Writing is like making cinnamon rolls. To make the dough, you need the right ingredients—characters, wants, needs, plots. You mix these all together and knead into a structured pile of dough—your first draft.

Now you wait for it to rise.

Ignore it.

Pretend it doesn’t exist.

Go play a game or binge watch a show.

Once enough time has passed, go back to your dough. Punch it around a bit and knead it some more—yes, more revision.

Good work! It’s time to roll it out and fill it with goodness in the form of more revision. I know! It feels like it’ll never end.

It will.

But not yet.

It’s time to roll it up, cut it into appropriate chapters, and shape it into the best story you can. You may think you’ve already done this.

You haven’t.

Not really.

Do it again to make sure.

Cut out the not so great parts . . . but maybe set them aside for now. They might inspire later.

Yay!

Okay, set your work aside again. Let it rest and rise. When you go back to it, pop it into the oven for . . . more revision. Hey, no one said this would be easy. Or, if they did, they’re big, fat, lying poopy faces.

Your story needs to bake so it can grow and change and become even better. No one likes raw dough. Unless it’s cookie dough, but we’re not making cookies right now.

When your work is baked and the best you can make it, add a bit more revision at the sentence level.

Seriously.

You need this. This is the icing. You must have icing. The icing perfects the whole thing.

Don’t skip the icing.

The time has come.

No, not more revision . . . unless you think it needs it.

I’m talking sharing time! This can mean sharing with critique partners or your agent or a trusted friend. Just share it, and ask for honest feedback.

You can take it.

You’re a baker.

You’ve been burned before.

Based on what you’re told, you may need to tweak your recipe or bake longer or something. That’s okay. Make changes that resonate with you and fight for the ingredients that matter.

You did it. Congratulations!

Enjoy it for a bit.

Now, get to work on your next project. 😉

What will be your next creation? Pie? Cake? I’m sure it’ll be delicious, and I hope I can devour your work someday. ❤️