The Five Types of Rewrites (and How to Survive Each One)

Essential Novel Rewriting Tips for Every Stage

If you’re looking for novel rewriting tips, you already know one truth of the writing life: the first draft is never the final word. Finishing a draft is a huge achievement—but it’s only the beginning. The real work of shaping your story into something publishable happens in the rewrite.

But what does that actually mean? And where do you begin? From major structural changes to tiny line edits, the revision process can feel overwhelming without a roadmap.

In this post, we’ll explore the five main types of novel rewrites and what each one requires. Whether you’re overhauling your plot, refining your characters, or polishing your prose, these novel rewriting tips will help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and maybe even a little excitement.

Because if you’re rewriting, it means your story matters—and you’re one step closer to telling it well!

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1. The Structural Rewrite: Rebuilding the Bones of Your Story

If your novel feels lopsided, confusing, or just plain dull in places, it might be time for a structural rewrite. This is the most intensive form of revision—think gut renovation, not interior decorating.

What it is: A structural rewrite involves reworking the foundational elements of your novel: plot, pacing, chronology, and sometimes even point of view. You might need to cut entire chapters, rearrange scenes, or write new ones to fill gaps in tension or logic.

Signs you might need it:

► Your story drags or loses momentum in the middle.

► Beta readers are confused about timelines or plot points.

► Your protagonist’s goals aren’t clear or compelling.

► The stakes feel low—or unclear.

How to survive it:

► Outline your existing draft. Don’t guess—map out what actually happens, scene by scene.

► Compare it to your vision. Where does it fall short? Where does it shine?

► Rebuild with purpose. Draft a revised outline before diving back into prose. Save yourself heartache by planning the new shape of your book before rewriting.

Helpful tools and resources:

◆ Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

◆ Plottr – a visual planning tool that makes restructuring less daunting

◆ Sticky notes, index cards, and butcher paper—classic, analog, and surprisingly effective

Structural rewrites can be intimidating, but they often lead to the most dramatic transformations. This is where good books become great ones.

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2. The Character Rewrite: Deepening the People Who Drive the Plot

Sometimes the bones of your story are solid—but the people walking around inside feel flat, inconsistent, or just hard to care about. That’s where the character rewrite comes in.

What it is: This rewrite focuses on improving character development, motivation, and emotional arcs. It’s about making sure your characters are complex, consistent, and compelling from start to finish.

Signs you might need it:

► Your protagonist feels passive or interchangeable.

► Side characters blur together or serve no clear purpose.

► A character’s choices don’t make emotional sense.

► Readers aren’t connecting—or worse, they don’t care what happens to your characters.

How to survive it:

► Interview your characters. Ask them what they want, what they fear, and what would break them.

► Track emotional arcs. What changes internally for each major character from beginning to end? If nothing changes, that’s a red flag.

► Layer their motivations. A single desire isn’t enough. Great characters are pulled in multiple directions—by duty, fear, hope, and memory.

Helpful tools and resources:

◆ The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass

◆ Character arc templates and novel rewriting tips from Helping Writers Become Authors

◆ Enneagram or Myers-Briggs charts for psychological depth and variety

The character rewrite brings heart to your novel. When readers fall in love with your characters, they’ll follow them anywhere—even if the plot takes a few detours.

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3. The Prose Rewrite: Polishing the Language Line by Line

You’ve nailed the structure and your characters shine—but the writing itself feels clunky, repetitive, or just… not quite there. Enter the prose rewrite.

What it is: This rewrite zooms in on your actual sentences: the rhythm, word choice, clarity, and voice. It’s less about what you’re saying and more about how you’re saying it.

Signs you might need it:

► Your sentences are overlong or hard to follow

► The voice feels inconsistent or generic

► You rely too heavily on adverbs or filler words

► You find yourself cringing at overwritten passages

How to survive it:

► Read aloud. This is the fastest way to catch clunky phrasing or awkward rhythm.

► Cut 10%. Tightening your prose improves flow and impact—especially when every word has to earn its place.

► Replace vague verbs. Swap “walked quickly” for “hurried” or “strode.” Strong verbs bring clarity and energy.

► Avoid repetition. Watch for echoing sentence structures, repeated words, or overused crutch phrases.

Helpful tools and resources:

◆ ProWritingAid or Grammarly for technical polish

◆ Sin and Syntax by Constance Hale

◆ A trusted critique partner who isn’t afraid to say, “This sentence isn’t working.”

The prose rewrite is your chance to refine your voice—to make every sentence sharp, expressive, and unmistakably you.

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4. The Structural Rewrite: Rebuilding the Framework

Sometimes, the bones of your novel aren’t quite holding the weight of the story. That’s where the structural rewrite comes in.

What it is: This rewrite tackles big-picture issues—plot pacing, narrative arcs, character development, and scene order. It’s about stepping back and asking, Does the story actually work?

Signs you might need it:

► The middle of your book drags

► Your character arcs feel flat or rushed

► Major turning points come too late (or too early)

► The stakes aren’t clear or compelling

► Feedback like “I didn’t know what this book was about” or “I lost interest around chapter 10.”

How to survive it:

► Create a scene list. Write a one-sentence summary of every scene or chapter. This helps you see the shape of the story—and what’s missing.

► Use structure models. Consider tools like the three-act structure, Save the Cat, or the Hero’s Journey to reframe your plot.

► Color-code arcs. Track your protagonist’s emotional arc, subplot threads, or tension beats with color highlights.

► Be willing to move or delete. Sometimes the fix isn’t a new scene—it’s removing one that’s in the wrong place.

A structural rewrite can feel like tearing down your house to fix the foundation—but it’s what makes everything else work. Once this layer is solid, the rest of your rewrite becomes much easier.

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5. The Voice Rewrite: Finding (and Keeping) Your Story’s Soul

Sometimes your plot is solid, your pacing works—but the manuscript still doesn’t feel right. That’s often a voice issue.

What it is: The voice rewrite focuses on refining the tone, style, and rhythm of your writing so that it matches your story’s emotional landscape. It’s not just what you say—it’s how you say it.

Signs you might need it:

► The narration feels inconsistent or generic

► The voice doesn’t match the genre or audience

► Characters sound too similar—or not like themselves

► Your beta readers say, “I didn’t connect with the narrator.”

How to survive it:

► Identify your story’s tone. Is it wry? Lyrical? Gritty? Choose 3-5 words to describe the ideal voice and post them near your writing space.

► Read aloud. You’ll catch awkward rhythms, stilted dialogue, and inconsistent tone far more easily.

► Study great voice. Read books in your genre with unforgettable narrators. Ask: what makes the voice compelling?

► Line-edit with purpose. Once the tone is clear, revise sentence by sentence for rhythm, cadence, and tone consistency.

Helpful tools and resources:

◆ The audiobook version of your genre favorites—listen to how voice sounds

◆ ProWritingAid for style and readability reports

◆ Your own notes: highlight sentences that feel most “you” and emulate that energy

When done well, voice is what makes readers fall in love with your pages. This rewrite is about aligning your storytelling style with your story’s heart—so every sentence carries weight.

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Novel Rewriting Tips Survival Kit

Rewriting a novel isn’t one task—it’s five. Structural rewrites, plot reconstructions, character overhauls, prose refinements, and voice adjustments each demand a different mindset, a different set of tools, and a different kind of courage. But here’s the truth: surviving them is how writers become authors!

Whether you’re just beginning your second draft or knee-deep in round seven, these novel rewriting tips can help you find clarity, build confidence, and move forward with purpose. No rewrite is wasted. Each one brings you closer to the book only you can write.

And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, don’t go it alone. Many authors turn to professional editors or hybrid publishing partners to help shape their vision. (At Atmosphere Press, we work with authors every day to refine, elevate, and publish their books with care!)

Remember: rewriting isn’t a setback. It’s a step forward. One page at a time.

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