BEYOND THE FIRST DRAFT: USING AI IN THE REVISION PROCESS [Post 19-A]

Let Claude AI Be Your Revision Partner

(To read these posts in chronological order, visit our Table of Contents page.)

Welcome to Series 2: Revising Your Fiction with AI

After exploring how to create compelling first drafts in our previous series, we’re now beginning a new journey together. This newsletter marks the start of Series 2: “Revising Your Fiction with AI,” where we’ll transform those rough first drafts into polished manuscripts ready for readers.

While our first series focused on generating content and overcoming writer’s block, this new series will teach you how to objectively assess what you’ve written and make strategic improvements. We’ll explore how AI can help you identify structural weaknesses, deepen characters, improve pacing, strengthen emotional impact, and much more.

Whether you’ve been following these newsletters since the beginning or joining us for the first time, you’ll find valuable techniques to elevate your fiction through thoughtful, AI-assisted revision. Let’s dive in!

How AI Can Help You Evaluate Your Novel or Story

Finishing a first draft of your novel or story is a significant achievement, but it’s really just the beginning of your journey to a polished manuscript. That raw initial version contains your characters, plot, and world but likely needs substantial refinement before it’s ready for publication. The revision process transforms promising raw material into a compelling, engaging story.

Many fiction writers struggle with objectively evaluating their own work. After spending weeks or months immersed in your fictional world, stepping back and seeing your manuscript with fresh eyes is challenging. This is where artificial intelligence can become an invaluable revision partner.

In this newsletter, I’ll introduce you to the revision mindset and show you how AI can help you assess your fiction manuscript with greater objectivity and insight than you might achieve alone.

The Revision Mindset: Becoming Your Own Editor

Successful revision requires a fundamental shift in perspective. You need to transition from being the creator who generates ideas to becoming the editor who shapes and refines them. This mental shift isn’t always easy, but it’s essential unless you plan to hire an editor.

When you wrote your first draft, your primary goal was getting your story onto the page. You likely focused on following your characters and plot threads rather than quality assessment. That’s exactly as it should be – first drafts are expected to be imperfect.

Now, you need to look at your work differently. Instead of being emotionally attached to every scene and character, try to view your manuscript as if someone else wrote it. If you have a lot of difficulty doing this, you might need to set it aside for a few weeks, work on something else, and return to this manuscript when it appears fresh to you.

Creating this mental distance can be challenging. Even experienced writers struggle to objectively evaluate their own work. This is where AI becomes particularly valuable – it can analyze your manuscript with an objectivity that’s difficult to maintain with your own story.

When you are ready, start by asking yourself:

• Does the story structure create effective pacing and tension?

• Are your characters consistent and compelling?

• Do your scenes advance the plot or develop characters?

• Does your dialogue sound natural and serve multiple purposes?

How to Use AI for Initial Manuscript Assessment

Let me show you a simple but powerful technique for getting an initial assessment of your manuscript using AI.

MY PROMPT:

Claude, I’ve written a fiction manuscript about [brief description of your story]. I need help assessing its overall structure and identifying potential issues before I begin detailed revision. Here’s my current chapter outline with brief descriptions of key events in each: [paste your outline]. What structural strengths do you see? What potential problems should I address during revision? Are there any obvious pacing issues or plot holes?

CLAUDE’S RESPONSE:

Claude AI would provide an analysis of your story structure, highlighting strengths, identifying potential problems, noting any plot holes, and sometimes suggesting reorganization options.

Let’s look at a real example from a mystery novel:

MY PROMPT:

Claude, I have a mystery novel about a small-town librarian who discovers historical documents that reveal a century-old murder connected to several prominent local families. I need help assessing its overall structure and identifying potential issues before I begin detailed revision. Here’s my current chapter outline:

1. Introduction: Librarian Katherine discovers damaged historical documents while renovating the library basement

2. Initial Research: Katherine begins piecing together clues about the murder victim’s identity 3. Family Connections: Katherine realizes the victim was related to the town founder

3. Modern Threats: Katherine receives anonymous warnings to stop her research

4. Historical Trail: Katherine finds the victim’s diary hidden in an old book

5. Alliance: A local history professor offers to help Katherine investigate

6. Betrayal: The Professor is revealed to be a descendant of the murderer and attempts to destroy evidence

7. Confrontation: Katherine confronts the professor and other family members, trying to hide the truth

8. Resolution: The full story is revealed, with consequences for current town relationships

What structural strengths do you see? What potential problems should I address during revision? Are there any obvious pacing issues or plot holes?

CLAUDE’S RESPONSE:

“Your mystery novel outline shows several structural strengths:

1. Clear narrative arc: You establish the discovery, build the investigation, create complications, and move toward resolution in a logical sequence.

2. Escalating stakes: The story progresses from historical curiosity to personal danger, which creates increasing tension.

3. Midpoint twist: The betrayal in Chapter 7 serves as an effective turning point that changes the direction of the story.

4. Thematic connection: The past-present parallel creates depth, linking historical events to contemporary consequences.

Potential issues to address during revision:

1. The transition from “Modern Threats” to “Historical Trail” seems abrupt - there’s no indication of how Katherine responds to the threats before returning to her research.

2. The professor’s introduction and betrayal happen in consecutive chapters, which might not give readers enough time to invest in this relationship before the twist.

3. The final resolution may come too quickly after the confrontation - consider whether you need more space to explore the fallout.

Possible plot holes or pacing concerns:

1. How does Katherine gain access to these historical documents? Is she breaking rules or following proper protocols? This motivation matters for character development.

2. The anonymous threats in Chapter 4 need a clear resolution - we should learn who sent them and why.

3. There seems to be a missing element of personal stakes for Katherine - why does she persist despite threats? A personal connection to the history might strengthen her motivation.

4. The pacing appears to accelerate rapidly in the final third - consider whether you need additional chapters between the betrayal and resolution to maintain tension while fully developing the conclusion.

Overall, you have a solid mystery structure, but these refinements could enhance the emotional impact and logical consistency of your story.”

This AI feedback immediately highlighted both strengths and potential issues with the outline. It identified specific structural concerns (like the quick professor betrayal) and suggested plot holes I hadn’t considered, such as the missing resolution for who sent the threats.

The analysis gave me concrete areas to examine during revision without getting bogged down inline-level edits before addressing these larger structural considerations.

Next Steps: Before You Dive Into Revision

Before you begin detailed revision of your manuscript, take these initial steps:

1. Create a complete chapter-by-chapter outline of your current draft. For each chapter, include:

   • A brief summary (2-3 sentences) of the main events

   • Key character developments or revelations

   • Important emotional beats or tone shifts

   • The purpose of each chapter is to advance the overall story

   • Any concerns or questions you already have about the chapter

2. Use the AI assessment prompt provided above to get objective feedback on your story structure

3. Make notes about potential reorganization options without committing to changes yet

4. Identify any plot holes or character inconsistencies suggested by the AI analysis

5. Consider where your manuscript might need additional scenes or trimming based on this initial assessment

This preliminary analysis forms the foundation for your revision plan. Rather than diving straight into line-editing, you’ll now have a clearer picture of the larger structural changes needed first.

REMEMBER: Every decision is yours to make. Claude AI may suggest revisions that don’t align with your vision or creative instincts. That’s perfectly fine. AI is a tool for generating insights, not the final authority on your story. When Claude suggests changes you disagree with, simply acknowledge the suggestion and explain why you’re going in a different direction. This helps the AI understand your reasoning and provide more tailored assistance as you continue working together.

The goal is to have a partnership, not a replacement for your creative judgment. The most effective revisions happen when you combine AI’s objective analysis with your unique artistic vision and deep understanding of what your story is truly about.

Looking Ahead: Thursday’s Comprehensive Manuscript Assessment

While this basic structural assessment is a powerful first step, effective revision requires a more comprehensive evaluation. In Thursday’s premium paid newsletter, I’ll share a complete 4-point assessment plan that will help you:

• Conduct a detailed structural analysis using specialized AI prompts

• Find additional prompts that zero in on structural changes that should be made

• Handle Claude’s feedback easily

• Create a prioritized revision plan based on your findings

• Implement changes systematically with AI assistance

• Follow an Assessment Checklist

Understanding the true state of your manuscript’s structure is the essential first step to effective revision. With AI as your assessment partner, you’ll gain insights that help you transform your draft into the compelling story you envision.

Next Tuesday, we’ll ask AI to help us explore our characters’ psychology to get them ready for readers.

Are You Ready to Get Valuable Help with Revising Your Fiction Writing?

Here’s what you can do right now:

1. If you haven’t done so, sign up for Claude AI 3.7 Sonnet Pro (or the latest version) at Anthropic’s website. You want the option that says “Meet Claude 3.7 Sonnet.”

2. Subscribe to this newsletter if you haven’t already: Don’t miss out on future tips and tricks for using AI to write better and faster. The Tuesday newsletters are free, but the Thursday newsletters go far deeper into the techniques that make our writing shine!

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3. Share your thoughts: What’s your most significant (or current) writing challenge? Comment below and tell me what AI writing tips you’d like to see in future newsletters.

4. Spread the word: Do you know a fellow writer who could use a brainstorming partner? Please share this newsletter with them, and let’s grow our AI writing community together.

Until next time, let’s stay creative and organized,

-Elaine

P.S. Feel free to email me at Elaine@TheWrittenLink.com. Please put “Companion” in the subject line.

© Elaine Foster, The Writer’s AI Companion