Welcome to the Better Writer Podcast! The first official episodes drop on December 8th. In the meantime, you can get my best writing insights by joining the Better Writer Newsletter! Each Tuesday, you'll get writing advice and my best tips for building a better life!

Links

• Subscribe to the Better Writer Weekly newsletter
• Learn more about my editing and coaching services

Transcript

Welcome to the Better Writer Podcast. My name is Olivia Bedford. I'm a former high school English teacher turned developmental editor and author accelerator certified book coach. And I'm here to help you become a better writer. If you want to write great books, books just like the ones you've been reading and falling in love with all your life, the Better Writer Podcast is here to help.

As an editor and coach, it's my job to help fiction writers ditch the confusion and overwhelm so they can write the best books possible. And now I'm bringing everything I've learned about writing fiction to you in podcast form. On this show, we'll explore what it really takes to write a book that readers can't put down, whether that's mastering craft fundamentals, revising like a pro, or building a writing process that fits your real life, not someone else's Instagram perfect writing routine.

My mission in life is to help fiction writers unlearn all the misguided, one-size-fits-noone advice out there and replace it with strategies that actually make your stories work. If you're an aspiring novelist who's ready to finally write an amazing book and maybe even get paid for it someday, you are in the right place. Welcome and happy writing. The Better Writer podcast officially launches on December 8th. So don't forget to hit subscribe and be the first to know when our first episodes drop.

Thank you and I hope you'll join me and become a better writer one episode at a time.

Revision isn’t just about perfecting your plot or sharpening scenes. Revision is also mental and emotional. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 6 mindsets that fiction writers need to embrace in order to successfully revise their books.

The six mindsets are:

1. Don’t compare your draft to a finished book.

2. Don’t be afraid of big changes.

3. Be patient.

4. Feedback isn’t law.

5. You can make your book great.

6. Embrace collaboration.

These mindsets aren’t always easy to embrace, but they will help you create a book that works for readers.

Listen to the full episode to learn why each of these mindsets is crucial and my advice for making them part of your process.

Want my support through every step of the revision process? My course/group coaching program Reader Ready Revisions is open for enrollment right now. You can learn more and apply for the next cohort here: https://readerreadyrevisions.com.

Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time!

For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/26.

00:29 Revision & Mindset

01:14 Mindset 1: Don't compare your draft to a finished book

04:03 Mindset 2: Don't be afraid of big changes.

06:28 Mindset 3: Be patient.

07:46 Mindset 4: Feedback isn't law

12:42 Mindset 5: You can make your book great.

16:17 Mindset 6: Embrace Collaboration

What do you think of when you think of revising your novel? Do you imagine diving in to your novel and starting to make changes on the page?

That’s an important step, but there are actually three whole steps that come first. Why? Because planning ahead of time means you’re more likely to revise strategically, not haphazardly.

Here are the three steps that need to come first:

1. Visualize your finished book so you have a destination for your revisions.
2. Analyze your draft so you know exactly what needs work.
3. Strategize your revisions so you can choose solutions that will make the entire book better, not just parts of it.

Want to learn more about the revision mistakes that keep fiction writers stuck? Sign up for my FREE revision masterclass. It’s called Finally Finish Your Book: Stop Making the 5 Revision Mistakes Keeping Your Story Stuck.

You can learn more about the class here: https://ohwrevisionclass.com/

Ready to register? Choose your session and sign up here:

• Wednesday, May 20th: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/masterclass-may20
• Thursday, May 21st: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/masterclass-may21
• Saturday, May 23rd: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/masterclass-may23
• Tuesday, May 26th: https://olivia-helps-writers.kit.com/masterclass-may26

Can’t make any of them? Register anyway and I’ll send you the replay as soon as we’re done!

If you show up live OR watch the replay within 24 hours, you’ll get my book map template for free! See you there!

Thanks for listening, keep writing, and keep getting better one word at a time!

For a full transcript of the episode, please visit https://oliviahelpswriters.com/bwp/25.