time. You can end a chapter in one place and jump ahead in the story as you start the next chapter. Remove all unnecessary time-related language, such as then, suddenly, after a while, a few minutes later, a month passed, and so on.

5. Overwriting

Live by the rule “less is more” when it comes to description—whether about setting, your characters’ appearances, or your main characters’ internal thoughts. When you load your sentences with a lot of description, it slows down not only the reader but also the pacing. It shouldn’t take three pages for a character to cross the room. Be economical with your words, but also make them count. And strike an even balance between your characters’ internal and external worlds.

6. Characters

Avoid introducing too many characters at once, but do be sure to introduce your main players in the first couple of chapters. Don’t spend too much time on characters we’ll never see again (unless you’re George R. R. Martin). Make sure developed characters hang on till the end and that most of your primary and secondary characters have character arcs, goals, and plans of their own. Most important, be sure to develop the internal/emotional worlds of your characters. And last, avoid clichéd, stereotypical, and caricature-like characters; think outside the cultural norm.