Your Next Draft

Supporting fiction writers doing the hard work of revising unputdownable novels. The novel editing process is the creative crucible where you discover the story you truly want to tell—and it can present some of the most challenging moments on your writing journey. 

Developmental editor and book coach Alice Sudlow will be your companion through the mess and magic of revision. You’ll get inspired by interviews with authors, editors, and coaches sharing their revision processes; gain practical tips from Alice’s editing practice; and hear what real revision truly requires as Alice workshops scenes-in-progress with writers. 

It’s all a quest to discover: How do you figure out what your story is truly about? How do you determine what form that story should take? And once you do, how do you shape the hundreds of thousands of words you've written into the story’s most refined and powerful form? 

If you’ve written a draft—or three—but are still searching for your story’s untapped potential, this is the podcast for you. Together, let’s dig into the difficult and delightful work of editing your next draft.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

Carleton1026

Great podcast for writers

Alice is a great teacher. She explains concepts in concise and easy to grasp language while providing actionable advice.
sumcgarr

Extensive and actionable advice

I recommend this podcast to all my fellow writers. When I was staring at my first draft, lost as how to begin the revision process, this podcast gave me a framework. The scene structure episodes were especially helpful. Now it’s my go-to resource for editing advice that’s equally digestible and actionable. And I just finished my next draft :)
Rhizome stolon

Fantastic Podcast

I discovered this podcast searching on Google while stuck in my writing process. I write picture books, but the information here is so unbelievably helpful, succinct, and inspiring. Thank you for creating this!
mr190762

Great insights for those still learning

I enjoy listening to Ms. Sudlow as she teaches writers from an editorial perspective. She builds a mental framework and a vocabulary to understand story theory. She explains how writers can use that knowledge when editing their own work, or when working with an editor. She clearly understands and enjoys the coaching and teaching aspects of her job, and high she uses to good effect in the podcasts. Finally, she obviously can’t be every writer’s editor. Instead, and likely by conscious choice, she models and illustrates the characteristics of an editor who can dramatically help a writer. Writers could do a lot worse than find an editor with a similar attitude and find of knowledge as Ms. Sudlow. Her podcasts are clear and packed with utility; they are energizing, and supportive in attitude. I’ll continue to listen and appreciate her insights and reminders, which can help me maintain a productive writing mindset.
SciFiLitGuy

Excellent Podcast for Novelists

If you have the first draft of your novel written this is the perfect podcast for you. Alice is super passionate about developmental editing (the next major step after you’ve written the first draft). She knows what she’s talking about and spells out an easy to follow process. If you are struggling with how to shape a 300 page first draft into acts, scenes and chapters this is the podcast for you.
Arcoscribe

School’s in

Alice gives advice that makes perfect sense, with real-world examples, and clearly loves writers and the process. Thank you.
Needs a Budget

Love It!

Simple straight-forward writing advice with examples and practical exercises. Very grateful for Alice and Your Next Draft 💕
argh987

Great resource

I found Alice’s podcast as I was beginning the second draft of my book and it’s become indispensable. She gives efficient and understandable advice on how to tackle editing from macro to microcosm in your story. It has saved me time and heartache! Highly recommend.
Bsize1108

A Delightful Podcast That Is Useful Every Episode!

I’ve listened since the beginning, and I look forward to each new episode like no other writing podcast I follow. Alice does such a good job of delivering important, helpful content and is a wonderful at reinforcing information from previous episodes. She is to the point and doesn’t waste time- a resource I highly value. To Alice: thanks for your help :) you are greatly appreciated!
Nalucat

One of the best writing podcasts

The StoryGrid method can be an overwhelming to understand and put into practice. Alice does a great job making these methods accessible and easy to implement. Plus, I love her voice. She feels like your personal writing cheerleader. Listening to one of her episodes always inspires me to write.
sophasaurus

Excellent Actionable Advice!

Alice offers excellent advice in a consistently concise and clear way. Her segments are easy to listen to as she keeps them to a manageable length and her enthusiastic delivery is very encouraging. She often provides helpful checklists to ensure you can easily practice what you’ve learned. Highly recommended!
SRich6000

Notes to Novel episode

One thing you forgot to mention about Notes to Novel is that it is not a good fit for discovery writers since a big part of her course focuses on outlining. It was not the best decision and I shouldn’t have spent my money there. Lesson learned.
nomorelandmines

The most pragmatic writing advice podcast?

Excellent. I find her episodes easily actionable. For beginning writers that want a clear defined path or series of steps, I think this is the podcast to start with.
Grantmom314

The magic of editing

I started listening to Alice’s podcast because the editing process, quite frankly, scares me. Alice has given me great ideas and tips to see how editing is an exciting and creative part of the writing process. I feel like I can approach editing more confidence and tools to use. Thanks, Alice!
Cristi @ Altered Story

Every listen is a treasure!

Alice’s editing knowledge is a “pot of gold” and she’s sharing it here with writers, gold nugget by gold nugget! Each and every episode offers quick-to-the-point, easy-to-apply ideas, sure to help you make INVALUABLE edits to your next novel!
xkednis

Thank you Alice (and Kim)!

There are lots of podcasts for writers but not a lot about the revision process. Good news—Alice takes this on and—wait for it—loves revision! I especially appreciated the real time developmental editing session with Kim Kessler. It opened my eyes to how flexible I can be with a scene, brainstorming alternatives and making choices that best serve the story.
TRex Jones

This podcast is saving my life.

I am writing my second novel and still feel like I have so much to learn. Alice is a wonderful, clear guide on my first-draft journey.
RLynnMiller33

A Born Teacher

I’m the type of person who can’t seem to go straight from A to B to accomplish any goal. I go from A to L, back to G, and then circle around Z a few times first. Alice helps to put focus where it needs to be. Now I am finally excited to get back into my work in progress that’s been frustrating me for far too long.
IJ Guertin

Very Helpful!

Alice explains editing in clear, practical terms and provides good examples that illustrate her points. Good information for improving your draft.
gkMoberg

Brilliant!

This podcast is giving me what I need to become a better writer and editor. I need this towards raising my understanding of what, how and why I can critique and improve my writing. Give this podcast a try!
Callie.a.Murray

Incredibly Helpful / Changed my Writing!

I stumbled upon this podcast last week and have since listened to most of the episodes. Alice is so clear, thoughtful, and generous in how she shares her wisdom, and the podcast (especially the episodes about scenes) have already made a big impact on my writing. I’ve shared it with other writer friends and highly recommend listening!
Gnit Nub

Fun, Important, Knowledgeable Writing Advice

Alice is the best. She’s knowledgeable, experienced, and best of all fun! I’ve learned so much from this podcast already. I hope Alice will keep them coming.
randy772

Just the info I was looking for - the what’s next after your 1st draft podcast

I see a lot of podcasts out there talking about how to write your first draft, but this concept really hit home - the what’s next information is spot on. Do I hire someone? Do I self-edit? Some combination of both? Great information for self-published authors who aren’t going to get the benefit of a traditional publishing company’s staff. Sometimes we just have to go it alone, and this podcast is a good place to start!
BeeMizeur

Helpful advice to stay on track!

I’m only two episodes in right now, but both episodes have been so helpful in clarifying what different steps there are in a book writing process. This podcast has helped me to understand what stage I’m in and where my energy should be focused. It is very easy for me to want to correct or clarify one paragraph, but knowing that is not the stage I’m in gives me freedom to continue my discovery process. I may not be ready for my next draft, but I’m able to write more freely in the current one because of Alice’s information and encouragement.
vfxKen

Solid Information for Aspiring Writers

As someone who is on the “next draft” of my novel, I am loving this podcast. As an experienced editor, Alice shares solid information on what to do once you finish your first draft. Alice gives actionable items every episode, and she speaks with passion from experience. You can sense she genuinely wants writers to embrace and enjoy the editing process as much as she does. If I had one bit of advice it would be that she speaks very fast and she could probably slow down just a bit so we can enjoy and follow at a slightly more relaxed pace. But I’m writing that off to her contagious energy, and perhaps a bit to new podcaster nerves. The first three episodes are a great start, and I’ll be following along until my next draft is published!
RNP724

Sound Advice!

Alice breaks down editing into bite size pieces that are easy to understand. She’s right about taking the time to edit your story. I published my first book after finishing the 1st draft. HUGE MISTAKE! Alice explains why this is a bad idea and gives us an easy blueprint to self-publish your best book possible. She knows her stuff!