The Revision Funnel: What to Tackle (and When)

So you’ve finished your draft. You’ve wrestled every word onto the page, stared into the void, and maybe even cried into your coffee once or twice. Congratulations—that's no small thing. But now you're staring at the mountain called revision and wondering where to start.

This is where the Revision Funnel comes in.

Think of it like this: when you revise, you’re not just making things “better”—you’re shaping the big picture first, then narrowing your focus with each pass. The mistake many writers make? Trying to fix line-level issues while the plot’s still full of holes.

Let’s fix that.

Here’s how to tackle your revision, top-down:

Step 1: Big Picture Pass (Structure & Plot)

Ask:
– Does the story make sense start to finish?
– Are the stakes clear and escalating?
– Do you hit key beats at the right time?

Start by reviewing your plot, pacing, and character arcs. Look for plot holes, dropped threads, scenes that drag, or moments that should hit harder. You’re zoomed out here—no need to polish sentences yet. Focus on what’s missing, what’s misaligned, or what’s not working.

✔ Cut entire scenes.
✔ Add new chapters.
✔ Move stuff around.

Your story’s skeleton has to be solid before you flesh it out.

Step 2: Character & Emotional Resonance

Ask:
– Is your main character’s growth compelling?
– Do their choices drive the story?
– Are emotional beats landing the way you want?

Once your plot’s in shape, dig into your characters. Make sure their motivations are believable and their emotional arc is satisfying. If readers don’t feel something, they won’t stick around—no matter how clever your prose.

✔ Deepen interiority.
✔ Sharpen relationships.
✔ Clarify stakes and desires.

Your characters are the heartbeat of your story. Give them time in the spotlight.

Step 3: Scene-Level Revisions

Ask:
– Does each scene move the plot forward or reveal character?
– Is the pacing consistent?
– Are tension and stakes present on the page?

Now you’re getting closer to the surface. This is the pass where you tighten up dialogue, trim unnecessary exposition, and make sure every scene earns its place.

✔ Start scenes later and end earlier.
✔ Layer subtext into dialogue.
✔ Trim filler and redundancies.

Think of this as refining the engine—everything should be clicking into place and running smoothly.

Step 4: Line-Level Polish

Ask:
– Is the voice consistent?
– Are your sentences pulling their weight?
– Are your metaphors doing work or just looking pretty?

Now, finally, you’re ready for the fine-tooth comb. This is where you make the prose sing. Tweak sentence rhythm. Kill those darlings. Watch for crutch words. Find stronger verbs. Make your style shine.

✔ Read aloud for flow.
✔ Replace vague words with vivid ones.
✔ Clarify confusing or awkward phrasing.

This is the polish—not the foundation.

Step 5: Proofread

The very last pass is for typos, grammar, formatting, and consistency. And ideally? Someone else with fresh eyes does this for you.

✔ Check for missing words, incorrect homophones, and formatting errors.
✔ Confirm consistency (character names, timelines, worldbuilding rules).
✔ Do not skip this step. Your future readers will thank you.

The Bottom Line?
Don’t edit everything at once. It’s overwhelming, and worse—it’s inefficient. Use the revision funnel. Start wide. Go deep. Tighten with each pass. And give yourself permission to do it one step at a time.

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