7 Signs Your Draft Isn’t Ready to Publish — And How to Fix Them

So... you’ve finished your draft. Now what?

You’ve typed “The End.” You’ve probably cried (happy tears, hopefully), printed the thing, maybe even thrown it across the room once or twice. It’s a whole emotional arc.

But before you start designing your book cover, planning your launch party, or uploading to Amazon at three a.m. on a caffeine high… pause.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: just because it’s finished doesn’t mean it’s ready.

In my work with indie authors, pastors, professors, and self-help sages, I’ve reviewed hundreds of drafts. The patterns? Almost always the same. A great idea, powerful message, or riveting story... buried beneath avoidable mistakes that could cost you sales, reviews, and momentum.

But don’t panic — this post is here to help. These are the seven most common signs your draft isn't ready for editing or publishing — and how to fix them like a pro (without losing your mind).

7 Signs Your Draft Isn’t Ready to Publish — And How to Fix Them

1. Your Opening Chapter Doesn’t Hook the Reader

Common symptom:

The story opens with a weather report, someone waking up, or a prologue set forty-seven years before the actual plot.

Why it matters:

Readers are ruthless. You’ve got maybe two pages to prove this book is worth their time. If you lose them in chapter one, you don’t get them back in chapter ten.

How to fix it:

Start in a moment of change. It doesn’t have to be dramatic — but it should be active. A conversation, a conflict, a decision. Show us a character in motion with something at stake. Your job is to make us care right away — not explain everything up front.

Real-world tip:

Open a few bestsellers in your genre. Skip the cover and read the first paragraph. You’ll notice one thing: no fluff. Just tension, character, and forward movement.

2. Your Plot Has a Pulse — But No Purpose

Common symptom:

Stuff is happening, but no one knows why. The character is moving, but the story is wandering. It’s giving “vibes” — not narrative.

Why it matters:

A book isn’t just scenes strung together. It’s a journey — and without clear direction, the reader feels like they’re on a GPS-free road trip with a half-charged phone and no snacks.

How to fix it:

Ask yourself:

• What does your main character want?

• What’s stopping them?

• What will happen if they fail?

These are your story stakes. Everything — and I mean everything — in your book should either move the character toward their goal or complicate it.

Pro tip:

Write your story goal in one sentence and post it near your desk. Every time you revise a scene, ask: Does this get us closer to that goal?

3. Your Characters Feel Flat or Forgettable

Common symptom:

Everyone talks the same, thinks the same, and could be swapped out without anyone noticing. The villain is evil because… they’re supposed to be. The best friend exists to deliver pep talks.

Why it matters:

Readers don’t remember plots. They remember people. We want characters who feel like someone we know — or someone we love to hate.

How to fix it:

Give your characters goals, contradictions, and consequences. What’s something they believe that’s not true — and how does it get challenged? What secret are they keeping from others? From themselves?

Bonus laugh:

If your main character could be replaced by a golden retriever and the plot still works… we need to talk.

💡 Need a step-by-step tool to catch these mistakes in your own draft?

Grab my free checklist: The “Is My Draft Ready?” Self-Assessment Checklist

4. Your Pacing Is All Over the Place

Common symptom:

Chapters drag. Then suddenly — wham! — five major plot points happen in two pages. It’s like slow dancing through molasses and then getting catapulted into hyperspace.

Why it matters:

Pacing sets your story’s rhythm. Too slow, and readers get bored. Too fast, and they feel lost. Consistency is key.

How to fix it:

• Trim filler scenes that don’t move the plot or deepen character development.

• Slow down during emotional pivots and decisions.

• Speed up in action-heavy sequences.

  
  

Rule of thumb:

If you’re bored writing it, we’re bored reading it.

5. Your Dialogue Sounds Like a Soap Opera or a Sales Pitch

Common symptom:

Characters speak in full sentences. They name-drop backstory in conversation. No one interrupts. Everyone sounds like they swallowed a thesaurus.

Why it matters:

Dialogue is where voice lives. It’s where personality, tension, and truth sneak in.

How to fix it:

• Read it out loud. If you cringe, revise.

• Don't start at the beginning of the conversation, start where it matters.

• Cut filler like “as you know, Bob” exposition.

• Let people interrupt, pause, lie, and dodge. Real people rarely say what they mean.

Real-world test:

Would a stranger overhearing this scene believe it’s a real conversation? If not, you’ve got work to do.

6. You’re Telling Instead of Showing (and it’s stealing your story’s soul)

Common symptom:

“She was furious.”

“He was sad.”

“They had a great time.”

Cool. But what does that look like?

Why it matters:

Emotion hits harder when we experience it with the character — not just read a report about it.

How to fix it:

Show us through:

• Body language: She slammed the cabinet door so hard the spice rack rattled.

• Dialogue: “I said I’m fine, didn’t I?”

• Sensory detail: The silence in the room stretched tighter than her jaw.

Helpful rewrite rule:

If you can swap your sentence into a news article and it still works, it probably needs more showing.

7. You’ve Revised the Same Scene 47 Times and Still Hate It

Common symptom:

You’re rearranging commas and sentence order… again. You’ve renamed the chapter three times. You don’t even know what’s good anymore.

Why it matters:

This is a sign you’ve hit the “too close to it” wall. At this point, you’re not revising — you’re stalling.

How to fix it:

• Step away for a few days.

• Read the scene out loud or print it out.

• Even better? Bring in an editor who can look at it with fresh eyes and give you specific, supportive feedback that actually helps you move forward.

Perfection Is a Trap. Clarity Is the Goal.

No book is flawless. (Even your favorite one has typos.) The goal isn’t perfection — it’s impact. Connection. Clarity.

If any of these signs hit a little too close to home, take it as a good thing. You’re not a bad writer. You’re just doing what all great writers do: learning how to revise with purpose.

Want help getting your story from decent to publish-ready?

That’s where I come in. My Draft 2 Done™ manuscript evaluation gives you:

• Honest, professional feedback on what’s working — and what isn’t

• Concrete next steps for fixing plot holes, pacing issues, or flat scenes

• A second round of review after you revise (included for free!)

👉 Book Your Evaluation Here

Or start with a free sample edit to see what it’s like to work with me — no pressure, no fluff, just clarity.

👉 Book Your Free Sample Edit Here

Because your story deserves better than “good enough.”