Fix The Right Thing First: A Fiction Writer's Step-by-Step Approach to Confident Self-Revision

By Sarah Waterman

Fix the Right Thing First: A Fiction Writer's Step-by-Step Approach to Confident Self-Revision

Staring at your draft and thinking, "Is this any good?" Yep. Been there. You're not broken. Your draft isn't a dumpster fire. You just need a system.

This book teaches you how to revise the right way, in the right order, so you stop wasting time on sentences that don't even belong and start fixing the stuff that actually matters. You'll learn how to:

Spot weak spots and plot holes without spiraling into despairStrengthen scenes and sharpen character arcsShow internal emotion without endless "I felt / I realized / I noticed"Polish your prose with confidence (and maybe a little smug satisfaction)

Packed with snarky guidance, practical exercises, and worksheets, this guide is for writers who:

Have a draft that's "finished-ish" and don't know where to startAre tired of conflicting advice and endless editsWrite in any genre and just want a system that worksWant to take a messy draft and make it editor-ready, agent-bait, or publishable

Messy first drafts? Normal. Confusing sentences? Expected. Endless line edits? Avoidable. With Fix the Right Thing First, you'll finally move from chaos to clarity-without losing your mind or your sense of humor.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GN7J6VFQ
• ISBN13: 9798295609466
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: A3w Editorial
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"