Ernest Hemingway suggested rewriting a book 30 times before it is ready for publication. His reasoning was that each time the writer goes over the book for rewriting, they have a better understanding into the minds of the characters. The more you get to know your characters, the more you will be able to write convincing dialogue and narrative that will suit them.
One important thing to remember when you are rewriting is to not be afraid of making major changes in your book. If something is not working and does not feel right, change it. It is important not to get married to your book. While you have a natural passion for the book, you should also be open minded enough to realize if something is not working in your plot, you have to fix it.
The best way to start rewriting is to read through your first draft. You can then note inconsistencies and other plot problems that occur with the first draft. You should begin your rewriting from the beginning of the book to the end, especially if you are writing a fiction book that will have character development. Even if you are writing non-fiction, you still want to rewrite your book to tighten it up.
Try not to use a passive voice when you are writing. This is when you put in words like “would have” and “was.” Try to use more action words in your book, otherwise it may tend to get sluggish. Also, go over the dialog and make sure that it seems natural. You want to look at dialog as well as consistency when you are rewriting your book.
Do not be surprised if your book has an ending that what you imagined. Many times, writers grow to like some characters and dislike others. The creative process takes on a mind of its own when an author is writing a book. This often means inconsistencies in the book and with the characters.
Each time you continue to rewrite the book, you are making it a better story. You have a better feel for the characters in the story with each writing and they become more lifelike to you. So much so that you can figure out what they like for breakfast or what is their favorite color. By including personality traits in the book that are distinguishable to each character, you make them more lifelike for the reader.
