Follow This Checklist to Write a Perfect Final Draft
You’ve just finished the first draft of your new story or novel. Congratulations! Next comes editing. Love it or hate it, it’s absolutely necessary. To make the process less stressful, here is a story editing checklist to help you make your new piece the best it can possibly be.
Here is a list of details in your story to check for any needed improvements. Once you can say yes to everything on this story editing checklist, you can consider it a finished draft. Give it a final proofread and then move on to publishing!
You may get to an item on the checklist and find you aren’t sure. Are your main characters really developed enough? Does the grocery shopping scene really need to be there? If you are uncertain about something, take note of it and share that question with your beta readers, your writing group, or anyone you trust to give you good feedback on your writing.
Story Editing Checklist:
Plot:
- The opening is attention-grabbing and encourages the reader to follow the protagonist’s journey through the story.
- There are no plot holes. No major plot points contradict each other.
- Plot flows logically. One event causes another which causes another. Nothing feels random or unnecessary.
- Plot problems are solved in a fair way. There are no deus ex machinas, lucky coincidences, or solutions that feel “too easy.”
- When characters survive/escape danger, there is always a clear and believable reason why. Their survival feels earned. (No “plot armor.”)
- The climax is satisfying, any foreshadowing is paid off, and all plot threads are resolved. (If it’s a series, minor plot threads can be resolved in later installments.)
Scenes:
- All scenes feel necessary, and none can be deleted without affecting plot progression or character development.
- Chapter and scene breaks are used effectively to leave the reader wondering what happens next and wanting to read more.
- Each scene feels unique, and nothing feels repetitive.
- Scene description “shows” and doesn’t “tell.” Rather than being told something is frightening or beautiful or sexy, readers are shown the details that make it that way.
- All scenes are the right length, and none feel too long or too short.
- All scenes fit the story’s pacing.
- All scenes are thematically consistent.
- Each scene feels unique, and nothing feels repetitive.
- All important scenes are followed by a sequel. Meaning, any scene where important plot developments occurred is followed by a slower-paced scene that shows how the characters feel about what just happened, or how they now have to readjust their plans.
- Exposition and world building occurs at the right time, and in the right amount. Readers learn what they need to know without exposition slowing down the story or being distracting.
- The pacing is effective, and no scenes move too fast or too slowly.
- Each scene feels unique, and nothing feels repetitive.
- Mood shifts feel natural and are not abrupt. Dramatic, tense, or fearful moments have room to breathe.
Action Scenes
- Each character’s movement makes sense. It is clear where they are in the room at the start of the action, where they are at the end, and how they got there. (Nobody seems to have teleported or suddenly appeared in the wrong location.)
- Fights have a clear purpose beyond just violence. Every fight has clear stakes and consequences.
Protagonist:
- The protagonist has a clear goal. They have something they want, and it is clear why they want it.
- The protagonist either: grows, develops, and changes (either positively or negatively), or inspires change in other characters.
- The protagonist is the major plot mover. Ignoring the antagonist, no other character impacts the plot more than the protagonist.
- It is clear why the protagonist stays in the conflict, and what is at stake if they lose.
- The protagonist does not feel overpowered or too well equipped for the story’s problems. The challenges in the story feel like a real challenge, and one that the protagonist might fail.
Other Character concerns:
- Characters grow, develop, and change, either positively or negatively.
- The main characters are well-developed, and the reader will have a good idea of who these people are.
- Characters’ actions are consistent with their personalities, or their inconsistent actions are explained. (Mind control, demon possession, feeling tired that day, etc.)
- It is clear how the main characters feel about each other.
- Characters have their own goals, and are not just there as a tool to serve the protagonist. Characters do more than just give advice to the protagonist and disappear, or get killed to motivate the protagonist’s revenge rampage.
- The characters’ actions are motivated and believable. There is a reason why a character does what they do.
- Every character needs to be there. They all serve a purpose in moving the plot forward, developing other characters, and/or world building. No character feels like they could be deleted or combined with another character.
Dialogue:
- Each main character has a distinct voice. Character dialogue reveals their different backgrounds, educational levels, or some other detail that influences how they speak.
- Sections of dialogue include action beats. While characters are talking, it is clear what they are doing and where they are physically.
- Character humor comes at the right time, and does not lessen the impact of emotional, tense, or dramatic scenes.
- Dialogue sounds natural. There are no awkward, trite, or overly flowery sections.
Overall Story:
- Every element in the story serves a purpose. Everything either moves plot forward, reveals character, or both.
Remember to never edit as you write. Writing and editing are two very different mental processes. Trying to edit as you write leads to second-guessing your decisions, hampering your creative freedom. It also dramatically slows down the creative process, wasting valuable writing time. Always write first, then edit.
Once your draft passes the story editing checklist, give it a final proofread and then move on to the next steps: formatting, cover art, publishing, a worldwide book tour, awards, a movie adaptation, a Netflix series… Or maybe just having something you’re proud to share with your friends.
Want to save a copy? Download a story editing checklist PDF here.
If you need more details about any of the items in the story editing checklist, check my ultimate writing guides to learn more. Other great writing resources include:
- Helping Writers Become Authors – Theme, scene and sequel, novel outlining, character arcs, everything you could possibly want to know. The very best writing advice I’ve ever come across.
- Handbook of the Writer Secret Society – Peevish Penman – Deepen your knowledge of the writing craft with this mysterious collection of ancient wisdom. (Free pdf download.)
- Notecarding: Plotting Under Pressure – Interesting plotting method by Holly Lisle.
- Wordsnstuff – Plot development, character development, world building, and more.
- Fiction Writing Research Tools – Learn about everything from animals to robots to world building.
Did I miss anything? If you know something I should add to the story editing checklist, leave a comment below.
