Polishing Your Prose
Using AI to Refine Your Rough Draft
Introduction
In the first post of this series, From Spark to Story, we explored how AI can help you generate ideas, develop characters, and overcome writer’s block to shape your first draft. Now that you’ve completed that draft, it’s time to move on to the next phase—editing and refining your story into a polished manuscript.
In this post, we’ll look at how AI can support you throughout the editing process, from big-picture revisions to line-by-line improvements. Whether it’s restructuring your story, refining your prose, or deepening your characters’ emotional arcs, AI can be a valuable partner in shaping your manuscript into its best version.
1. Self-Editing: AI as Your First Reader
After finishing your draft, the first step is self-editing. AI tools like ChatGPT or Grammarly can act as your first reader, offering early feedback on pacing, plot consistency, and character depth. These initial insights help you identify the areas that need the most attention before diving into deeper revisions.
For example, I once had a subplot that didn’t quite connect to the main narrative. AI flagged it as feeling disconnected and suggested weaving it more tightly into the protagonist’s journey. This pushed me to revise the subplot, which ultimately strengthened the story’s overall arc.
AI can also highlight pacing issues—like scenes where the action drags or key plot points feel rushed. By flagging these areas, AI helps you make targeted changes, improving the story’s flow and rhythm.
2. Structural Editing: Refining the Big Picture
Editing isn’t just about polishing sentences—it’s about making sure the overall structure of your story works. AI can analyze your manuscript’s pacing, tension, and character development, offering insights to guide big-picture revisions.
For instance, in one draft, AI flagged that the emotional climax felt rushed. It suggested adding a few scenes earlier in the manuscript to build up the stakes more gradually. After implementing these changes, the emotional payoff at the climax was much more satisfying.
But AI can also help with the flow between scenes. In another project, AI flagged a jump between two key chapters that felt jarring. It suggested adding a short transition scene, which smoothed the progression and kept the momentum going. This ability to flag not only pacing but scene transitions ensures that your story’s structure holds together smoothly from one chapter to the next.
3. Line Editing: Polishing the Prose
Once your structure is solid, it’s time to refine your prose. AI tools can help with line editing by catching grammar mistakes, tightening wordy sentences, and flagging repetitive phrasing.
For example, in a recent draft, AI highlighted that I overused certain sentence structures, especially in moments of conflict. It suggested alternative phrasings, helping me add variety and improve the flow. By making these small adjustments, my writing felt smoother without sacrificing my unique style.
One concern writers often have is maintaining their voice when using AI. In my experience, AI’s suggestions are just that—suggestions. You have complete control to accept, reject, or adapt them. I usually tweak AI’s feedback to fit my tone, so my voice remains consistent throughout the manuscript.
4. Character Development: Deepening Emotional Arcs
One of the most challenging aspects of revision is making sure your characters feel fully developed, with motivations that drive the story forward. AI can assist by offering suggestions to deepen character relationships, motivations, and emotional arcs.
In one draft, I struggled with a secondary character who didn’t feel integral to the plot. AI suggested giving them a personal stake in the protagonist’s journey, which led to a subplot that added tension and made their interactions more meaningful.
AI can also help with the protagonist’s emotional arc. In a recent manuscript, AI flagged moments where the protagonist’s reactions didn’t fully align with earlier character development. It prompted me to explore deeper emotional motivations, leading to more consistent and authentic character growth throughout the story.
5. Final Polishing and Proofreading
After you’ve addressed structural and line edits, it’s time for the final polish. AI tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid can assist with proofreading by catching typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting issues that might have slipped through earlier revisions.
For example, in one manuscript, AI caught a timeline inconsistency I hadn’t noticed—an event was referenced incorrectly, which could have confused readers. AI flagged it, allowing me to correct the mistake before it became a bigger problem during later editing rounds.
These small but crucial catches ensure your manuscript is as polished as possible before it goes out to beta readers, agents, or the world at large.
Teeing Up the Final Post: From Manuscript to Marketing Magic
With your manuscript polished and ready, the next step is getting it into the hands of readers. In the final post of this series, From Manuscript to Marketing Magic, we’ll explore how AI can help you market your book, build an author platform, and manage the long-term aspects of a writing career. From crafting blurbs and running social media campaigns to creating targeted ads, AI offers powerful tools to boost your book’s visibility and success.
Conclusion
Editing is where your story transforms from a rough draft into a polished manuscript. With AI as your partner, the process of refining your story, tightening prose, and deepening character arcs becomes more manageable. AI doesn’t replace your creativity, but it offers valuable feedback that helps you see your story from new angles and catch the details you might otherwise miss.
In the next post, we’ll dive into how AI can support your marketing efforts, helping you promote your manuscript and build your author platform. Stay tuned for tips on how to take your polished manuscript and launch it into the world!