The Art of the Rewrite

Once you've finished your first draft, passed it off to your first reader (if you don't have one of these, you really need one), gotten notes, cried, cursed and pouted, then let the cold realization that your words aren't perfect when freshly vomited from your brain set in, then it's time to do that thing that every writer I know hates:  Rewrites.  Keep in mind, this is a crucial part of the whole writing process.  This is the point where the actual "craft" of being a writer comes in.  So sit down in your chair, pour yourself a big mug of coffee, and dive in.

There are several things to look for when rewriting your novel.  In my mind, they break down to two categories:  Technical and Creative.  On either side are things that could make or break your novel, and while one has hard and fast rules (that we break all the time, so they're more like guidelines than actual rules) at which you can point in making corrections, the other is a much more diabolical, and easily offended, aspect.