Checklist for a final review of your novel

Many authors run multiple drafts of their novel through Marlowe. Here’s a checklist of items that you’ll want to review:

The opening

• Re-read your first sentence to ensure it grabs the reader’s attention and propels the story forward. Confirm that this momentum continues through the first page, the first chapter, and beyond. A strong opening sets the tone for your entire novel, establishing the stakes, mood, or intrigue that will carry readers through the story.

The ending

• Sometimes, authors choose a final passage or story beat that serves as a mirror or bookend to the opening line of the novel. This technique, often referred to as “bookending,” reinforces the themes or completes the character arcs established at the beginning, offering readers a satisfying sense of closure. By echoing the initial tone, imagery, or sentiment, the ending not only highlights the characters’ journey and growth but also invites readers to reflect on how far they have come since the story began. Consider whether the ending resonates emotionally and ties up the core narrative, leaving the reader with a lasting impression.

Consistency

• Verify that your writing is consistent across key elements such as tone, narrative voice, character descriptions, world-building, and plot. Each element should align to maintain immersion and coherence. A sudden shift in style or detail can break the reader’s suspension of disbelief.

Theme

• Ensure that your theme is naturally woven through character actions, dialogue, and plot without feeling forced. A well-integrated theme adds depth to the story, giving readers something meaningful to take away beyond the surface-level plot.

Symbolism

• Look for an opportunity to add symbolism to your novel. Symbols can significantly deepen your story’s meaning and emotional impact, allowing readers to engage with the narrative on multiple levels. Subtle, recurring symbols can reinforce your themes or character arcs, giving the story added layers for readers to uncover and interpret.

Conflict

• Confirm that the conflict in the story is clear and strong, revealing your main character’s depth. Whether it’s internal, external, or both, conflict drives the story forward and shapes your protagonist’s journey toward resolution.

The writing

• Focus on being a storyteller rather than just a writer. Remember Elmore Leonard’s enduring writing tips: “Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip” and “If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.” Strive for invisibility as an author to allow the characters and story to take center stage. Ensure your prose is lean, engaging, and free of unnecessary embellishment.

Story beats and narrative drive

• Assess whether there is enough spacing between major set pieces or action scenes so that your story flows smoothly and readers have sufficient time to catch their breath. Pacing is critical — too much action without quieter moments for reflection or development can overwhelm readers, while too little can make the story drag.

Character arcs

• Check that your principal characters undergo a significant transformation or inner journey that the reader can easily track and identify. The protagonist’s growth or change should feel authentic and earned, reflecting the challenges they faced and the choices they made. In a common technique, at the beginning of the story, the protagonist believes a lie, often about himself. I can’t do it. I can’t trust other people. I don’t have to care about other people. The character arc takes him on a journey to overcome this flaw or blind spot through an epiphany in Act 3.

Subplots

• Confirm that each subplot ties back to the main narrative in a meaningful way. Loose ends can leave readers feeling frustrated or disconnected, so ensure that all subplots and major plot threads are resolved satisfactorily (unless they carry over into the next book in the series).

Foreshadowing

• Verify that all major action scenes or plot twists have been adequately foreshadowed throughout the narrative. This doesn’t mean giving everything away — well-executed foreshadowing strikes a balance between subtle hints and satisfying payoffs.

Structure and tropes

• If you are writing in a new genre, confirm that your structure aligns with genre conventions and that you have addressed all expected tropes. Subverting or playing with tropes can add freshness, but ensure it is done deliberately and with purpose. Refer to the Tropes section in Story structure for guidance.

Extraneous material

• Eliminate any passages that do not advance the story, effectively “killing your darlings” to enhance overall clarity and focus. Each scene should serve a clear purpose — whether it develops a character, advances the plot, or deepens the themes.

By reviewing these elements, you can refine your manuscript and ensure it resonates with readers while maintaining a high standard of storytelling.

If you would benefit from further assistance, consider sending your manuscript to an editor or story doctor. See Authors A.I.’s vetted editors list. There are also a number of books on structuring a novel effectively: Shawn Coyne’s The Story Grid, Larry Brooks’ Story Engineering, James Scott Bell’s Superstructure, and Lisa Cron’s Story Genius are particularly superb.

As a published author, there are several techniques you can explore to take your storytelling to the next level. Here are some advanced writing techniques for experienced authors: 

Make sure your scenes turn

A scene shouldn’t just be a series of events strung together. As James Frey notes in How to Write a Damn Good Novel, “Many books have scenes that don’t shift valences. They never turn.” By valence, he means the emotional tone needs to change — from calm to excited, from pensive to frantic, or vice versa. Each scene should advance the narrative and keep it dynamic. Stagnant scenes that don’t develop plot or deepen emotional engagement amount to filler. Cut them, and streamline anything extraneous. If a scene doesn’t push the story forward, it doesn’t belong.

Craft seamless scene transitions

Skillful scene transitions signal to readers that they’re in expert hands. This technique involves creating a seamless connection between scenes to maintain flow. Transitions can use thematic elements, symbols, or emotional tones to create continuity. For example, if a scene ends with a character in despair, the next scene might open with an image (say, rain, darkness, a tender moment), a symbol, smell, or sensation that mirrors that mood to reinforce the character’s emotional state and the story’s tone.

Authors like Erin Morgenstern in The Night Circus use recurring motifs, like the circus itself, to connect scenes. Similarly, in The Great Gatsby, the green light on Daisy’s dock serves as a symbol of aspiration and the elusive American Dream, tying scenes and themes together.

Manage pacing and tension

Effective pacing keeps readers fully immersed in your story. Manipulate pacing through sentence structure, paragraph length, and chapter breaks. Shorter sentences and paragraphs create urgency in action scenes, while longer, descriptive passages can slow down reflective moments. Build tension by strategically withholding information or escalating conflicts to keep readers invested. During revisions, identify opportunities to tighten pacing and amplify tension. See Pacing for pro tips on how to speed up or slow down pacing.

Manage character entrances and exits

Each character’s entrance and exit should serve the story’s progression. Introduce characters purposefully and ensure their arcs reach satisfying resolutions. Treat them like actors: Each one should perform a meaningful role, with clear goals in each scene. If you find yourself with too many minor characters, consider combining them for greater impact. Make sure your major characters have clear goals in each scene and a defined story arc.

Use callbacks

Experienced authors sometimes use a device called a callback. A callback is a narrative technique that references an earlier moment — whether a scene, event, or piece of dialogue — to instantly evoke the same emotions from that past experience and amplify them in the current context. Rather than driving the plot forward, it serves as an emotional bridge, deepening the reader’s investment by linking the feelings of the past with the unfolding story.

Integrate signposts

Signposts refer to literary devices authors use to guide readers through the narrative, helping them understand the story on a deeper level. Frequently used signpost techniques include:

• Contrasts and contradictions: These occur when a character behaves unexpectedly or contradicts established patterns as a way to enrich character development.
• Aha moment: A realization by a character that shifts his or her actions or understanding.
• Tough questions: Characters raise questions that reveal their inner struggles, helping readers understand internal conflicts and themes.
• Words of wisdom: Advice or insights offered by a wiser character, often providing life lessons that affect the main character’s development.
• Again and again: Recurring events, images, or words intended to symbolize themes or conflicts throughout the story.
• Memory moment: Flashbacks or recollections that interrupt the narrative flow, providing insight into character development and plot.

Add a touch of omniscience

While debut authors sometimes slip into omniscient point phrases by accident, experienced authors might consider adding a flourish of omniscience in one or two high-impact spots when writing a novel in third-person POV. For example, John Grisham does this effectively in the opening sentences of Sycamore Row:

They found Seth Hubbard in the general area where he had promised to be, though not exactly in the condition expected. He was at the end of a rope, six feet off the ground and twisting slightly in the wind. A front was moving through and Seth was soaked when they found him, not that it mattered. Someone would point out that there was no mud on his shoes and no tracks below him, so therefore he was probably hanging and dead when the rain began. Why was that important? Ultimately, it was not.

Create a catchphrase

Memorable phrases can add impact to your characters. Some of the most iconic movie lines originated in novels. Consider giving a distinct catchphrase or verbal tic to your hero or villain, making them more memorable:

• “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – The Godfather
• “Life is like a box of chocolates.” – Forrest Gump
• “Houston, we have a problem.” – Apollo 13, based on Lost Moon

A memorable line can make a character unforgettable and help define their personality.

Use pinch points to create tension

Many authors include these in their stories without even realizing what they’re called. Pinch points are narrative devices that serve to remind the reader of the antagonistic forces at play and to heighten the stakes for the protagonist. They typically occur at two key moments in the story: the first pinch point, which generally happens around the 37% mark, and the second pinch point, occurring around the 62% mark.

Pinch points are crucial for maintaining tension and conflict within the narrative. They reveal the true nature of the opposition, showcasing the antagonist’s power and influence over the protagonist’s journey. This allows readers to feel the pressure and urgency of the protagonist’s situation, reinforcing his or her motivations and actions. For instance, in Silence of the Lambs, the first pinch point occurs when Clarice Starling discovers a jar containing the head of one of Buffalo Bill’s victims, emphasizing the danger she faces and raising the stakes of her investigation.

By including pinch points, authors can avoid the dreaded “sagging middle” in their stories, making sure there is a consistent sense of rising action. Pinch points act as reminders of what is at stake and can lead to significant character development as protagonists react to these challenges. Overall, they help to create a more engaging and dynamic story by emphasizing conflict and maintaining reader interest.

Plot points

A plot point is a significant event that shifts the story’s direction and impacts characters’ journeys. It’s a memorable turning point that keeps the narrative moving and brings new conflicts or revelations. Plot points are essential for maintaining momentum in the story and are typically memorable events that readers can easily recall.

Authors often include these, but as your author career matures, you’ll get a better handle of where and when these need to occur in your narrative. See the Story beats and Plot turns sections of this report for Marlowe’s analysis of where key emotional turns appear in your story.

There are generally two major plot points in a three-act structure: The first plot point occurs at the end of Act I and marks the protagonist’s commitment to the journey or conflict, often referred to as the “point of no return.” It sets the stage for the challenges they will face in Act II.

The second plot point occurs near the end of Act II and leads into the climax of the story. It often presents a significant twist or revelation that escalates the stakes and prepares the reader for the resolution.

Have you positioned your plot points effectively to keep the narrative on course?