I revised The Reader of the Empress seven times. Seven complete passes through eighty five thousand words.

After revision six, I thought I was done. Then I found seventeen problems. So I revised again. Found nine more.

At some point, you have to stop. But how do you know when that point has arrived?

A novel is never perfect. It is only abandoned. Every manuscript could be revised forever. The question is: when does revision become diminishing returns?

In this episode, I give you the eight completion criteria I use to declare a manuscript done—and the discipline to stop when they are met.

The eight criteria:→ Four act architecture is sound→ Every scene carries load→ Motifs are balanced→ Mirror structure is complete→ Point of view is consistent→ Historical and factual details are accurate→ Prose is clean→ Revisions become lateral rather than vertical

I share my revision metrics (from one hundred twelve problems in pass one to nine in pass seven), the trap of perfectionism, and why a finished imperfect manuscript is worth infinitely more than an unfinished perfect one.

When the criteria are met, you are done. Trust the criteria. Resist perfectionism. Set a deadline. Declare completion.

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Resources:

• Custom GPT and Companion Workbook: rondanini.com/architect-method