Here are the techniques with practical examples:

1. Read Your Text Out Loud

A simple yet powerful practice. When you speak the sentences, you sense their rhythm and notice repetition or heavy, clunky wording.

**Example:**

You wrote: *“The man entered the room quickly, feeling afraid.”*

When reading aloud, *“feeling afraid”* may sound flat. You could change it to *“trembling”*:

*“The man entered the room quickly, trembling.”*

2. Imagine Your Text as a Film

Visualize your book as if it were a movie, and picture each scene unfolding. Which scenes feel flat? Which dialogues lack movement?

**Example:**

If you describe a friend objecting to a heroic decision, imagine it in a public hall: Is the character speaking loudly? Are people reacting? If the scene feels static in your imagination, you may need to add body language or audience reactions to make it more vivid.

3. Review Chapter Beginnings and Endings

A strong chapter opens with a hook and ends with curiosity that drives the reader forward. Ensure every ending points to what comes next.

**Example:**

Opening: *“He didn’t know dawn would reveal his darkest secret.”*

Ending: *“And when he opened his eyes the next morning, all traces of yesterday were gone.”*

The reader should want to keep going

4. Summarize Each Chapter and the Whole Book

Write one or two sentences for what happens in each chapter, and its role in the story overall.

**Example:**

Chapter 3: *“The heroine discovers a secret letter from her father’s past that pushes her into a journey.”*

Overall: *“The story follows a young woman trying to decode her father’s past while facing conspiracies aimed at silencing her.”*

If a chapter is hard to summarize or doesn’t add to the plot, it might need trimming.

5. Sketch a Story Outline

If you didn’t start with one, make an outline now. If you already have one, try drawing it again from memory without looking at the text.

**Example:**

* Chapter 1: Introduce protagonist & problem

* Chapter 2: Inciting incident

* Chapter 3: Search & discovery

* Chapter 4: Confrontation

* Chapter 5: Resolution

  When you outline without looking at the draft, you may spot unnecessary or misplaced chapters.

6. Identify What the Reader Will Remember

Sit somewhere new and jot down the lines or scenes you think will stick with the reader.

**Example:**

Line: *“In that moment, he chose to walk alone in the dark.”*

Scene: *“When the dim light flickered and the curtains trembled in the winter breeze.”*

If you struggle to find standout moments, the text may lack emotional punch.

7. Draw an Emotional Map of the Story

Track the emotions your text should spark in the reader: suspense, sadness, fear, joy.

**Example:**

* Opening scene: Tension

* Sudden twist: Surprise

* Dialogue: Unease

* Chapter climax: Anxiety

* Ending: Anticipation

  If a scene doesn’t trigger any emotion, it may need reworking.

8. Experiment with Alternative Endings

Write ten different endings (even unrealistic ones) and compare them to your current one.

**Example:**

Original ending: Peaceful resolution between characters.

Alternative 1: A major battle reveals betrayal.

Alternative 2: The hero decides to abandon their quest.

Exploring alternatives can reveal hidden potential in your story.

9. Temporarily Delete Chapters or Sections

Remove one chapter and reread: does the story still hold together?

**Example:**

If you cut a chapter that shows a side character’s past, what’s lost? If not much, the chapter might be unnecessary filler.

10. Write Something Different

Write a short piece in a completely different style (a short story, article, or poem) and then return to your draft. This breaks routine and frees your creativity.

**Example:**

If you’re writing fiction, try describing a day from your real life in detail, or even write a poem about the same theme. When you return, clichés in your draft will stand out more clearly.

11. Read Your Text Backwards

Start from the ending and work your way to the beginning, checking how each chapter supports the conclusion.

**Example:**

If your ending is the revelation of a huge secret, reread backwards: did each chapter build toward that reveal? If not, some may not be pulling their weight.