You did it! You actually wrote a book. Pat yourself on the back! You accomplished an impressive feat. Something that people only dream of doing. Congratulations!

After completing your first draft, one of the most crucial next steps is getting feedback from beta readers or critique partners. These fresh eyes on your work are invaluable because they help identify blind spots in your narrative that you, as the author, might be too close to see. 

Beta readers can point out areas where the story loses momentum, highlight characters that need more development, or identify confusing plot points that made perfect sense in your head but don’t translate clearly on the page. 

When choosing beta readers, try to include both fellow writers who can provide craft-specific feedback and general readers who represent your target audience. Remember that this feedback stage isn’t about harsh criticism—it’s about making your story the best it can be through constructive input from trusted readers who want to see your work succeed. (Of course, we encourage joining book inc’s Book Revision Lab. This comprehensive six-month program guides writers through a structured revision process, combining expert story analysis, practical revision techniques, and invaluable peer feedback.) 

But what should you do while waiting for feedback from your beta readers? Although you may be glad to have a break from writing your book, now’s not the time to let up on your writing progress. Check out our list of things to do, along with quotes from our writers and links to resources.  

First, celebrate!

Celebrate your accomplishment. Buy yourself a book, take yourself out to lunch, pump up the music, and throw yourself a dance party. You did it! 

“I took some time to rest, enjoy, and do a bit of reading for pleasure.” – Jaime Vander Velde, a book inc PAL 

Submit to lit mags.

A break in drafting is the perfect time to review your book and see if there are any stand-alone pieces that you can pull out to submit to literary magazines. Read Eileen Toomey’s helpful Lit Mag Submission Guide for more information. 

“I reworked several parts of my memoir draft and submitted one, which was accepted to HerStry (‘The Culling’)!” – Tina Goodyear, book inc PAL

Create (or update) a reverse outline.

What’s a reverse outline? A reverse outline is an outline that is created AFTER the book is drafted, summarizing chapters and highlighting major turning points or beats. Think of it as a scale model of what you’ve created. It’s an invaluable tool for analyzing and editing the arc of your story and the structure, allowing you to identify and improve the causal connections between scenes. It helps you see if each key beat is given the space it needs and helps you pinpoint areas where you might need to add, remove, or rearrange content to strengthen the narrative flow. It can provide a bird’s eye view of your story’s progression and highlight potential weaknesses in the structure.

Resources:

• https://www.chelseaabdullah.com/blog/reverse-outlines
• https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/reverseoutlines/

 “I gathered all my notes and started generating a reverse outline while the manuscript was still fresh in my head.” – Jaime Vander Velde, a book inc PAL 

Reread a craft book or any book!

Did reading get put on the back burner as you frantically pulled together your manuscript to meet your deadline? Time to take a breath and pull a book off the shelf. Or download one on Audible and go for a walk while listening. 

“When I’m working on a project, a lot of times I’ll read books that are different from my own manuscript. So, while my manuscript is being read, I’ll pick up some comp titles or books that I hope will be mentor texts.” – Jennifer Gaites, book inc PAL

“I decided the break was a great time to dig into the piles of research materials I’d been gathering. I had marked places in my book where I needed more background and so I was able to go through methodically and add tidbits from my research reading.” – Céline Keating, book inc PAL

“I read Marion Roach Smith’s The Memoir Project while I waited for my pod feedback. It gave me much to think about for revision.” – Tina Goodyear, book inc PAL

Read “Time to Focus on the Writer” by Caitlin Flanigan for more suggestions on things to do while you’re not writing. 

Get organized!

Is your writing space a wreck after your marathon writing sessions? What about your computer files? This break between when you finish your draft and before you get your feedback is a perfect time to organize your space. Clean up those old coffee mugs and brush those crumbs off your laptop. Then, take a look at your Google Drive or your Documents folder. Name those files properly, and then store them in a folder that you can easily find!  

Read Jennifer Gaites’s “Facing the Mess of Revision.” 

“I went through my computer files, which were a jumbled mess. I moved documents into folders and created a hierarchy system. For example, I have one folder called Memoir and in that I have a folder for Memoir #1 and Memoir #2. I deleted any extra unnecessary documents.” – Liz Jannuzzi, a book inc PAL  

Build your author platform.

Ah, the dreaded author platform. Actually, it doesn’t have to be a chore. It could be fun! Now that you have some free time, read up on what IS an author platform and why you need it. Then, learn how to build an author platform and then get to work. 

“I plan to use this time to update my personal website, which currently only showcases my business writing. With a complete manuscript and new skills under my belt, I’m excited to share my writing journey with family and friends, so I created a new form to collect emails for future updates. Additionally, I plan to research how other writers present their work-in-progress on their websites, if at all, as I believe adding a summary of my manuscript could engage web visitors and generate interest in my upcoming projects.” – Michele Cantos, Memoir Incubator PAL 

Keep moving forward.

While waiting for feedback might feel like a pause, it’s actually a perfect opportunity to grow as a writer. Whether you celebrate your achievement, submit to literary magazines, organize your work, or build your platform, make this time count. Your manuscript may be resting, but your writing journey continues!

Still looking for feedback?

Consider joining book inc’s next Book Revision Lab, starting July 17. Revise your memoir or novel with our incredible community of writers offering support, guidance, and best practices. We are currently accepting applications. APPLY NOW!