Decision time - Rewrite, self publish or Dump that book Part 2
To be or not to be
Let's break down each alternative so you can assess the best path forward.
1. Rewriting
Rewriting can be a powerful option if your book has solid potential but needs significant refinement. This may involve:
Reworking the structure: Improving pacing, strengthening the narrative arc, or making character development more compelling.
Reworking your book’s structure is one of the most effective ways to improve pacing, clarity, and emotional impact.
Here’s a strategic approach to help you refine your work and make it stand out.
Step 1: Analyse Your Current Structure
✅ Check Your Story Arc: Does it follow a clear beginning, middle, and end? Ensure tension builds toward a satisfying climax.
✅ Identify Weak Sections: Find areas where pacing drags, where transitions feel abrupt, or where the story lacks momentum. This is where your reader starts losing connection with the story. Avoid overly long descriptions, info dump and he said/she said. Show and don’t tell. I know it is said so many times that it is becoming a cliché but it is good advice to follow.
✅ Assess Scene Purpose: Every scene should either move the plot forward or develop character relationships. Remove filler content and anything that is superfluous. Ask yourself how does this scene move the story forward.
Step 2: Strengthen the Narrative Flow
✅ Improve Chapter Transitions: Each chapter should flow logically into the next—avoid sudden shifts without explanation.
✅ Build Up Key Moments: Are emotional peaks and turning points properly developed? Make sure crucial events have adequate build-up. Things just don’t happen. A man just doesn’t kill his rival. There are events leading up to it, the groundwork would have been revealed in his thoughts which lead to his actions earlier in the book or later in the book depending on the structure of the story.
✅ Clarify Subplots: Ensure secondary plots contribute to the main narrative rather than distract from it. Make sure the secondary characters do not overshadow the main characters. Don’t weigh the story down by going too deep into their lives that the reader is trying to keep up with everyone’s back stories.
I address these issues in my book The Ultimate Writers Guide available here
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Step 3: Deepen Character Arcs
✅ Character Motivations: Every major decision should be rooted in a character’s desires or fears. The fear of loss of a person or a thing is very powerful and reveals the best and worst of human nature.
✅ Emotional Growth: Your protagonist should evolve meaningfully. Track their changes throughout the book. From wild child to deep thinker. From spoiled brat to a caring selfless individual.
✅ Conflict & Stakes: Make sure challenges escalate naturally and lead to a rewarding resolution. If a character can get this job - he can get the woman of his dreams. The issue is - the job is on the other side of the world, where the woman is and he doesn’t have a dime. So the stakes are high and you can make them higher and keep the reader invested in finding out how the protagonist overcomes those challenges.
Step 4: Improve Structural Mechanics
✅ Evaluate Chapter Length: Shorter chapters can create urgency, while longer ones offer depth. Adjust based on genre and tone.
✅ Refine Pacing: Balance fast-paced scenes with slower, reflective moments.
✅ Check POV Consistency: Ensure point-of-view shifts are deliberate and clear.
💡 TIP: Create a scene-by-scene outline where you list every chapter’s purpose, major events, and emotional beats. This will help you track weak areas and plan revisions effectively.
Enhancing prose: Tightening your sentences, improving dialogue, and making descriptions more immersive.
Enhancing your prose involves refining your writing to make it more engaging, immersive, and fluid. Here’s a structured approach:
1. Make Sentences More Concise
✅ Trim Unnecessary Words: Instead of “He was able to see the sunset,” write “He saw the sunset.”
✅ Avoid Repetitive Phrasing: If a sentence conveys the same idea twice, simplify it. Sometimes you can even take out a sentence and it makes the book better.
✅ Limit Adverbs: Use strong verbs instead (e.g., “She ran quickly” → “She sprinted”).
2. Strengthen Word Choice
✅ Use Precise Language: Instead of “nice house,” try “charming cottage” or “grand lodge.”
✅ Replace Weak Verbs: Instead of “She looked at the painting,” say “She studied the painting.”
✅ Eliminate Overused Words: Find synonyms or fresh phrasing to avoid monotony.
3. Improve Flow & Rhythm
✅ Vary Sentence Structure: Mix short and long sentences to create a dynamic flow. ✅ Use Active Voice: Instead of “The book was placed on the table,” say “He placed the book on the table.”
✅ Enhance Transitions: Ensure smooth connections between paragraphs and ideas.
4. Show, Don’t Tell
✅ Use Sensory Details: Instead of “It was cold,” describe “The icy wind sliced through his coat.” Instead of “She was angry, describe “ She refused to speak to me all day.”
✅ Express Emotions Through Actions: Rather than saying “She was nervous,” show her tapping her fingers or avoiding eye contact.
5. Polish Dialogue
✅ Make Speech Natural: Read dialogue aloud to ensure realistic conversation flow. Listen to how we speak to each other. We are formal when we need to be formal and informal with certain people. We don’t address each other face to face the same way we do in an email or text.
✅ Avoid Over-Explaining: Characters shouldn’t state obvious things just to inform the reader.
✅ Use Subtext: Not everything needs to be said—imply meaning through tone and action or in some cases - inaction.
💡 TIP: Read your work aloud or have someone else read it to identify awkward phrasing or weak sentences.
Refocusing the theme or message: If the core idea isn’t resonating, refining the central theme can add depth.
Refocusing the theme or message of your book means making sure your core ideas resonate more deeply with your intended audience. Here’s a structured approach:
1. Identify Your Central Theme
✅ Define Your Core Message: What is the heart of your book? Is it about resilience, love, redemption, or self-discovery?
✅ Clarify the Emotional Impact: What feeling do you want readers to walk away with? Joy, loss, regret, determination etc.
✅ Ensure Consistency: Throughout the book, check whether every major scene reinforces your theme.
2. Strengthen Theme Through Characters
✅ Align Character Arcs with Theme: If your theme is "growth," ensure your protagonist evolves meaningfully.
✅ Use Dialogue to Reinforce Theme: Characters’ discussions and internal thoughts should subtly support the message.
✅ Examine Character Decisions: Do their choices reflect your intended theme, or do they contradict it?
3. Enhance Theme in Narrative Structure
✅ Revise Opening & Ending: The first and last chapters should clearly establish and conclude the theme.
✅ Strengthen Conflict: Ensure obstacles in the story push characters toward thematic resolution.
4. Trim or Adjust Inconsistent Elements
✅ Cut Subplots That Distract from Theme: Does any storyline feel out of place? Remove or integrate it better. ✅ Refine Prose for Focus: Ensure descriptions and metaphors align with your theme.
✅ Adjust Tone: If your theme is serious, make sure humorous sections don’t undercut it.
💡 TIP: Read through your book with fresh eyes and note any scene that feels disconnected from your intended message.
Best for: Writers who feel their manuscript is fundamentally flawed but are still passionate about the story.
2. Self-Publishing
Self-publishing grants you full control over your book's fate. Here’s what it entails:
Production: Editing, formatting, and cover design (either DIY or by hiring professionals).
Distribution: Publishing via Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital to reach global audiences.
Marketing: You'll need to handle promotion via social media, ads, and outreach to book influencers.
Best for: Authors who prefer creative control, are willing to invest in promotion, or have an existing audience.
3. Revise & Query Again
If your manuscript isn’t fundamentally flawed but may need polish, revising and querying again could be the right move:
Refining your pitch: Strengthening your query letter, synopsis, and sample chapters.
Making targeted edits: Addressing pacing, writing quality, or plot inconsistencies based on feedback.
Reaching new agents: Some agents may reject a manuscript due to subjective tastes rather than objective flaws.
Best for: Writers confident in their book’s core story but willing to tweak presentation and approach.
4. Dumping (Last Resort)
Dumping your book should be your final option if:
You’ve lost passion for the story. If revising feels like a chore, it may be time to move on.
Feedback is consistently negative. If trusted beta readers or professionals all highlight the same fundamental flaws, it might not be salvageable.
A new idea excites you more. Sometimes, letting go frees you to focus on a stronger project.
Best for: Writers who feel their manuscript doesn’t align with their long-term goals.
Final Thought
There’s no single "right" path. The best choice depends on your passion for the book, your goals, and your willingness to put in further effort.
This is a post writers need to mark and return to—we’ve all had or will have these Rubicons to consider