Edit your story in three passes

Nobody writes a winning story in one go. Edit in three separate passes, each with one job.

Pass 1: the big picture

• Does the story start at the right moment? Try deleting your first paragraph. Is it better?
• Does the main character want something, and is something in the way?
• Does the ending feel earned, or does a dream or coincidence solve everything?

Pass 2: the sentences

• Read the story aloud. Wherever you stumble, rewrite.
• Mix short and long sentences. A short sentence after a long one hits hard.
• Hunt down “very”, “really”, “suddenly” and “nice”.

Pass 3: accuracy

• Spelling and capital letters, especially names.
• Dialogue: new speaker, new line, and punctuation inside the speech marks.
• Tense: if you started in the past, stay there.

Then leave it for a day, read it one last time, and send it to us.