#173. 5 Mindset Tips For Revising Your First Draft

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Is the thought of revising your first draft making you nauseous? I got you. These mindset tips will ease revision anxiety for good.

It's one thing to pour your heart into writing a first draft. However, facing revisions and sharing your story with others can feel raw, uncomfortable, and downright scary.

Not to worry. Every writer struggles with this novel writing phase, and that's why I've brought together four brilliant book coaches and editors to share their mindset wisdom to make the first draft revision process less scary and more exciting.

Here's what we talk about:

[02:48] Why you should absolutely love your "hot mess" first draft—it's exactly what it needs to be right now.

[08:01] The right (and wrong) people to ask for first draft feedback and how to prepare yourself emotionally for their response.

[12:40] A practical approach to handling hard-to-hear feedback so that it feels less personal and more purposeful.

[19:05] A unique 3-step revision process that transforms how you think about your first draft to turn it into a ‘must-read’ success.

[22:59] Why comparing your revision journey to other writers only holds you back—and what to focus on instead.

Tune into this episode to discover how to shift your mindset from revision fear to revision readiness. You'll walk away with practical strategies that make revisions less overwhelming, feedback less personal, and the entire process more purposeful.

And this is precisely what you need to turn your first draft into a story readers love.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Stacy Frazer’s website and Instagram
• Michelle Regenold’s website and Instagram
• Leslie Horn’s website
• Caryn DeVincenti’s website and Instagram

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Chapters

1. Navigating the Revision Process (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Feedback During Revisions (00:02:52)

3. Embracing Feedback and Evaluating Goals (00:14:54)

4. Crafting Brilliant Stories Through Revision (00:19:49)

5. Maximizing Podcast Engagement (00:25:31)