Write a Letter of Intent Before You Revise Your Novel (Most Writers Don't)

Before you dive into revising your novel, take one step that can save you from months of rewriting in the wrong direction: write a letter of intent. When any client comes to me for a developmental edit, I always start by asking them to write a letter of intent. What did they WANT this book to do? Look, my job as an editor is to help a client write the story they intended to tell. Editing isn't about me or my POV. It's all about my client. A letter of intent helps me structure my feedback to help them meet their goals for the book. The cool thing about a letter of intent is that it can be a great first self-editing step. In this video, I show exactly what you can put into a letter of intent you write for yourself. This letter can then become a measuring stick for figuring out where the holes are in that novel of yours. Whether you're writing your first novel or find yourself with a problem manuscript that's giving you fits and you can't figure out why (this happens at any stage of a writing career, believe me), a letter of intent can become your roadmap for stronger, more focused revisions. If you find yourself staring at your manuscript and wondering what to tackle (pacing? character arcs? subplots?), this exercise can help your next editing decision become clearer. #writing #editing #storytelling #writingcommunity #writingtips #authortube #amwriting #writingskills #revision 0:00 Why I ask developmental editing clients to write a letter of intent 1:17 How to write your own letter of intent before revising your novel 1:52 The heart of your book 2:18 Genre expectations 2:37 Your character's journey 2:46 Theme 3:04 Your reader's emotional experience 3:22 Central conflict 3:54 Why you're writing this book 4:04 What readers should take away 4:23 Why this works for self-editing and revision